Pokémon Pitch Black is the fifth main set of the Mega Evolution series, and it belongs to Mega Darkrai ex. Darkrai leads the pack art and the chase list, with Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex alongside it. This guide covers the release date, the full card list, the cards worth chasing and the best products to open.

Pokémon Pitch Black release date and basics

The Pokémon Pitch Black release date was July 17, 2026, worldwide. Prerelease events ran from July 4 to 12, and the set reached Pokémon TCG Live on July 16. It is usually labeled ME05, with the card code PBL.

The four Mega Evolution Pokémon ex on the booster pack designs are Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex. As with other Mega Evolution sets, each has its own double rare, ultra rare and special artwork, which gives fans of each Pokémon something to collect.

The Japanese version: Abyss Eye

In Japan, most of these cards first appeared in MEGA expansion pack Abyss Eye (M5) on May 22, 2026, with 118 cards. The English set adds three cards from Japanese Gym promo sets: Mega Delphox ex, Mega Slowbro ex and the Supporter Jett. For Japanese packs, see the Japanese Abyss Eye booster box.

English extras: Mega Delphox ex, Mega Slowbro ex and Jett

Because the English set adds those three Gym promo cards, Pitch Black has 120 cards against Abyss Eye’s 118. Mega Delphox ex and Mega Slowbro ex give English collectors two extra Mega ex that are not in the Japanese booster set, and Jett is a useful Supporter for players.

Pokémon Pitch Black card list

The Pokémon Pitch Black card list has 84 main cards and 36 secret cards, 120 in total:

001–084: the main set, including the four Mega ex plus Mega Delphox ex and Mega Slowbro ex.
085–095: 11 illustration rares.
096–113: 18 ultra rares, including Lurantis ex, Wailord ex, Rampardos ex and Morpeko ex.
114–119: 6 special illustration rares.
120: 1 Mega Hyper Rare, the gold Mega Darkrai ex.

The Beckett Pitch Black checklist lists every card with its number if you are tracking a master set.

Pokémon Pitch Black chase cards

Mega Darkrai ex

Darkrai is the face of the set, and both of its top cards lead the chase list. Mega Darkrai ex 116/084 is the special illustration rare and has been the most valuable card in early market tracking, while Mega Darkrai ex 120/084 is the gold Mega Hyper Rare. Darkrai fans can also pick up the Mega Forces Tin with Mega Darkrai ex.

The other special illustration rares

Morpeko ex 117/084
Mega Zeraora ex 114/084
Mega Chandelure ex 115/084
Gwynn 119/084, a Supporter special illustration rare
Gladion’s Final Battle 118/084, another Supporter special illustration rare

Morpeko ex has been a surprise hit, and the two Supporter cards are popular with collectors who like trainer artwork. Zeraora fans have the Mega Forces Tin with Mega Zeraora ex too.

Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex

Mega Chandelure ex brings a ghostly purple look that suits the set’s dark theme, and its special illustration rare is one of the most striking cards in the release. Mega Excadrill ex is the only one of the four headline Mega ex without a special illustration rare, which makes its double rare and ultra rare the versions to collect. Together with Darkrai and Zeraora, these four Pokémon make a neat binder page.

There are no reliable published pull rates for Pitch Black yet. As in other Mega Evolution sets, expect special illustration rares to be rare and the gold card to be very rare.

Pitch Black Pokémon Center ETB vs the regular ETB

The regular Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box has 9 booster packs, a full-art foil Zarude promo, 65 sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector’s box and a code card.

The Pitch Black Pokémon Center ETB adds two packs and a Zarude promo stamped with the Pokémon Center logo. Sales opened through a Pokémon Center queue on June 10, 2026, with a limit of two per person, so it sold quickly. The regular box is the easier option for most collectors.

Build and Battle Box

The Build and Battle Box includes a 40-card deck, 4 booster packs and one of four foil promos: Miraidon, Slowbro, Dhelmise or Bastiodon. It also has exclusive non-holo versions of Silvally and Voltaic Lightning Energy, which master set collectors need.

Which Pitch Black product should you buy?

Booster box: 36 packs, the best odds of pulling Darkrai and the best price per pack.
Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs, the Zarude promo and accessories, ideal for new players and gifts.
Booster bundle: 6 packs and nothing else, the easiest way to try the set.

Is Pitch Black worth collecting?

If you like Dark-type Pokémon, Pitch Black is a highlight of the year. The set has a clear star in Mega Darkrai ex, a strong supporting cast and some of the best trainer artwork in the series. At 120 cards it is also small enough that a booster box gets you close to the full main set.

As with every modern set, most of the value sits in a few secret rares. If you want one particular card, buying the single is usually the cheaper route, and sealed boxes are best kept upright in a cool, dry room.

How Pitch Black fits the Mega Evolution series

Pitch Black follows Mega Evolution, Phantasmal Flames, Perfect Order and Chaos Rising, with Delta Reign next in November 2026. Each set has added four or so new Mega ex, and Pitch Black’s Mega Darkrai ex is one of the most striking so far.

Building a Mega Darkrai collection

Darkrai has been a fan favorite since its first cards, and Pitch Black gives it the spotlight. A simple Darkrai collection could start with the double rare and ultra rare Mega Darkrai ex from the set, add the special illustration rare when you can, and finish with the Mega Forces Tin promo. If you like Japanese cards, the Abyss Eye version of the special illustration rare is a nice companion piece.

Tips for collecting the set

Start with the four Mega ex in their double rare and ultra rare versions.
Add the illustration rares next; they are affordable and look great together.
Sleeve and toploader special illustration rares straight away.

Pokémon Pitch Black FAQ

What is the Pokémon Pitch Black release date?

July 17, 2026, worldwide.

How many cards are in Pitch Black?

120 cards: 84 in the main set and 36 secret cards.

What is the best card in Pitch Black?

Mega Darkrai ex 116/084 special illustration rare, followed by the gold Mega Darkrai ex.

A full-art foil Zarude. The Pokémon Center edition includes a Zarude stamped with the Pokémon Center logo.

More Mega Evolution guides

Read our Chaos Rising card list, Delta Reign guide and Perfect Order guide, or browse all our TCG news and guides.

Pokémon Pitch Black: Card List, Mega Darkrai ex Chase Cards and Release Date

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