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Pokémon TCG: Pitch Black is the fifth English Mega Evolution expansion (ME05), releasing July 17, 2026. The 115+ card set is headlined by Mega Darkrai ex and adapts Japan’s Abyss Eye expansion (released 22 May 2026). Below you’ll find the full card list, a special-rarity gallery, product details and where to buy. Prerelease events run July 4–12, 2026.
Pitch Black Set Overview
Japanese Source: Abyss Eye — Pitch Black is a near 1:1 English adaptation of Japan's Abyss Eye, which releases May 22, 2026. As there are no Japanese subsets to draw additional cards from, the English set is expected to closely mirror its source — similar to Phantasmal Flames, Perfect Order, and Chaos Rising before it.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 17, 2026 |
| Prerelease Dates | July 4–12, 2026 |
| Total Cards | 115+ cards, including 20+ Trainers and 37 special illustration cards |
| Set Number | ME05 (Fifth English Mega Evolution set) |
| Set Type | English Booster Expansion |
| Featured Pokémon | Mega Darkrai ex (Set Mascot) · Mega Zeraora ex · Mega Chandelure ex · Mega Excadrill ex |
| Card Rarities | Illustration Rare (IR) • Special Illustration Rare (SIR) Ultra Rare (UR) • Hyper Rare (HR) |
| Japanese Source | Abyss Eye — releases May 22, 2026 |
| Theme | Darkness and the void · Abyss and nightmares · Pokémon Legends: Z-A |
🌑 Officially Announced — Full Card List Below
Pitch Black has been officially announced for July 17, 2026, featuring 115+ cards including Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, and Mega Excadrill ex. The complete card list is below, based on its Japanese source set Abyss Eye, alongside the special-rarity card gallery. Card names and numbering remain provisional until the official English reveal.
Check back closer to release, or follow @Bills_Archive for updates as new cards are revealed.
Official English Card Reveals
The first cards from the English Pitch Black set have now been officially revealed — with their final English names, numbering and artwork. These are confirmed English cards, shown separately from the provisional checklist further down (which mirrors the Japanese Abyss Eye set). English numbering differs from the Japanese set, so revealed cards are listed here and will be merged into the full list as more are confirmed. Zarude and Shadowy Energy were revealed exclusively by Serebii.net.
Full-Art Card Gallery
Below are the 37 special-rarity cards — Illustration Rares, Ultra Rares, Special Illustration Rares and the Hyper Rare — confirmed for Pitch Black's Japanese source set, Abyss Eye. The artwork is shared 1:1 between the two sets, so these images preview what to expect when Pitch Black launches on July 17, 2026. Card numbers shown are from the Japanese Abyss Eye set; the English Pitch Black numbering is still to be confirmed. Rarities are mapped to the English scheme (IR / UR / SIR / HR) and will be finalised once The Pokémon Company reveals the official Pitch Black list.
Card numbers follow the Japanese Abyss Eye set, which Pitch Black adapts almost 1:1; English names and numbering are finalised at the official reveal. Rarities mapped to the English structure: AR→IR, SR→UR, SAR→SIR, MUR→HR. Last updated: Wednesday 17th June 2026.
Chase Cards
The Mega Darkrai ex Special Art Rare from Abyss Eye — the Japanese source set — is the standout chase card of the set. Revealed on 20 May 2026, the SAR was illustrated by Akira Egawa and is widely regarded as one of the most striking cards of the Mega Evolution era. An equivalent is expected to carry over into Pitch Black.
Mega Darkrai ex — SAR (114/081 · Abyss Eye)
Illustrated by Akira Egawa, the SAR depicts Mega Darkrai as an eldritch force — wreathed in shadow and crackling energy, rendered in Egawa's signature atmospheric style. The card generated significant collector interest on reveal and is expected to be one of the most-sought pulls when Pitch Black launches in July 2026.
Card shown is from the Japanese Abyss Eye set (114/081 SAR). English Pitch Black equivalent number TBC.
Build & Battle Box Promo Cards
Prerelease events run July 4–12, 2026. Each Build & Battle Box includes one of four randomly distributed promo cards — exclusive to the prerelease format.
Miraidon
082/081
Slowbro
083/081
Dhelmise
084/081
Bastiodon
085/081
Retailer Gift-With-Purchase Promos
Three more Pitch Black promo cards — Primarina, Zarude and Armarouge — are available as a gift with purchase when you spend $15 or more on Pokémon TCG products at participating retailers (in-store and online, while supplies last). Each features the special 30th Celebration “What’s Your Favorite” stamp.
- Primarina — Hot Topic, Barnes & Noble & BoxLunch (US)
- Zarude — GameStop (US), EB Games (Canada & Australia)
- Armarouge — Best Buy (US), JB Hi-Fi (New Zealand)
Primarina
020/084
Zarude
056/084
Armarouge
012/084
Pitch Black Card List
The complete 81-card main set for Pitch Black, based on its Japanese source set Abyss Eye. Recent English releases have mirrored their Japanese counterparts almost exactly, so this should be all-but-identical to the final Pitch Black checklist. Numbering follows the Japanese set and a handful of names are still working translations — both will be finalised when The Pokémon Company reveals the official English list. The secret rares (082+) are shown in the card gallery above.
Main set: 81 cards (001–081) — five Pokémon ex, three Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, 10 Trainer cards and two Special Energy. Images are from the Japanese Abyss Eye set; English Pitch Black numbers and a few names are provisional. Tap any card to enlarge.
Card Rarities
As an English booster expansion, Pitch Black uses the standard English rarity structure for the Mega Evolution era:
| Rarity | Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| IR Illustration Rare | IR | Full-art illustrated cards with scenic or atmospheric artwork |
| SIR Special Illustration Rare | SIR | Premium full-art cards featuring elaborate artwork — typically Pokémon ex or Supporter cards. The most sought-after pulls in the set |
| UR Ultra Rare | UR | Gold etched cards featuring Pokémon ex and Trainer cards with special foil treatment |
| HR Hyper Rare | HR | The rarest pulls — gold cards at the end of the set list, typically featuring the set mascot |
Products
The following products have been officially confirmed for Pitch Black, available at participating retailers worldwide from July 17, 2026. For a full breakdown of every announcement and exactly when each releases, see the Pitch Black products & release dates guide.
| Image | Product Name | Contents | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Booster Box | 36 booster packs • 10 cards per pack | Jul 17, 2026 |
 |
Elite Trainer Box | 9 booster packs • Promo card • Accessories | Jul 17, 2026 |
 |
Booster Bundle | 6 booster packs | Jul 17, 2026 |
 |
Booster Pack | 10 cards • Single pack | Jul 17, 2026 |
 |
Check Lane Blister | 1 booster pack • 1 promo card • 1 coin | Jul 17, 2026 |
 |
Premium Check Lane Blister | 1 booster pack • 3 promo cards • 1 coin | Jul 17, 2026 |
 |
Build & Battle Box | 4 booster packs • 40-card ready-to-play deck • Prerelease format • 1 of 4 promo cards | Jul 4–12, 2026 |
Pokémon TCG Live digital release: July 16, 2026 — one day before physical — on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, with in-game login bonuses at launch.
Partner Network · Elite Trainer BoxAffiliate disclosure: Bill's Archive may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through eBay Partner Network links.
Where to Buy
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Available at major UK retailers, Pokémon Center UK, and local game stores from July 17, 2026.
🇺🇸 North America
Available at Pokémon Center US, Target, Walmart, and local game stores.
Prerelease events run July 4–12, 2026. Find your local prerelease event through the official Pokémon events page.
Opinions
A few personal takes on the standout special-rarity cards from the set. These are the ones I'm most excited about — both as a collector and on artwork alone. Cards shown are from the Japanese Abyss Eye set; English Pitch Black equivalents are expected to carry over.
Mega Darkrai ex — SIR
Mega Darkrai ex will undoubtedly be the most sought-after card in the set, and it’s probably safe to say that it will become the best Darkrai card ever printed (and maybe the most expensive too). Akira Egawa went full cosmic horror with the art, with the Darkrai in the centre and a burst of colours around it. It’s giving strong cthulhu vibes.
Mega Zeraora ex — SIR
There isn’t much to say about this Zeraora except that it’s amazing! I love the colours on this one, and how the card morphs into the electric background. Even if it doesn’t match the doom and gloom vibe of the rest of the set, this card is easily one of my favourites.
Misty’s Energy — UR
You can always count on nostalgia when it comes to Gen 1 characters, especially Misty. Cards featuring Misty have previously maintained their value, but to have her on her own—now that’s trainer paradise! On top of that, if this card ends up being the mandatory engine that makes the new Mega Evolution decks work, players and collectors are going to be fighting over copies.
About the Name
Darkrai is known in lore as the "Pitch-Black Pokémon" — a Mythical Darkness-type that haunts dreams and cloaks itself in an aura of pure shadow. The set name is a direct nod to this epithet, just as prior English sets in the Mega Evolution era have taken their names from the featured Pokémon's traits or lore.
The name also differentiates the English release from its Japanese counterpart, Abyss Eye, continuing a trend seen across this era — where Japanese sets tend toward evocative natural imagery while English equivalents lean into the Pokémon's character directly. Read our full Darkrai lore & TCG history →
Japanese Source Set
Pitch Black is a near 1:1 adaptation of the Japanese expansion Abyss Eye, releasing May 22, 2026. Because there are no Japanese subsets available to supplement Pitch Black's card pool, the English set will be similarly small in scope — a pattern now established across Phantasmal Flames, Perfect Order, and Chaos Rising.
This trend reflects a broader shift in the English TCG release strategy, moving toward smaller, more frequent set releases that mirror Japan's output rather than combining multiple Japanese sets into a larger English expansion.
| Property | 🇯🇵 Abyss Eye | 🌍 Pitch Black |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | May 22, 2026 | July 17, 2026 |
| Set Mascot | Mega Darkrai ex | Mega Darkrai ex |
| Card Count | 81+ cards | 115+ cards |
| Pack Size | 5 cards | 10 cards |
| Top Rarities | IR · UR · SAR | IR · SIR · UR · HR |
More Set Guides
Explore other Mega Evolution era set guides on Bill's Archive:
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Pokémon TCG Pitch Black release?
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black releases on July 17, 2026 at participating retailers worldwide. Prerelease events run from July 4–12, 2026, and the digital version is available on Pokémon TCG Live from July 16, 2026.
How many cards are in Pitch Black?
Pitch Black contains 115+ cards, including more than 20 Trainer cards and 37 cards with special illustrations.
What Pokémon are in Pitch Black?
The first English Pitch Black cards have now been officially revealed. The confirmed Pokémon are Sinistcha (006), Charjabug (025), Vikavolt (026), Banette (034), Mega Darkrai ex (048 — the set mascot), Zarude (056), Skarmory (060), Mega Excadrill ex (065) and Silvally (070), along with the Backtrack Badge (074) Trainer and two Special Energy — Shadowy Energy (083) and Voltaic Energy (084). The full 115+ card set is based on Japan's Abyss Eye and also includes Mega Zeraora ex and Mega Chandelure ex; more cards will be confirmed as official reveals continue.
What Japanese set is Pitch Black based on?
Pitch Black is a near 1:1 English adaptation of the Japanese set Abyss Eye (アビスアイ), which released in Japan on May 22, 2026. As with previous English Mega Evolution sets, it closely mirrors its Japanese source with no additional subsets combined.
Why is it called Pitch Black?
Darkrai is officially known as the "Pitch-Black Pokémon" in the Pokémon lore — a Mythical Dark-type that haunts dreams and surrounds itself in an aura of shadow. The English set name is a direct reference to this epithet, following the Mega Evolution era convention of naming English sets after the featured Pokémon's lore rather than translating the Japanese title directly.
What products are available for Pitch Black?
Pitch Black launches with a Booster Box (36 packs), Elite Trainer Box, Booster Bundle (6 packs), single Booster Packs, a Check Lane Blister, a Pokémon Center exclusive Check Lane Blister, and a Build & Battle Box for prerelease events (July 4–12).
When does the Pokémon Center Pitch Black queue drop?
The first Pokémon Center queue for Pitch Black dropped on June 10, 2026 — over a month ahead of the official July 17 release date — selling the exclusive Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box alongside Booster Bundles and Booster Boxes, with a limit of 2 ETBs per person. Further drops are expected after the official release date, so keep an eye on the Pokémon Center website if you missed out.
Pokémon TCG collector and archivist. Covering set releases, card market analysis, and collector guides. Master-setted Stellar Crown — currently working through 151, Black & White, and Prismatic Evolutions. Favourite game: Pokémon Emerald. Favourite Pokémon: Rayquaza.