Pokémon TCG Perfect Order: The 10 Most Anticipated Cards
Perfect Order comes off the heels of the highly-anticipated and much hyped Ascended Heroes. Let's take a look at the most anticipated cards in the set. How does it stack up against Ascended Heroes?
If you want to get into Perfect Order at launch, preorder yours on the Rare Candy Marketplace!
Perfect Order Rarity Guide: Pull Difficulty at a Glance
Rarity Tier | Cards in Set | Pull Difficulty |
Mega Hyper Rare (MHR) | 1 | Hardest pull in the set |
Special Illustration Rare (SIR) | 6 | High difficulty, chase territory |
Illustration Rare (IR) | 11 | Moderate difficulty, more accessible than SIR |
Ultra Rare (UR) | 18 | Standard full-art difficulty |
1. Mega Zygarde ex — Mega Hyper Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: 124/088 | Rarity: Mega Hyper Rare
As has been the case with all of the Mega Era so far, the set mascot gets the Mega Hyper Rare treatment. This time, in the form of Mega Zygarde, one of the newer Mega Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Mega Hyper Rare cards have fluctuated set to set as the top chase.
2. Mega Zygarde ex — Special Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Another trend we've seen start popping up in recent sets, the set mascot in its Mega form surrounded by its previous forms. Mega Zygarde's SIR is loaded with vibrant pinks and blues making it a close contender for the top spot. Will it surpass the gold?
3. Rosa's Encouragement — Special Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Trainer SIRs have been performing well as chase cards this era due to the use of popular trainers like Dawn and now Rosa. Throw in the competitive nature of bringing energy cards out of the graveyard, and you've got a solid hit.
4. Mega Clefable ex — Special Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Another new Mega evolution introduced in Legends: Z-A this Mega Clefable really shines where some of the previous SIRs in other sets have missed. It takes a page out of Mega Venusaur's book and forms connecting card art with its previous form to make for a wonderful chase card.
5. Clefairy — Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Illustration Rare
The connecting artwork to the previously mentioned Clefable, this Clefairy connects well to its Mega evolved successor. Another card to fit into the "cozy" category, it just kind of makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
6. Meowth ex — Special Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
This Meowth ex becomes one of just a small few non-evolved Pokémon to receive an ex card. The artwork is a little more portrait-esque, ditching the usual lifestyle shot for a more artistic rendering.
7. Mega Starmie ex — Special Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
It's not controversial to say this is one of the silliest Mega Pokémon we've ever gotten, but it also wouldn't be too far out there to call out the similarities in this Starmie card and the Starmie from Neo Revelation with its beam attack in full force.
8. Jacinthe — Special Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Another example of a solid Trainer SIR for this Lumiose native. Jacinthe also brings a solid healing capability to any psychic deck including the ever-popular Gardevoir deck.
9. Dedenne — Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Illustration Rare
When does a Pikachu clone not get some love? This Dedenne falls into the previously mentioned "cozy" category, sitting in a tree on a nice autumn day just soaking it all in. Honestly, this could be the sleeper chase of the entire set.
10. Espurr — Illustration Rare
Set: Perfect Order | Card Number: [TBD]/088 | Rarity: Illustration Rare
I may sound like a broke record mentioning the "cozy" cards, but this is another prime example of a card that will be chased strictly for its aesthetic. Somewhat reminiscent of the sleepy Raichu, this Espurr IR is bound to be on most collectors' chase lists.
What Makes Perfect Order's SIRs and Illustration Rares Worth Chasing
Mega Evolution is back in a real way. Four new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex in a single set, all pulling from the Legends: Z-A aesthetic, give Perfect Order a visual identity that nothing else in the Scarlet & Violet era has matched.
The MHR slot is genuinely earned. Mega Zygarde ex in gold isn't a safe pick for its own sake. It's a Pokémon whose design was built for this treatment, and the secondary market response from Japanese product confirms the community agrees.
Connected artworks add a collection goal beyond single pulls. The Clefairy IR and Mega Clefable ex SIR form a two-card scene, a reason to chase both rarity tiers at once.
The illustrator lineup is strong. kantaro, Iori Suzuki, Natsumi Yoshida, and Cona Nitanda in the high-rarity slots signal an art program that took the set's identity seriously.
For a deeper look at how Perfect Order fits into the broader Scarlet & Violet era, check out our other set breakdowns on the Rare Candy blog.
Final Thoughts
Perfect Order came by its name honestly. Zygarde is literally the Order Pokémon, and the set builds around that: a gold card that earns its difficulty, SIRs with real character depth, connected artwork that makes the Illustration Rares worth hunting even when the SIR lineup is this strong. The Legends: Z-A tie-in gives collectors a reason to care that goes beyond what's already in their binders. Packs start moving March 27, and based on what Japanese product has shown, the MHR doesn't stick around long and the SIR slots follow.
If you want to get into Perfect Order at launch, preorder yours on the Rare Candy Marketplace!
FAQ
When does Pokémon TCG Perfect Order release?
Perfect Order releases in English on March 27, 2026. Prerelease events begin March 14, 2026, through the Play! Pokémon program at participating game stores. The Japanese version of the set, titled Nullifying Zero, released on January 23, 2026.
How many Special Illustration Rares are in Perfect Order?
Perfect Order has 6 Special Illustration Rares: Mega Zygarde ex, Mega Starmie ex, Mega Clefable ex, Meowth ex, Jacinthe, and Rosa's Encouragement.
What are the rarest cards in Perfect Order?
The hardest pull in the set is the Mega Zygarde ex Mega Hyper Rare (card #124/088). The six Special Illustration Rares sit just below that in pull difficulty. Of the Illustration Rares, the Clefairy by Cona Nitanda carries extra collector appeal as a connected artwork with the Mega Clefable ex SIR.
What Illustration Rares are in Perfect Order?
Perfect Order has 11 Illustration Rares: Spewpa, Rowlet, Talonflame, Aurorus, Dedenne, Clefairy, Espurr, Probopass, Drapion, Doublade, and Raticate. The standout is the Clefairy IR by Cona Nitanda, which shares a connected artwork with the Mega Clefable ex SIR.
Where can I buy Perfect Order Pokémon cards?
Perfect Order will be available at major retailers and local game stores starting March 27, 2026.
If you want to get into Perfect Order at launch, preorder yours on the Rare Candy Marketplace!
