Release Day Isn’t What It Used to Be: My Pokémon Ascended Heroes Strikeout Story

Friday, January 30, 2026, was supposed to be a great day.

It was Pokémon Ascended Heroes release day, and I had everything planned perfectly. PTO was approved. Morning strategy mapped out. The goal was simple: grab at least one pack of the new set on release day and enjoy the hype.

What I didn’t know was that this would turn into one of the most confusing, frustrating, and oddly memorable Pokémon hunts I’ve ever had.

The Early Morning Optimism

The alarm went off early, but I was already awake. I loaded my daughter into the car around 6:40 a.m. and headed out for a 30-minute drive to Target, which was opening at 7:00 a.m. sharp. Release day logic, right?

We get there, I walk up to an employee, and ask the big question.

“They were put out yesterday.”

Yesterday.

I just stood there for a second trying to process that answer. Isn’t the whole point of a release day that… things are released that day?

Apparently not.

Starbucks, Croissants, and False Hope

Since we were already there, we pivoted. We waited in line at Starbucks inside Target. I grabbed a black iced coffee, my daughter got a chocolate croissant, and we regrouped.

Plan B: another Target.

This one opened at 8:00 a.m., and when we pulled up, I immediately noticed a line — about 15 to 20 people deep. That had to be a good sign, right?

Because I had my daughter with me, we waited in the car until the doors opened, then walked in with everyone else. I found an employee and asked about Pokémon cards.

Her response?

“I’m not sure why nobody asked, but we don’t have any Pokémon cards here.”

That’s when it really hit me.

There were 20 people standing in line… without knowing if the store even carried Pokémon cards.

At this point, it was 8:15 a.m., and my optimism was starting to crack.

One Last Target (Surely This One Has Them?)

I decided to try one more Target, about 15 minutes away. Surely three Targets wouldn’t all miss the mark.

Spoiler alert: they did.

Same answer.“They were put out the day before.”

Again.

At 8:40 a.m., my daughter and I took a break and stopped by my grandmother’s house so she could get out, run around, and play. At least someone was winning that morning.

Barnes & Noble, Micro Center, and the Final Straw

At 10:00 a.m., we were back on the road. Next stop: Barnes & Noble.

Nothing.

Down the street was Micro Center, a store where I’ve had luck before (I picked up Phantasmal Flames there in the past). I figured it was worth a shot.

Also nothing.

At this point, it was 10:45 a.m., and reality set in. The second reason I took the day off was to knock out a ton of yard work before my daughter’s 4th birthday party, so it was time to head home.

But before giving up completely, I made a few calls.

The Phone Call Reality Check

On the drive home, I called:

• Three GameStops — all sold out

• Two local TCG shops — neither received any product

That was it.

No packs. No boxes. No release-day rip.

Final Thoughts: Was It Ever Meant to Be?

In the end, I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.

I didn’t secure any preorders online or in-store, and release day itself turned into a full-blown scavenger hunt with no treasure at the end. It’s wild how release days have changed — early stock, inconsistent rollouts, and product selling out before most people even wake up.

Still, it was a morning spent with my daughter, fueled by caffeine and croissants, and that part was a win.

So now I’m curious…

Did anyone actually get lucky enough to find Ascended Heroes packs on release day?

If you did — congrats, and good luck ripping. 🎉