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Pokémon TCG: Pitch Black is the fifth English Mega Evolution expansion (ME05), releasing July 17, 2026. The 120-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 English card list with final numbering, the 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, released May 22, 2026. The English set adds three cards from Japanese Gym promo sets — Mega Delphox ex (008), Mega Slowbro ex (031) and Jett (079) — and cuts Zarude's Illustration Rare, which is the Elite Trainer Box promo instead.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 17, 2026 |
| Prerelease Dates | July 4–12, 2026 |
| Total Cards | 120 cards — 84-card base set plus 36 secret rares |
| 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 · Mega Delphox ex · Mega Slowbro ex |
| Card Rarities | Illustration Rare (IR) • Special Illustration Rare (SIR) Ultra Rare (UR) • Hyper Rare (HR) |
| Japanese Source | Abyss Eye — released May 22, 2026 |
| Theme | Darkness and the void · Abyss and nightmares · Pokémon Legends: Z-A |
🌑 Official English Cards Released
The official English cards have been released. The complete card list and the special-rarity card gallery are below, showing every card with its official English artwork, name, numbering and rarity. Pitch Black releases July 17, 2026, headlined by Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex.
Follow @Bills_Archive for updates.
Full-Art Card Gallery
Below are the 36 secret-rare cards of Pitch Black — Illustration Rares, Ultra Rares, Special Illustration Rares and the Hyper Rare — numbered 085/084 to 120/084, with final English names and numbering. Compared with the Japanese Abyss Eye secret list, the English set cuts Zarude's Illustration Rare; that artwork is used for the Elite Trainer Box promo instead.
Secret rares: 11 Illustration Rares (085–095), 18 Ultra Rares (096–113), six Special Illustration Rares (114–119) and one Hyper Rare (120). Numbering is the final English numbering. Tap any card to enlarge.
Chase Cards
The Mega Darkrai ex Special Illustration Rare — card 116/084 — is the standout chase card of the set. Illustrated by Akira Egawa, the artwork first appeared on the Japanese Abyss Eye SAR revealed on 20 May 2026 and is widely regarded as one of the most striking cards of the Mega Evolution era.
Mega Darkrai ex — SIR (116/084)
Illustrated by Akira Egawa, the SIR 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.
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. The promos are numbered as ME Series Black Star Promos (MEP 082–085), not as part of the main set.
Miraidon
MEP 082
Slowbro
MEP 083
Dhelmise
MEP 084
Bastiodon
MEP 085
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
Elite Trainer Box Promo
The Elite Trainer Box promo is Zarude, using the Illustration Rare artwork from Japan's Abyss Eye that was cut from the English set list.
Pitch Black Card List
The complete 84-card base set for Pitch Black, from Tropius (001/084) to Voltaic Energy (084/084), with final English names and numbering. Compared with its Japanese source set Abyss Eye, the English set adds three cards from Japanese Gym promo sets: Mega Delphox ex (008), Mega Slowbro ex (031) and Jett (079). Miraidon (028), Koraidon (047) and Zarude (056) are Holo Rares in the English set. The secret rares (085/084–120/084) are shown in the card gallery above.
Main set: 84 cards (001–084) — 71 Pokémon including ten Pokémon ex (six of them Mega Evolution ex), 11 Trainer cards and two Special Energy. 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. The 36 secret rares break down as 11 Illustration Rares (085–095), 18 Ultra Rares (096–113), six Special Illustration Rares (114–119) and one Hyper Rare (120):
| 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.
Mega Darkrai ex — SIR (116/084)
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 (114/084)
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 Vitality — UR (111/084)
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, released May 22, 2026. Because there are no Japanese subsets to supplement Pitch Black's card pool, the English set is similarly small — at 120 cards it is the smallest English set of the Mega Evolution era so far, a pattern established across Phantasmal Flames, Perfect Order, and Chaos Rising. The English set adds Mega Delphox ex, Mega Slowbro ex and Jett from Japanese Gym promo sets, and cuts Zarude's Illustration Rare.
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 | 118 cards (81 + 37 secret rares) | 120 cards (84 + 36 secret rares) |
| 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 120 cards: an 84-card base set plus 36 secret rares — 11 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares, six Special Illustration Rares and one Hyper Rare. It is the smallest English set of the Mega Evolution era so far.
What Pokémon are in Pitch Black?
The full English set list is confirmed. The 84-card base set runs from Tropius (001/084) to Voltaic Energy (084/084), headlined by set mascot Mega Darkrai ex (048) alongside Mega Delphox ex (008), Mega Zeraora ex (027), Mega Slowbro ex (031), Mega Chandelure ex (038) and Mega Excadrill ex (065), plus Lurantis ex, Wailord ex, Rampardos ex and Morpeko ex. Other Pokémon include Miraidon, Koraidon, Zarude, Chi-Yu, Type: Null and Silvally. Secret rares run from 085/084 to 120/084. The set is based on Japan's Abyss Eye.
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.