Pokémon TCG · Series Guide
The EX Series
Sixteen sets from July 2003 to February 2007, the series of Pokémon-ex, Gold Stars and Delta Species.
The sets in the series
The EX series ran from July 1, 2003 to February 2, 2007: sixteen English sets. Together they hold 1,722 cards, and every one has a full guide.
| Set | Code | Released | Cards | Complete set as singles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby & Sapphire | RS | July 1, 2003 | 109 | $2,372.35 on Oct 22 |
| Sandstorm | SS | September 18, 2003 | 100 | $2,369.60 on Oct 22 |
| EX Dragon | DR | November 24, 2003 | 100 (97 numbered) | $3,945.36 on Oct 22 |
| Team Magma vs Team Aqua | MA | March 1, 2004 | 97 (95 numbered) | $3,691.43 on Oct 22 |
| Hidden Legends | HL | June 1, 2004 | 102 (101 numbered) | $3,143.71 on Oct 22 |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | RG | September 1, 2004 | 116 (112 numbered) | $5,390.24 on Oct 22 |
| Team Rocket Returns | TRR | November 1, 2004 | 111 (109 numbered) | $21,337.38 on Oct 22 |
| Deoxys | DX | February 1, 2005 | 108 (107 numbered) | $5,306.34 on Oct 22 |
| Emerald | EM | May 1, 2005 | 107 (106 numbered) | $2,929.73 on Oct 22 |
| Unseen Forces | UF | August 1, 2005 | 145 (115 numbered) | $13,154.25 on Oct 22 |
| Delta Species | DS | October 31, 2005 | 114 (113 numbered) | $13,125.97 on Oct 22 |
| Legend Maker | LM | February 1, 2006 | 93 (92 numbered) | $3,822.15 on Oct 22 |
| Holon Phantoms | HP | May 1, 2006 | 111 (110 numbered) | $20,873.67 on Oct 22 |
| Crystal Guardians | CG | August 1, 2006 | 100 | $5,581.70 on Oct 22 |
| Dragon Frontiers | DF | November 1, 2006 | 101 | $43,572.29 on Oct 22 |
| Power Keepers | PK | February 2, 2007 | 108 | $6,595.33 on Oct 22 |
The last column is what one copy of every card cost as singles, each at its cheapest priced variant and TCGplayer market price. For these sets that is usually an Unlimited or Normal copy, so a set in 1st Edition or Reverse Holofoil costs far more. Dragon Frontiers is the most expensive EX series set to complete, and Sandstorm the least.
What the EX series changed
Ruby & Sapphire brought in the Pokémon-ex, stronger Pokémon that give up 2 Prize cards when Knocked Out, and every EX set has them. Team Rocket Returns added the Pokémon Star, or Gold Star, limited to one per deck, and every later EX set except Emerald has two or three.
Delta Species introduced δ Pokémon, which have types they don't normally have, and the next four sets kept printing them, Dragon Frontiers most of all. Gold Stars are the reason the later EX sets cost so much to complete as singles.
Each set's chase card
The card each set guide leads with, shown in its ordinary printing.
Mewtwo ex
Ruby & Sapphire #101
Ruby & Sapphire
Raichu ex
Sandstorm #98
Sandstorm
Rayquaza ex
Dragon #97
EX Dragon
Suicune ex
Team Magma vs Team Aqua #94
Team Magma vs Team Aqua
Groudon ex
Hidden Legends #93
Hidden Legends
Gengar ex
FireRed & LeafGreen #108
FireRed & LeafGreen
Torchic ★
Team Rocket Returns #108
Team Rocket Returns
Latios ★
Deoxys #106
Deoxys
Milotic ex
Emerald #96
Emerald
Lugia ex
Unseen Forces #105
Unseen Forces
Kyogre ★
Delta Species #112
Delta Species
Regirock ★
Legend Maker #91
Legend Maker
Mewtwo ★
Holon Phantoms #103
Holon Phantoms
Alakazam ★
Crystal Guardians #99
Crystal Guardians
Charizard ★ δ
Dragon Frontiers #100
Dragon Frontiers
Jolteon ★
Power Keepers #101
Power Keepers
Rarities across the series
Every EX set prints Common, Uncommon, Rare, Rare Holo and Rare Holo EX, the Pokémon-ex. The Rare Holo Star column is the Gold Stars.
| Set | Rare Holo | Rare Holo EX | Rare Holo Star | Above the printed total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby & Sapphire | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Sandstorm | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| EX Dragon | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Team Magma vs Team Aqua | 12 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Hidden Legends | 15 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 17 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| Team Rocket Returns | 14 | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| Deoxys | 15 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| Emerald | 17 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| Unseen Forces | 19 | 12 | 3 | 30 |
| Delta Species | 18 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Legend Maker | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Holon Phantoms | 23 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Crystal Guardians | 13 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Dragon Frontiers | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Power Keepers | 19 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
The chase card in each set
Across the series, Dragon Frontiers' Charizard ★ δ is the most valuable of the cards the guides lead with. Each price is the printing named in its rarity column.
| Set | Chase card | Printing | Market price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby & Sapphire | Mewtwo ex | Rare Holo EX | $746.79 on Oct 22 |
| Sandstorm | Raichu ex | Rare Holo EX | $356.99 on Oct 22 |
| EX Dragon | Rayquaza ex | Rare Holo EX | $595.55 on Oct 19 |
| Team Magma vs Team Aqua | Suicune ex | Rare Holo EX | $763.00 on Oct 22 |
| Hidden Legends | Groudon ex | Rare Holo EX | $330.33 on Oct 22 |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | Gengar ex | Rare Holo EX | $1,399.99 on Oct 22 |
| Team Rocket Returns | Torchic ★ | Rare Holo Star | $6,500.00 on Oct 17 |
| Deoxys | Latios ★ | Rare Holo Star | $1,500.00 on Oct 9 |
| Emerald | Milotic ex | Rare Holo EX | $799.99 on Oct 22 |
| Unseen Forces | Lugia ex | Rare Holo EX | $2,500.00 on Oct 22 |
| Delta Species | Kyogre ★ | Rare Holo Star | $4,000.00 on Oct 11 |
| Legend Maker | Regirock ★ | Rare Holo Star | $799.00 on Oct 20 |
| Holon Phantoms | Mewtwo ★ | Rare Holo Star | $9,200.00 on Oct 18 |
| Crystal Guardians | Alakazam ★ | Rare Holo Star | $1,429.50 on Oct 1 |
| Dragon Frontiers | Charizard ★ δ | Rare Holo Star | $39,500.00 on Oct 22 |
| Power Keepers | Jolteon ★ | Rare Holo Star | $1,750.00 on Oct 22 |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices and move daily; a card this old can go days without a sale. Each set guide lists its chase card's other printings and the rest of its chase list. How much are my Pokémon cards worth? →
The set guides
Ruby & Sapphire (July 1, 2003). The first set of the EX series and the first with Pokémon-ex: eight of them, Mewtwo ex at the top.
Sandstorm (September 18, 2003). The second EX set: seven Pokémon-ex, the fossils of Hoenn and Kanto, and the first printing of Rare Candy.
EX Dragon (November 24, 2003). The dragon set of the EX series: nine Pokémon-ex including Rayquaza ex and Dragonite ex, and a secret Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard above the printed total.
Team Magma vs Team Aqua (March 1, 2004). Hoenn's two villain teams, each with its own Pokémon, Trainers and Energy, plus Suicune ex, Entei ex and Raikou ex.
Hidden Legends (June 1, 2004). Groudon ex and Kyogre ex, the three legendary golems as Pokémon-ex, and Stadiums built around Hoenn's ancient ruins.
FireRed & LeafGreen (September 1, 2004). Kanto returns to the EX series: Charizard ex, Blastoise ex and Venusaur ex, Gengar ex at the top of the price list, and the legendary birds as secret rares.
Team Rocket Returns (November 1, 2004). Team Rocket's Pokémon-ex and the first three Pokémon Star cards. The Gold Stars make it one of the most expensive sets from 1999 to 2011 to complete as singles.
Deoxys (February 1, 2005). Three forms of Deoxys ex that swap in and out, Rayquaza ex, and Gold Star Latias, Latios and Rayquaza.
Emerald (May 1, 2005). The EX set of the Emerald game: 11 Pokémon-ex, the three Regis again, and a reprint of Hoenn staples like Rare Candy and Professor Birch.
Unseen Forces (August 1, 2005). Johto in the EX series: Lugia ex and Ho-Oh ex, Gold Star versions of the three legendary beasts, and 28 Unown, one for every letter plus ! and ?.
Delta Species (October 31, 2005). The first set of Delta Species Pokémon, marked δ, which have types they don't normally have. Its Gold Stars are Groudon, Kyogre and Metagross.
Legend Maker (February 1, 2006). Gold Star versions of the three Regis, seven Pokémon-ex including Mew ex, and five Stadiums.
Holon Phantoms (May 1, 2006). Delta Species Pokémon fill most of it, and its Gold Stars, Mewtwo ★ and Pikachu ★, are among the most expensive cards of the EX series.
Crystal Guardians (August 1, 2006). Ten Pokémon-ex, Gold Star Alakazam and Celebi, and a Charizard δ that is Lightning and Metal.
Dragon Frontiers (November 1, 2006). Nearly every Pokémon in it is Delta Species, all ten Pokémon-ex included, and its Charizard ★ is the most expensive card in this catalog from 1999 to 2011.
Power Keepers (February 2, 2007). The last EX set: Gold Star Flareon, Jolteon and Vaporeon, eight Pokémon-ex and a Stadium for each of the Hoenn Elite Four.
What came next
The Diamond & Pearl series followed. The Diamond & Pearl series →
Frequently Asked Questions
What sets are in the Pokémon TCG EX series?
Sixteen English sets: Ruby & Sapphire (July 1, 2003), Sandstorm (September 18, 2003), EX Dragon (November 24, 2003), Team Magma vs Team Aqua (March 1, 2004), Hidden Legends (June 1, 2004), FireRed & LeafGreen (September 1, 2004), Team Rocket Returns (November 1, 2004), Deoxys (February 1, 2005), Emerald (May 1, 2005), Unseen Forces (August 1, 2005), Delta Species (October 31, 2005), Legend Maker (February 1, 2006), Holon Phantoms (May 1, 2006), Crystal Guardians (August 1, 2006), Dragon Frontiers (November 1, 2006) and Power Keepers (February 2, 2007).
Which EX series set is the biggest?
Unseen Forces, with 145 cards. Legend Maker is the smallest at 93.
What is the most valuable card in the EX series?
Among the chase cards the set guides lead with, Dragon Frontiers' Charizard ★ δ (Rare Holo Star), at $39,500.00 on October 22, 2026. Holon Phantoms' Mewtwo ★ was next at $9,200.00. Prices move daily, and a scarcer printing of the same card can cost far more.
Are EX series cards legal in Standard or Expanded?
No set from this series is. Expanded starts with the Black & White series in 2011. The catalog marks a few cards in each set as legal anyway, basic Energy and cards that share their name and text with a later legal printing, and each set guide lists them.
What is the difference between Pokémon-ex and Pokémon ex?
Pokémon-ex, with a hyphen, are the EX series cards from 2003 to 2007. Pokémon ex, without one, are the Scarlet & Violet series cards from 2023 on. Both give up 2 Prize cards when Knocked Out.
Track the whole series.
Add your EX series cards, see how much of each set you own, and value every copy from daily TCGplayer prices. Free to start.
Create Free AccountPokémon and Pokémon character names are trademarks of Nintendo. ©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. TurnZero HQ is not affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, Creatures Inc., or GAME FREAK inc. Card data comes from the open PokemonTCG dataset, and prices from TCGplayer.