Storm Emerald wholesaleThe hits that sell the box

This is the card most customers buy Storm Emerald for. Even non-players recognise Rayquaza, and Kazuki Minami’s artwork (the dragon coiled between gold and red lightning) works brilliantly in your window, on a new-release poster or on social media.

Shop tip: advertise the box with this card. It is the question you will hear most at the counter: “did you pull the Rayquaza?”.

There is only one MUR in the whole set, the gold Mega Rayquaza ex. That rarity turns a live opening, a giveaway or an in-store event into something people want to watch until the last pack.

If you run openings on social media or in store, this is the card that builds excitement and brings in new customers.

Together with Rayquaza they make up the legendary Hoenn trio, and many customers want all three. As ARs they turn up more often than SARs, so they encourage “one more pack” to complete the trio.

If you sell single packs, they are your best argument: achievable goals that keep customers coming back.

Legendary collectors buy for their favourite Pokémon more than for the set. Raikou’s almost watercolour SAR is the one that customer will look for, and they often ask about other sets with legendaries too.

Trainer SARs have their own audience, and Zinnia is tied to Mega Rayquaza in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. It is a second reason to buy the same set, very useful with customers who already have the Rayquaza.

Both are brand-new Mega Evolutions in the card game. Customers who collect every Mega of the MEGA era never skip a set, so it is a good moment to offer them the earlier boxes too, such as Ninja Spinner (M4) and Abyss Eye (M5).