If you thought the hype for Perfect Order was reaching a ceiling, the leak cycle for the May 2026 expansion, Chaos Rising (CRI), just blew the roof off the building. Over the last 48 hours, the r/CardChill Reddit has been a battlefield of blurry “factory floor” photos and disputed shipping manifests.
The center of the storm? Claims that Chaos Rising will be the first English pokemon sets of the 30th Anniversary era to feature dedicated God Packs, headlined by a secret, unannounced Mega Rayquaza ex Special Illustration Rare. At Card Chill, we’ve spent the morning cross-referencing these “leaks” with historical print patterns and Japanese trademark filings to see if there’s any smoke behind this fire.
1. The “Emerald Surge” Connection: Where is Rayquaza?
For months, we’ve been tracking rumors of an “Emerald Surge” set—a Dragon-heavy expansion expected to revive the Hoenn legends. However, the latest CRI leaks suggest that Pokémon might be folding the Mega Rayquaza ex into Chaos Rising as a “Secret Rare” chase.
Information Gain Play: Most “news” sites are reporting Chaos Rising as a pure Mega Greninja ex set (the English version of Japan’s Ninja Spinner). However, our internal analysis of the CRI set list (ME04) shows a gap in the numbering between #116 and #120. If Rayquaza is indeed card #118, it would explain why production facilities in the UK and Germany are seeing “Gold-Etched Green” textures on the lines. If you’re investing in pokemon right now, the smart move is to ignore the “Greninja-only” narrative—this set is looking like a dual-mascot powerhouse.
2. The Return of the “God Pack”: Fact or FOMO?
The term “God Pack” is often thrown around by YouTubers to generate clicks, but in the context of pokemon tcg sets like 151 and VSTAR Universe, they are a real, albeit rare, mechanical anomaly.
The rumor for Chaos Rising is that 1-in-700 booster packs will be a “Delta God Pack.” According to the leaks, these packs would contain:
- 3x Shadow Attack Rares (MARs)
- 1x Special Illustration Rare (Greninja or Rayquaza)
- 6x Reverse Holo Energy cards
If this holds true, it would be the first time since the XY era that Pokemon Cards have used “themed” rarity seeds in Western booster boxes. My recent pokemon guides have always warned about the “Batching Issues” of 2025, but a deliberate “God Pack” strategy would actually stabilize the secondary market by providing a clear “Jackpot” for rippers.
3. The Price Trap: Why Pre-order Hype is Dangerous
With rumors of Mega Rayquaza ex, we’ve already seen Chaos Rising booster boxes climb from a $144 MSRP to a $195 pre-sale on certain platforms.
As I’ve detailed in my tcg guides, buying into the “Leak Hype” is often a losing strategy. If Rayquaza ends up being a promo in a later “Ultra Premium Collection” rather than a pull in CRI, that $195 box price will crash back to MSRP overnight.
Information Gain Insight: Look at the “Trademark Window.” In 2026, Pokémon usually files trademarks 5–6 months before a major legendary hits a set. We saw the “Emerald Surge” trademark filed in September 2025. This supports the theory that Rayquaza is coming, but whether it’s in Chaos Rising or a standalone “High Class Pack” in June is the $500 question for those investing in pokemon.
4. How to Spot a Fake “Leak” in 2026
Since we are deep in the “Nihil Zero” and Perfect Order release windows, “clout-chasing” leaks are at an all-time high. When looking at top chase pokemon cards rumors, check for:
- The Set Symbol: Does it match the CRI “Cyclone” logo confirmed by PokeBeach?
- The Texture: Modern Pokemon Cards from 2026 use a “Fingerprint” etching. If the leak looks “flat” or overly shiny, it’s a high-quality proxy.
- The Numbering: If a card is listed as #250/120, it’s likely a fake. Modern secret rares rarely exceed 50% of the base set size.
Final Verdict: Temper Your Expectations
Is there a Mega Rayquaza ex coming? Yes. Is it in a “God Pack” inside Chaos Rising? Unconfirmed, but statistically possible given the 30th Anniversary “Masterpiece” strategy.
Keep an eye on the top pokemon cards tracker over the next 14 days. If we see a surge in Japanese “Ninja Spinner” box breaks without a Rayquaza sighting, we can officially move the Rayquaza hype to the June 2026 window. For now, focus on securing Perfect Order at MSRP and leave the Chaos Rising gambling to the whales.
Do you think ‘God Packs’ are good for the hobby, or do they make the ‘Brutal Chase’ even worse? Share your thoughts on the r/CardChill Reddit!