Mega Symphonia

Ryota Murayama's Mega Lucario ex MHR is the centrepiece of Symphonia. The composition places Lucario mid-Aura Sphere charge — the blue energy sphere illuminating the steel-type spikes from below, casting cold light across a dark arena. Murayama's understanding of Lucario's design — the aura sensors, the bone staff, the dignified combat posture — is evident in every detail. The MHR finish on this card is exceptional in person, the matte surface throwing back light differently from every angle.

Naoki Saito's Mega Gardevoir ex MHR takes a different approach from the SIR version — softer, more dreamlike, with trailing ribbons of psychic energy framing Gardevoir in a swirl of pink and white. The MHR format suits this illustration particularly well: the matte finish makes the soft colour gradients appear almost painted, giving the card a tactile quality that photographs cannot convey.

Akira Komayama's SIR treatment of Mega Gardevoir ex is the darker, more dramatic counterpart to Naoki Saito's MHR. Deep violet and black dominate, with Gardevoir's silhouette backlit by a crescent moon. The psychic energy tendrils take on a more ominous character here — Gardevoir as protector-become-force rather than elegant companion. Two interpretations of the same card are a collector's luxury: which resonates depends entirely on your relationship with the character.