Pokemon TCG Pitch Black: Complete Guide & Card List

Darkness is here — Mega Darkrai ex leads Pitch Black to shelves on July 17, 2026.

Pokemon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black is the fifth expansion in the Mega Evolution Series (set code ME05) and the darkest yet, thematically and aesthetically. The English adaptation of Japan's Abyss Eye (M5), this 120-card set features six Mega Evolution ex led by mascot Mega Darkrai ex, alongside Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, Mega Excadrill ex, Mega Delphox ex, and Mega Slowbro ex.

The set's narrative frames Mega Darkrai arriving "with mystery and malice" as twinkling city lights and a starry sky are swallowed by shadow. Where Chaos Rising (ME04) was about open conflict in the streets, Pitch Black is something more unsettling: a darkness that blankets everything caught beneath it. The Mega Darkrai ex Special Illustration Rare (#116), illustrated by Akira Egawa, is the anchor chase card of the summer — with the Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare (#120) sitting above it as the single gold pull of the set.

Prerelease events have wrapped (they ran July 4-12, 2026), the full card list is confirmed, and launch is just days away. Here's everything you need before the packs hit — including whether that Darkrai pull is worth grading. Want live prices? See our Pitch Black set list & price guide.

📋 What's In This Guide

🌑 Most Valuable Cards in Pitch Black

Pitch Black has six Mega Evolution ex and 36 secret rares. Here's the chase list, ranked by what collectors are targeting, with launch-window estimates:

Mega Zeraora ex — SIR (#114)

Mega Zeraora ex is the set's second headline SIR. Zeraora has built a serious following since its debut as an event-exclusive Mythical — the kind of Pokemon where collectors seek out every variant. As an Electric-type it's built for speed and aggression, which tends to make it a competitive playable too. Expect it to carry a Mythical premium behind Darkrai.

Mega Chandelure ex — SIR (#115)

Mega Chandelure ex is the sleeper collectors shouldn't ignore. Ghost/Fire is a rare and genuinely gorgeous type combination, and Chandelure has one of the most dedicated fan bases of any non-legendary Pokemon — the kind that drives SIR prices higher than the raw stats suggest.

Morpeko ex — SIR (#117)

Morpeko ex brings the fan-favorite Hangry-mode gimmick into the SIR lineup. Morpeko has strong crossover appeal from the Galar games and anime, and gimmick Pokemon with a personality tend to punch above their rarity in the collector market.

Gladion's Final Battle (#118) & Gwynn (#119) — Character SIRs

The two character/trainer Special Illustration Rares round out the top of the set. Gladion's Final Battle leans on Alola nostalgia, while Gwynn is a full-art trainer SIR. These are the cards master-set collectors chase to complete the special-art run, and character SIRs have been some of the strongest performers across the ME era.

The Other Mega ex — Excadrill, Delphox & Slowbro

Rounding out the six Megas: Mega Excadrill ex (Ground/Steel — the most competitively approachable, tanky HP and budget-deck utility), Mega Delphox ex (Fire, with strong artwork appeal), and Mega Slowbro ex (a fan-favorite whose Slowbro Build & Battle promo, MEP 083, already primed collector interest at prerelease). Their double-rare and SIR versions are the accessible end of the Mega chase — solid targets if you want the full set without four-figure spend.

📊 Card Type Breakdown

Pitch Black is a 120-card set: an 84-card main set plus 36 secret rares. Here's the full breakdown:

Note: Pitch Black is the English adaptation of Japan's Abyss Eye (M5). The 6 SIRs are Mega Zeraora ex (#114), Mega Chandelure ex (#115), Mega Darkrai ex (#116), Morpeko ex (#117), Gladion's Final Battle (#118), and Gwynn (#119), with the Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare closing the set at #120.

Pitch Black Full Card List

All 120 cards in numbered order, with raw market values from our own price data. Cards with no recent sale show a dash rather than a zero: we have nothing to quote, which is not the same as the card being worthless.

🎲 Pull Rates & Your Odds

Based on patterns from Chaos Rising, Perfect Order, and the Abyss Eye data from Japan, here are the estimated pull rates for Pitch Black:

At 120 cards with six SIRs and a single Mega Hyper Rare, Pitch Black keeps a tight ratio of chase cards to filler — but the Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare (#120) is genuinely scarce, often not landing even once in a full booster box. On a per-box basis, budget roughly $800-900 to realistically expect one SIR, and treat the #120 as a lottery ticket rather than an expectation.

Note: These are estimates based on comparable Mega Evolution sets. Pokemon Company doesn't publish official pull rates, so actual results will vary.

⚙️ Mega Evolution Pokemon ex Mechanics

How Mega Evolution Works in the TCG

Mega Evolution Pokemon ex evolve from basic Pokemon ex and represent the peak of competitive power in the Mega Evolution Series. They hit harder, tank more damage, and create the board-flipping moments that define games.

The Trade-Off

• High HP: These are tanks. Significantly bulkier than standard Pokemon ex.
• Game-swinging attacks: The kind of damage output that can close a game in a single turn.
• Three Prize cards: When a Mega Evolution Pokemon ex gets knocked out, your opponent takes three Prize cards — half the game in one shot.
• Evolution required: They must evolve from the corresponding base Pokemon ex. No cold-starting them.

Mega Darkrai ex is built for the three-Prize bet. A Dark-type with high HP and presumably aggressive energy costs means if you get one clean knockout with it, you're controlling the pace of the match. The counterplay is always whether your opponent can answer it before it does the same to them.

📦 Pitch Black Products

Here's what's available starting July 17, 2026:

Main Products

• Booster Pack — 10-card pack (~$4.49 MSRP)
• Booster Box — 36 packs per box
• Booster Bundle — 6 packs
• Sleeved Booster Case — 24 individually sleeved booster packs
• Check Lane Blister — 1 pack + promo coin

Premium Products

• Elite Trainer Box — 9 booster packs, full-art Zarude promo card, 65 Mega Darkrai-themed card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, 6 damage-counter dice, coin-flip die, Mega Darkrai coin, player's guide with checklist, collector's box (~$49.99 MSRP)
• Pokemon Center Exclusive ETB — 11 packs + exclusive stamped promo card + exclusive accessories. Every prior Mega Evolution PC ETB has sold out at source. Pre-order the moment it goes live.
• Build & Battle Box — Was available at prerelease events (July 4-12, now over); sealed boxes and the MEP 082-085 promos trade on the secondary market

Store-Exclusive Promo Cards (30th Anniversary "What's Your Favorite?" Stamp)

Tied to the 30th-anniversary celebration, several retailers are distributing stamped promo cards with Pitch Black purchases. Which promo you get depends on the store:

• Primarina — Hot Topic, Barnes & Noble, BoxLunch
• Zarude — GameStop, EB Games
• Armarouge — Best Buy, JB Hi-Fi

Where to Buy

• Pokemon Center (PC ETB sells out fast — highest priority)
• TCGPlayer
• Hobby retailers (Magic Madhouse, local game stores)
• Big box stores (Walmart, Best Buy, Target) at or after the July 17 launch

🎉 Pre-Release Recap (July 4-12, 2026)

Prerelease events have wrapped. They ran July 4-12, 2026 at participating Play! Pokemon Retailers, over the July 4th holiday window in the US. If you attended, your Build & Battle Box included 4 Pitch Black packs, a preconstructed 40-card ready-to-play deck, and one of the exclusive prerelease promos.

The four Build & Battle prerelease promos were:

• Miraidon — MEP 082
• Slowbro — MEP 083
• Dhelmise — MEP 084
• Bastiodon — MEP 085

Missed the prerelease? The full set drops July 17, 2026 — that's your next shot at Mega Darkrai ex. The MEP 082-085 promos also trade on the secondary market if you want to complete the prerelease set.

🔍 Grading Guide for Pitch Black Cards

Pull a Mega Darkrai ex SIR? Before you commit to grading fees, know what you're actually working with.

What Graders Look For

PSA and CGC grade on four criteria: centering, corners, edges, and surface. Across prior Mega Evolution sets, the most common issues have been:

• Centering: The ME series has run tighter centering than Scarlet & Violet era, but off-center SIRs still happen. Check both front-to-back and left-right alignment — back centering matters at PSA.
• Corner white ding: Dark-artwork SIRs are unforgiving. A single white corner ding on Mega Darkrai's black background shows up instantly and kills your PSA 10 shot. Check corners under bright light before submitting.
• Surface scratches: Full-art and SIR foil cards pick up pack friction scratches easily. Even light swirling under raking light can cost a grade point.
• Print lines: A recurring issue on high-foil ME set cards. Run your card under a flashlight at 45 degrees before deciding whether to submit.

Should You Grade?

For Mega Darkrai ex SIR specifically: if the card looks clean, yes. A PSA 10 Mega Greninja SIR from Chaos Rising is already pulling a 2-4x multiplier over raw. Darkrai has at least that much demand potential, probably more. Our full grading guide walks you through when submission makes financial sense versus selling raw.

Scan your card with CardGrader.AI first. Get an instant condition report — we flag centering issues, surface flaws, and corner problems that are easy to miss without magnification. Know what you're submitting before you pay the fees.

💰 Price Estimates

Based on how Chaos Rising (ME04) and prior Mega Evolution sets have performed, here are our launch-window estimates for Pitch Black. For live, per-card raw and graded prices, see the Pitch Black set list & price guide.

The Darkrai premium is real: Darkrai is one of the most consistently valuable Pokemon across every card era, and as the set mascot it carries both the sole Mega Hyper Rare (#120) and the top SIR (#116). Compare how Mega Gengar SIRs from Phantasmal Flames have held versus other ME cards — that's the ceiling Darkrai is competing with, with more mainstream name recognition behind it.

All estimates are based on comparable Mega Evolution set performance. Actual values depend on print run size, pull rates, and market demand. Expect the most volatility in the first two to four weeks after release.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When does Pitch Black release?

Pitch Black releases on July 17, 2026 worldwide. Prerelease events ran July 4-12, 2026 at Play! Pokemon Retailers and are now over.

How many cards are in Pitch Black?

120 cards total — an 84-card main set plus 36 secret rares (11 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares, 6 Special Illustration Rares, and 1 Mega Hyper Rare).

What are the most valuable cards in Pitch Black?

The top chase is the Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare (#120), the single gold pull of the set, followed by the Mega Darkrai ex Special Illustration Rare (#116) — illustrated by Akira Egawa, with launch estimates around $400-600. Other SIRs include Mega Zeraora ex (#114), Mega Chandelure ex (#115), Morpeko ex (#117), Gladion's Final Battle (#118), and Gwynn (#119).

Which Mega Evolution ex are in Pitch Black?

Six: Mega Darkrai ex (mascot), Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, Mega Excadrill ex, Mega Delphox ex, and Mega Slowbro ex.

What is the set code for Pitch Black?

Pitch Black's set code is ME05, the fifth expansion in the Mega Evolution Series.

Is Pitch Black based on a Japanese set?

Yes — Pitch Black is the English adaptation of Japan's Abyss Eye (M5) expansion, largely a 1:1 port with standard English additions.

What's in the Elite Trainer Box?

The standard Pitch Black ETB includes 9 booster packs, a full-art Zarude promo card, 65 Mega Darkrai-themed card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, 6 damage-counter dice, a player's guide, a coin-flip die, a Mega Darkrai coin, and a collector's box. The Pokemon Center exclusive ETB includes 11 packs and an exclusive stamped promo.

How many Prize cards do Mega Evolution Pokemon ex give?

When a Mega Evolution Pokemon ex is knocked out, your opponent takes three Prize cards, compared to two for standard Pokemon ex. That's the core risk-reward of the mechanic.

📚 Related Articles

• Pitch Black Set List & Live Prices (ME05)
• Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration Complete Guide
• Delta Reign Complete Guide (ME06)
• Chaos Rising Complete Guide (ME04)
• Perfect Order Complete Guide (ME03)
• Ascended Heroes Complete Guide (ME02)
• Phantasmal Flames Complete Guide (ME01)
• Pokemon Pull Rates Explained
• Should I Grade My Pokemon Card?
• PSA 10 Requirements: What It Really Takes