There's always been a console war-esque discussion between LEGO and Mega Bloks, although not nearly as ridiculous. Both toy brands have seen their fair share of licensed sets over the years, and it's rare when they have overlap. Starting February 2026, LEGO will release its first Pokémon-themed sets, but did you know that Mega Bloks has had its sets available for years? Popular LEGO sets often either sell out fast or are hard to find, but the Mega Bloks Pokémon sets are both a cheaper and more readily available alternative, depending on what you're looking for.

The Best Pokémon Mega Bloks Sets Available Now

The newly-announced LEGO Pokémon sets have already fallen victim to eBay scalpers and resellers, with some listings of the massive Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise diorama set (which MRSPs at $649.99) going for upwards of $1,600. Compared to the Mega Bloks version of Charizard by itself, which is going for just $18.65 on Amazon, the difference in price is staggering. Sure, you don't get a Venusuar or Blastoise to go along with the Fire-type starter, but with how similar the designs are, nobody would blame you for skipping the LEGO version entirely in favor of a cheaper alternative. The LEGO Eevee set is currently going for $59.99, sitting in the middle of the two Mega Bloks versions of the same Pokémon, which are $47.79 and $89.99 on Amazon, respectively.

Another issue many fans are having with the LEGO versions is the overall design. Take the Pikachu set, for example. The Mega Bloks version is a fairly faithful recreation of the creature we've grown so familiar with, while the LEGO version is admittedly a bit hard to look at. It's worth noting that the LEGO version is nearly double the piece count compared to the Mega Bloks version - it's made up of 2,050 pieces versus 1,095, so it's interesting to see that LEGO seems to have missed the mark with the design of the most iconic Pokémon to date.

While there are many LEGO purists and loyalists (I probably count myself among them), it's hard to deny the significantly better value Mega Bloks is offering when it comes to licensed Pokémon building sets. I know we've likely only just seen the tip of the iceberg with what Pokémon sets LEGO will release, but even the selection of different monsters Mega Bloks has is better. And as a die-hard Dragonite fan, I'm eagerly waiting for LEGO to catch up.

LEGO Pokémon Sets Up for Preorder

While some preorders are sold out for now, here are the LEGO Pokémon sets scheduled to release at the end of February. And with Pokémon's 30th anniversary on the horizon and a Pokémon Presents showcase likely, odds are we'll see more of what LEGO has in store.

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.