2015 164 cards

Pokemon BREAKthrough Set

A landmark 164-card expansion introducing the gold BREAK Evolution mechanic alongside Mega Mewtwo EX in two formes.

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Difficulty

3/5 to complete

Avg Card Value

Varies

Market average

Top Card

Mega Mewtwo EX Full Art

See market

Rarity Tier

Moderate

Overview

BREAKthrough is a massive 164-card expansion released in November 2015 that introduced the BREAK Evolution mechanic. BREAK cards feature a distinctive gold card design and evolve on top of existing Pokemon to add new abilities. The set stars both Mega Mewtwo EX Y and X formes, making it a psychic-heavy expansion with broad competitive impact.

Best for

People buying nostalgia sets who need the right Charizard-era print
collectors pricing BREAKthrough (2015, 164 cards) as XY / BREAK / generations nostalgia cardboard — not as generic “old cards”
buyers who already know Mega Mewtwo EX Full Art / Mewtwo EX is the expensive row in BREAKthrough

Skip this path if

you refuse subset tracking and still want a clean master set claim
you expect every card in BREAKthrough to carry similar resale (bulk is bulk)

Common mistakes

The expensive mistake on BREAKthrough is paying Evolutions Charizard money without matching the exact print. Set code xy8 (2015) is the membership test — character name alone will not save a bad buy. Budget Mega Mewtwo EX Full Art / Mewtwo EX as priority singles; the other 162 cards are not the same project.

What to check first

Pull up Mega Mewtwo EX Full Art / Mewtwo EX first — number, finish, and surface — then decide if the ask is real. Parallel check: set symbol and number, especially on nostalgia crossovers people mislabel. Only after that does the full BREAKthrough checklist tell you what is left.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

Mega Mewtwo EX Full Art (#158, Y forme) is the headliner at $35-65 near-mint. Mega Mewtwo EX Full Art (#159, X forme) is equally sought after. Zoroark BREAK holds $8-15 as the most played BREAK card. Houndoom EX Full Art and the secret rare Mewtwo EX (#164) round out the premium pulls.

M Mewtwo EX

M Mewtwo EX

Brigette

Giovanni's Scheme

Mewtwo EX

Mewtwo EX

Full Collection

Cards from BREAKthrough

Tap any card to see price history and details.

28 of 164

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Tips to finish the set

BREAKthrough at 164 cards matches Primal Clash as one of the largest XY sets. The BREAK cards use a unique gold foil that shows wear easily, so prioritize near-mint copies. Both Mewtwo EX Full Art variants are worth pursuing individually rather than through pack openings.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

01

Identify BREAKthrough cards by set code xy8 / symbol — do not sort by art alone
02

Split bulk commons/uncommons from holos and special rarities before pricing
03

Track Mega Mewtwo EX Full Art and Mewtwo EX as priority singles, not pack EV fantasies
04

Scan or checklist-gap the rest after the chase budget is honest

Scan with the app

BREAK cards have a rotated landscape orientation and gold texture that standard scanners struggle with. Our scanner is optimized to read BREAK cards at any angle and correctly identify the unique numbering system. It distinguishes between the two Mega Mewtwo EX formes instantly.

FAQ

Common questions

01 What are BREAK Evolution cards?

BREAK Evolution cards are gold-colored cards that evolve on top of a Pokemon, adding new attacks or abilities while retaining the previous moves. They have a distinctive horizontal/landscape orientation and are placed sideways on the Pokemon they evolve from.

02 Which Mega Mewtwo EX is better competitively?

The Mega Mewtwo EX Y forme (Psychic Infinity attack) saw more competitive play, dealing 10 damage plus 30 for each energy attached to both Active Pokemon. It was the centerpiece of several tournament-winning decks in 2016.

03 How many BREAK cards are in BREAKthrough?

BREAKthrough contains 8 BREAK Evolution cards, including Zoroark BREAK, Raichu BREAK, Marowak BREAK, Chesnaught BREAK, Noivern BREAK, and others.

04 What is the set symbol for BREAKthrough?

BREAKthrough uses a blue and gold shattered/broken circle as its set symbol, representing the breakthrough concept and the new BREAK Evolution mechanic.