If you were around the Pokémon TCG scene back in 2014, you remember the chaos. Everyone was obsessed with the new Mega Evolution mechanic. It changed everything. One of the most iconic releases from that era—and one that collectors still hunt for today—is the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box - Mega Lucario.
It’s a mouthful. But man, it was a beautiful product.
Looking back, the Furious Fists expansion was a turning point. It focused heavily on Fighting-type Pokémon, trying to give them a competitive edge against the dominant Darkness and Psychic decks of the time. The Mega Lucario ETB wasn’t just a box of cards; it was a statement piece. It came in that deep, aggressive blue and red color scheme that perfectly matched Lucario’s shiny new Mega form.
What was actually inside the box?
People get confused about what these old ETBs contained because the modern ones have changed slightly. Inside the Mega Lucario version, you got eight booster packs of XY—Furious Fists. You also got 45 Energy cards, which, honestly, most of us just threw into a shoebox. But the real prizes were the accessories.
The 65 card sleeves featuring Mega Lucario are legendary. They had this matte finish that felt premium, though they tended to peel at the corners if you actually played with them too much. You also got the standard high-quality dice, condition markers, and a player’s guide. That guide is actually a goldmine for historians now because it lists every card in the set, including the elusive secret rares.
The Mega Lucario Ex Factor
Why Lucario? Well, Lucario has always been a fan favorite, basically the "secondary mascot" behind Pikachu. When Pokémon X and Y introduced Mega Evolution, Lucario was the poster child. He was the first Mega Evolution the player usually encountered in the video games.
In the TCG, Mega Lucario-EX (specifically the 55/111 card from Furious Fists) was a beast. It had 220 HP, which was massive for 2014. Its Rising Fist attack did 140 damage and let you discard a Special Energy from your opponent’s active Pokémon. Back then, Strong Energy was everywhere. Being able to discard it while hitting for big numbers was a huge tactical advantage.
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Collecting vs. Investing
Let's talk money, because that’s what everyone asks about. If you’re looking for a sealed Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box - Mega Lucario today, you’re going to pay a premium. A huge one.
When these sat on shelves at Target or local game stores, they were $39.99. Now? You’re looking at hundreds, sometimes north of a thousand dollars depending on the condition of the shrink wrap. The "Furious Fists" packs inside are expensive on their own, but the box itself is a piece of history.
It’s rare to find them without tears in the plastic. The way the cardboard was structured back then made them prone to "corner dings." If you find a pristine one, keep it.
Honestly, the pull rates in Furious Fists weren't always kind. You could open all eight packs and get nothing but a few holos and a bunch of Landorus. That's why the sealed value has skyrocketed—the gamble is part of the allure, but the scarcity of the box itself is the real driver.
Why the Mega Evolution Era Was Special
The TCG goes through phases. Right now, we have Terastal Pokémon. Before that, we had VMAX and VSTAR. But Mega Evolution felt different. It required a specific Spirit Link tool card to prevent your turn from ending when you evolved.
If you didn't have the Lucario Spirit Link attached, your turn just... stopped. It was a high-risk, high-reward style of play. This specific Elite Trainer Box captured that moment in time perfectly. It represents a mechanical shift that some players loved and others hated, but nobody ignored.
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The Problem with "Furious Fists"
Furious Fists was a weird set. It was very "top-heavy." Aside from Mega Lucario-EX and maybe Seismitoad-EX (which was a nightmare to play against because of Quaking Punch), there wasn't a lot of depth.
If you were a competitive player, you bought this ETB for the dice and the sleeves, then went out and bought singles of Hawlucha or Strong Energy. But as a collector's item? It’s arguably one of the best-looking boxes Pokémon has ever produced. The art of Mega Lucario mid-strike is dynamic in a way that modern 3D-rendered card art often fails to capture.
How to Spot a Fake Mega Lucario ETB
Because the value has gone up so much, the market is flooded with fakes. You have to be careful.
First, look at the shrink wrap. Original Pokémon Company shrink wrap usually has a specific "seam" and often features the small white Pokéball logos, though early XY era boxes sometimes had clear wrap. If the plastic feels like cheap kitchen cling film, run away.
Second, check the font. Counterfeiters almost always mess up the kerning (the space between letters). On the back of the box, read the description. If you see typos or weirdly spaced words, it’s a total fake.
Lastly, the weight. A real Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box - Mega Lucario has a very specific heft because of the 45 Energy cards and the heavy acrylic markers. If it feels light, something is wrong.
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The Legacy of the Mega Evolution ETB
We don't see Mega Evolution in the games much anymore, which makes these items feel like relics of a lost civilization. For a lot of us, this was the peak of the "EX" era.
It’s also worth noting that this box was part of a duo. There was a Mega Charizard X version released around the same time (for the Flashfire set), but the Mega Lucario box felt more cohesive with the Furious Fists theme.
If you’re a player today, you might find the cards underpowered. Power creep is real. A basic V Pokémon from a modern set can hit for 220 damage without needing to evolve or attach a Spirit Link. But the TCG isn't always about power. It’s about the soul of the cards.
Practical Steps for Collectors
If you're dead set on owning one of these, don't just hit "buy it now" on the first eBay listing you see.
- Check the corners. These boxes are notorious for "whitening" at the edges.
- Verify the seal. Ask for high-res photos of the seal seams.
- Compare prices. Check "Sold" listings, not "Live" listings, to see what people are actually paying.
- Consider the singles. If you just want the art, buy the Mega Lucario-EX Full Art 113/111. It's a gorgeous card with gold borders and it's much cheaper than a sealed box.
Owning a piece of the XY era is a great way to diversify a collection. While everyone is chasing the latest Charizard, the "niche" high-end products like the Mega Lucario ETB tend to hold their value because they weren't over-printed to the same degree as modern sets.
The Mega Evolution mechanic might return one day—rumors always swirl—but this box will always be the original tribute to the Fighting-type king. It represents a time when the game was simpler, the HP totals were lower, and Lucario was the undisputed face of the Mega Revolution.
If you find one at a garage sale or an old hobby shop, don't hesitate. Grab it. Even if the packs inside don't have a Secret Rare, the box itself is a trophy. Just don't expect to win any modern tournaments with the cards inside—unless you're playing in a "Retro" format, where Mega Lucario still reigns supreme.
To preserve the value of a box like this, invest in an acrylic ETB protector. They cost about $20 and will prevent the shrink wrap from tearing, which is the single biggest factor in price depreciation. Keep it out of direct sunlight to avoid fading that vibrant blue and red artwork.