Pitch Black Wakes the Nightmare Pokémon

The wait is over. Pitch Black, the newest Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution expansion, officially launched on July 17, 2026, and the set name is no accident. Darkrai has been the Pitch-Black Pokémon since its Sinnoh debut, and this expansion finally hands it a Mega Evolution to match.

Based on Japan's Abyss Eye set and drawing on the Mega Dimension chapter of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Pitch Black is the fifth main expansion in the Mega Evolution series. Where Chaos Rising tipped the scales, this one turns out the lights.

What Makes Pitch Black Special?

Six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex debut here, the largest Mega lineup of the series so far. Every one of them gives up three Prize cards when knocked out, so building around them is a genuine gamble:

• Mega Darkrai ex: a 280 HP Darkness Basic and the face of the set. Dusk Raid hits for 110, doubling to 220 the moment your own Bench has damage counters on it. Abyss Eye is the real threat: no damage number at all, it simply knocks out your opponent's Active Pokémon if it's affected by a Special Condition
• Mega Chandelure ex: 350 HP. Phantom Maze starts at 130 and adds 50 for every Colorless in the defender's Retreat Cost, punishing anything slow
• Mega Delphox ex: 350 HP. Trick Portal digs nine cards deep and drops any Pokémon it finds straight onto your Bench, then Eerie Glow hits 200 and leaves the defender Burned and Confused
• Mega Excadrill ex: 340 HP. Undermine mills two cards while dealing 90, and Maximum Drilling climbs from 200 to 330 with two extra Energy attached
• Mega Slowbro ex: 330 HP. Shellnado Spin deals 180 and answers back when Slowbro takes damage, even if it's knocked out
• Mega Zeraora ex: a 270 HP Lightning Basic. Thunderous Fist scales at 60 damage per Lightning Energy attached, and Zepto Turn hits 150 and pivots to the Bench

Pokémon ex Highlights

Four more Pokémon ex round out the Double Rares:

• Wailord ex: 380 HP, the biggest body in the set. Falling Down swings for 270 at the cost of falling asleep
• Rampardos ex: 330 HP. Rowdy Hammer deals 150, then adds 150 more to your next attack
• Lurantis ex: 260 HP. Lively Cutter jumps from 60 to 260 if Lurantis was healed that turn
• Morpeko ex: 180 HP, and the most interesting design here. Wheely Draw shuffles your hand away for six fresh cards, while Hangry Blaster grows by 40 for every damage counter on Morpeko itself

New Trainers and Supporters

• Gladion's Final Battle, the headline Supporter and one of only two Trainers to get a Special Illustration Rare
• Gwynn, the other Trainer SIR in the set
• Misty's Vitality, a classic name returning in a new form
• Rust Syndicate Grunt and Jett, fresh faces tied to the set's story
• Dark Bell, an Item that Confuses both Active Pokémon, except Darkness types. Read that again alongside Abyss Eye
• Fossil Quarry, Antique Armor Fossil and Antique Skull Fossil bring a fossil package back into Standard
• Brave Bangle, Backtrack Badge, Tremendous Bomb, Iron Defender, Crushing Hammer and Energy Switch fill out the Item lineup

Special Energy

Two new Special Energy cards debut in this expansion:

• Shadowy Darkness Energy
• Voltaic Lightning Energy

Chase Cards and Rarities

Collectors have 36 secret rares to hunt across four bands:

• 11 Illustration Rares featuring Fomantis, Armarouge, Goldeen, Primarina, Manectric, Slowbro, Dhelmise, Thievul, Bastiodon, Toucannon and Silvally
• 18 Ultra Rare Pokémon and Trainer cards
• 6 Special Illustration Rares: Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, Mega Darkrai ex, Morpeko ex, plus Gladion's Final Battle and Gwynn
• 1 Mega Hyper Rare: Mega Darkrai ex at 120/084, the crown jewel of the set and the pull everyone is chasing

What's Inside:

• 84 main set cards + 36 secret rares (120 total)
• 6 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex (all TCG debuts)
• 4 Pokémon ex
• 11 Illustration Rare cards
• 6 Special Illustration Rare cards
• 18 Ultra Rare Pokémon and Trainer cards
• 1 Mega Hyper Rare (Mega Darkrai ex)
• 2 Special Energy cards
• 11 Trainer cards in the main set, with Ultra Rare and Special Illustration Rare versions among the secret rares

Products Available Now

All Pitch Black products launched July 17, 2026:

• Booster Display Box (36 packs)
• Elite Trainer Box (9 packs, full-art Zarude promo, 65 Mega Darkrai sleeves, Mega Darkrai coin)
• Pokémon Center Exclusive Elite Trainer Box (11 packs)
• Booster Bundle (6 packs)
• Build & Battle Box (40-card prerelease deck + 4 packs)

Prerelease events ran July 4 to 12, with Build & Battle promos for Miraidon, Slowbro, Dhelmise and Bastiodon. Store-stamped 30th Anniversary promos are also floating around: Primarina, Zarude and Armarouge, depending on the retailer.

Whether you're chasing the Mega Hyper Rare Mega Darkrai ex, testing whether Dark Bell really does turn Abyss Eye into a one-card knockout, or just collecting every Illustration Rare in the set, Pitch Black earns its name.

The complete Pitch Black card list is now available in the Mint app with full price tracking and collection management!