Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution—Pitch Black (2026): Release Date, Checklist & Product Guide
Everything confirmed about the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution—Pitch Black set, releasing July 17, 2026: product lineup, headline Mega ex cards, and how it fits the July 2026 release calendar.
AgentGrail Team
Sports card analyst
Pokémon cards from our catalog
8 cards · tap to explore
Dipplin Scarlet
2025 · Donruss
Exeggcute Scarlet
2025 · Panini Contenders EuroLeague
Drakloak Scarlet
2025 · Upper Deck
Furfrou Scarlet
2025 · Marvel Spider-Man
Duraludon Scarlet
2025 · Panini Prizm
Pokemon Pikachu
2022 · Parkhurst Champions
Dunsparce Scarlet
2025 · Topps 3
Litleo Scarlet
2025 · Mosaic
Mega Evolution—Pitch Black is the next Pokémon TCG expansion, releasing July 17, 2026. It's the follow-up to the Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection (July 3) and lands with a full product wave — booster boxes, two Elite Trainer Box variants, a booster bundle, and a Build & Battle Box for Prerelease events on July 31. Here's what's confirmed so far.
Set name: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black
Release date: July 17, 2026
Card count: 115+ cards
Headline card: Mega Darkrai ex
Sourced and cross-verified 2026-07-14 from Pokemon.com's official July 2026 product release page and independent set-details coverage. Card count and Mega ex lineup will be finalized at release; this page will be updated as more of the checklist is confirmed.
Full July 2026 product lineup
Pitch Black doesn't launch alone — it's part of a three-wave July release, starting with a Premium Collection two weeks earlier and closing with Prerelease Build & Battle Boxes two weeks later.
| Product | Release date | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection | July 3, 2026 | Foil promo (both sizes), tech sticker, 8 booster packs |
| Pitch Black Booster Display Box | July 17, 2026 | 36 booster packs (10 cards + 1 Basic Energy each) |
| Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box | July 17, 2026 | 9 booster packs, Zarude full-art promo, sleeves, Energy, dice |
| Pitch Black Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box | July 17, 2026 | 11 booster packs, two Zarude full-art promos (one PC-logo variant) |
| Pitch Black Booster Bundle | July 17, 2026 | 6 booster packs |
| Pitch Black Build & Battle Box | July 31, 2026 | 40-card ready-to-play deck, 1 of 4 foil promos, 4 booster packs (Prerelease) |
Headline Mega Evolution ex cards
Mega Darkrai ex is the set's main chase card. It's one of six confirmed Mega Evolution ex Pokémon in the set — four are named in official/press coverage so far:
| Card | Role |
|---|---|
| Mega Darkrai ex | Headline / main chase card |
| Mega Zeraora ex | Featured Mega Evolution ex |
| Mega Chandelure ex | Featured Mega Evolution ex |
| Mega Excadrill ex | Featured Mega Evolution ex |
The set also includes Illustration Rares and new Trainer cards, with artwork reportedly inspired by Japan's Abyss Eye set and tying into the Pokémon Legends Z-A: Mega Dimension storyline.
FAQ
When does Mega Evolution—Pitch Black release?
July 17, 2026, for the Booster Display Box, both Elite Trainer Box variants, and the Booster Bundle. A Build & Battle Box follows on July 31, 2026 for Prerelease events.
What's the difference between the two Elite Trainer Box versions?
The standard ETB includes 9 booster packs and one Zarude full-art promo. The Pokémon Center-exclusive ETB includes 11 booster packs and two Zarude full-art promos, one with the Pokémon Center logo.
Is Mega Darkrai ex the only chase card in the set?
It's the headline card, but the set includes six confirmed Mega Evolution ex Pokémon in total, plus Illustration Rares. Four of the six — Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, and Mega Excadrill ex — are named in current coverage.
Related AgentGrail guides
Pokémon Card Types Explained · Pokémon Rarity Symbols Guide · Is My Card Worth Grading? The Complete Grading Guide
AI-grade any card in this set
AgentGrail AI scores corners, centering, edges, and surface — before you grade.
Try AI card analysis →