Pitch Black is the fifth English Mega Evolution-era Pokémon set, and it lands July 17, 2026 (prereleases ran July 4–12). It is already one of the most-searched Pokémon sets of the year before a single pack has hit shelves — headlined by a Mega Darkrai ex that a lot of collectors think is the best card of the era. Here's the full picture: what's in it, the cards actually worth chasing, the pull odds, and the honest take on buying in.
Prices below are pre-release and drawn from the Japanese secondary market (English figures settle in the weeks after launch), so treat them as directional, not gospel. Once packs open, check live sold comps — scan any card free for its identification and current value.
What is Pitch Black?
Pitch Black is the smallest set of the Mega Evolution block — roughly 118 cards (81 in the main set plus about 37 secret rares: Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and hyper rares). Its theme ties into the Mega Dimension DLC of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and it is the English counterpart to Japan's Abyss Eye — the two sets are nearly identical, which is why the art has been circulating since the Japanese reveal.
Four Mega Evolution Pokémon ex anchor the set:
- Mega Darkrai ex — the face of the set and its top chase.
- Mega Zeraora ex — the second-most-wanted Mega ex.
- Mega Chandelure ex — a strong SIR in its own right.
- Mega Excadrill ex — the odd one out: it caps at Ultra Rare with no Special Illustration Rare, and carries the least secondary interest of the four.
The chase cards
Value in a modern Pokémon set concentrates in a handful of secret rares. Here are the ones driving Pitch Black:
Pitch Black chase cards
| Card | Rarity | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Darkrai ex #118 | Gold Hyper Rare | The set's crown — the top pull, ~1 in 45 booster boxes |
| Mega Darkrai ex #114 | Special Illustration Rare | Akira Egawa art; widely called one of the best cards of the Mega era (~$364 in Japan pre-release) |
| Gwynn #117 | Special Illustration Rare | Top-tier trainer SIR, high Japanese demand |
| Morpeko ex #115 | Special Illustration Rare | Popular character SIR |
| Mega Zeraora ex #112 | Special Illustration Rare | The #2 Mega ex chase |
| Mega Chandelure ex #113 | Special Illustration Rare | Rounds out the premium SIR tier |
Pull rates — what a box realistically gets you
Early estimates put the gold Mega Darkrai ex Hyper Rare at roughly 1 in 45 booster boxes, and a given Special Illustration Rare at about 1 in 20 boxes. In plain terms: the headline cards are box-breaker rare. Most sealed boxes will return the main-set ex cards and a handful of standard rares — not the chase. Budget accordingly and don't buy a box expecting the Darkrai.
Store and prerelease promos
Retailer-exclusive promos are part of the launch and often outlast the set's hype:
- Store promos: Primarina (Hot Topic, Barnes & Noble, BoxLunch), Zarude (GameStop; EB Games in Canada/Australia), Armarouge (Best Buy; JB Hi-Fi in New Zealand).
- Prerelease promos: Dhelmise, Slowbro, Miraidon, and Bastiodon — handed out at local game store prerelease events from July 4.
The Japanese Abyss Eye connection
Because Pitch Black mirrors Japan's Abyss Eye almost card-for-card, the Japanese set is a preview of what English pulls will look like — and its secondary prices are a rough leading indicator for English demand. If you want to see the same cards that are already circulating, browse the Abyss Eye checklist on AgentGrail.
Should you buy in?
An honest read: pre-release hype is when sealed prices are highest and most speculative. The value case for the singles (especially the Darkrai SIR and gold) is real, but the odds mean chasing them by cracking boxes is a gamble. If you want a specific card, buying the single after release is usually cheaper than the expected value of the packs it takes to pull it. If you're opening for fun, that's the right reason to open. Either way, verify prices against live comps before you spend.
Frequently asked questions
When does Pokémon Pitch Black release?
What is the best card in Pitch Black?
How many cards are in Pitch Black?
Is Pitch Black the same as Abyss Eye?
Pulled something from Pitch Black? Scan it free to identify the exact card and see its live value, or browse more on the Pokémon catalog and the Abyss Eye checklist.