Pokemon TCG Mega Evolution—Pitch Black has arrived, releasing worldwide on July 17, 2026 as the fifth Mega Evolution-era expansion. With 120 cards headlined by the nightmare-fueled TCG debut of Mega Darkrai ex, six Mega Evolution Pokemon ex, a Naoki Saito trainer SIR, and the return of Gladion and Misty, Pitch Black is the darkest — and one of the most collectible — sets of the era. Whether you're chasing the $290 AKIRA EGAWA Mega Darkrai ex SIR, the breakout Morpeko ex, or building a Special Conditions deck, this guide covers every chase card, every price, and every angle you need.
Why Pitch Black Is the Set Everyone's Talking About
Darkness sells. Pitch Black is the Mega Evolution era's first fully theme-committed set — Darkrai as mascot, Ghost and Dark types everywhere, a villainous Rust Syndicate Grunt, a Dark Bell item, and even a Shadowy Darkness Energy special Energy card. Add an artist roster featuring AKIRA EGAWA, Naoki Saito, and En Morikura — three of the most collected illustrators in the hobby — and you get a set where the art credits alone are moving prices.
Article Roadmap
Pitch Black: Set Overview
At a Glance
120
Total Cards
6
Mega Evolution ex
6
Special Illustration Rares
$290
Peak Card Value
Mega Darkrai Headlines
- • 4 different Mega Darkrai ex printings — Double Rare, Ultra Rare, SIR, and Mega Hyper Rare
- • First-ever Mega Darkrai in any Pokemon media
- • SIR illustrated by AKIRA EGAWA
- • 280 HP with a Special-Condition instant-KO attack
Darkness & Nostalgia Theme
- • Gladion returns with Type: Null and Silvally support
- • Misty's Vitality brings Kanto's icon back, drawn by En Morikura
- • New characters Gwynn and Jett make their TCG debut
- • Two new special Energy cards: Shadowy Darkness & Voltaic Lightning
The Artist Effect
Pitch Black's secondary market is being driven by illustrator names as much as Pokemon names. The AKIRA EGAWA Mega Darkrai ex SIR leads the set, a Naoki Saito Supporter SIR (Gwynn) is outperforming Mega Evolution ex cards, and En Morikura's Misty's Vitality Ultra Rare is beating nearly every other UR in the expansion. When three marquee artists land in one 120-card set, the chase list gets deep fast.
Card Type Distribution
Top 10 Chase Cards & Live Prices
Mega Darkrai ex owns the top of the Pitch Black chase list in two rarities, but the depth is what makes this set interesting: a breakout Morpeko ex SIR, trainer cards by Naoki Saito and En Morikura, and Illustration Rares of Slowbro and Goldeen that are punching far above their rarity. Prices below are live TCGPlayer market prices fetched in real time, with launch-week estimates as fallback.
Browse the Full Set
With 120 cards including 6 Special Illustration Rares, 11 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares, and the gold Mega Hyper Rare Mega Darkrai ex, there's plenty more to discover beyond the top 10. Check live prices on every card in the set.
All 6 Mega Evolution Pokemon ex
Pitch Black carries six Mega Evolution Pokemon ex — the most of any set since Ascended Heroes. Five of them are brand-new TCG-exclusive Mega Evolutions that have never existed in any Pokemon video game; only Mega Slowbro returns from the original games-era Mega roster.
Mega Darkrai ex
Darkness • Set Mascot • Mythical Pokemon
The Pitch Dark Pokemon's first Mega form in any media
280 HP with the Abyss Eye Special-Condition KO attack
Available in 4 printings: DR, UR, SIR, Mega Hyper Rare
SIR illustrated by AKIRA EGAWA
Set-defining card • Top chase
Mega Zeraora ex
Lightning • TCG Exclusive Mega Evolution
First-ever Mega Zeraora in any Pokemon media
Mythical movie-event Pokemon with a loyal collector base
Electric SIR artwork by GIDORA
Pairs with the new Voltaic Lightning Energy
TCG debut • Mythical chase
Mega Chandelure ex
Psychic • TCG Exclusive Mega Evolution
First-ever Mega Chandelure in any Pokemon media
Haunted-glow SIR that nails the set's dark aesthetic
Unova sleeper favorite since Black & White
Ghost-type flavor on the Psychic TCG type
TCG debut • Theme centerpiece
Mega Delphox ex
Fire • TCG Exclusive Mega Evolution
First-ever Mega Delphox in any Pokemon media
The Kalos Fire starter finally gets its Mega moment
Continues the era's Kalos-starter storyline after Mega Greninja
Main-set Double Rare — an accessible pull
TCG debut • Kalos starter
Mega Slowbro ex
Psychic • Returning Games-Era Mega
The only Pitch Black Mega that existed in the video games
Shellder-powered goofball energy, faithfully adapted
Backed by the set's top Illustration Rare (Slowbro #90)
Kanto nostalgia meets Mega-era power
Returning Mega • Fan favorite line
Mega Excadrill ex
Metal • TCG Exclusive Mega Evolution
First-ever Mega Excadrill in any Pokemon media
Metal typing adds coverage the era's Mega roster lacked
Keisuke Azuma Ultra Rare printing for collectors
Fits the set's underground/fossil sub-theme
TCG debut • Utility pick
The TCG-Exclusive Mega Pattern Continues
With Darkrai, Zeraora, Chandelure, Delphox, and Excadrill, the Mega Evolution era keeps minting Mega forms that never existed in the video games. These "first appearance" cards carry unique long-term upside: if any of these Megas are later canonized in a video game, the original TCG printing becomes the historical debut — the same dynamic that lifted early Mega Rayquaza cards after ORAS.
Standout Artwork & Star Illustrators
Pitch Black may have the strongest artist lineup of the Mega Evolution era. Three of the most collected illustrators in the hobby all landed premium cards in the same 120-card set — and the market noticed immediately.
🌑 Mega Darkrai ex SIR — The AKIRA EGAWA Showpiece
AKIRA EGAWA's alternate arts are among the most valuable modern cards in existence, and this Mega Darkrai ex SIR shows why. The near-monochrome nightmare composition — Darkrai's white plume cutting through a swirling void of hidden eyes — is unlike anything else in the Mega Evolution era. This is the set's once-a-year art moment.
The artist premium is real: ~$290 and the set's runaway #1.
🐹 Morpeko ex SIR — The Breakout
NG Empire's Morpeko ex SIR is pure Hangry-Mode chaos, and it has become the set's surprise second-tier chase at over $100 — above every Zeraora and Chandelure printing. Expressive, meme-friendly character art keeps outperforming raw rarity in the modern market, and Morpeko is this set's proof.
The card every pack-opening video wants to hit.
🖋️ Gwynn SIR — The Naoki Saito Card
Naoki Saito trainer cards have a habit of becoming iconic, and his SIR of newcomer Gwynn (#119) instantly made an unknown character one of the set's most-wanted cards. New character + legendary artist is a proven appreciation formula — early buyers of Saito's past Supporters know exactly how this tends to go.
The trainer card to watch in Pitch Black.
💧 Misty's Vitality — The Nostalgia Play
En Morikura drawing Misty is a collector collision course: one of anime's most famous character designers illustrating the most famous gym leader in Pokemon history. The Ultra Rare (#111) is outselling Mega Evolution ex cards from the same set — and the Goldeen IR (#87) gives Kanto water collectors a $14 companion piece.
Legacy character + star artist = durable demand.
Competitive Impact & Meta Outlook
A Special Conditions Archetype Arrives
Pitch Black lands mid-season in the post-rotation Standard format, and it brings something the format hasn't had in years: a genuine Special Conditions win condition. Mega Darkrai ex's Abyss Eye Knocks Out any Active Pokemon affected by a Special Condition — turning Sleep and Poison enablers from annoyances into kill conditions.
What to Watch For:
- • Mega Darkrai ex: 280 HP, Dusk Raid damage scaling, and the Abyss Eye KO engine
- • Shadowy Darkness Energy: New special Energy supporting Dark-type builds
- • Voltaic Lightning Energy: Acceleration tool for Zeraora and Lightning decks
- • Gwynn & Jett: New Supporters entering a format still hungry for draw/utility
- • Fossil Quarry: Stadium support for the Rampardos ex / Bastiodon fossil engine
Mega Darkrai ex — Archetype Builder
Type: Darkness Mega Evolution ex • 280 HP
Key Attacks: Dusk Raid (110+, scaling with damage counters on your opponent's Bench) and Abyss Eye (KO any Active Pokemon affected by a Special Condition)
Why It Matters: Abyss Eye ignores HP entirely — pair it with Sleep or Poison enablers and even 340 HP tank Pokemon fall in one attack
Competitive Rating: High — Build-around potential
Mega Zeraora ex — Aggro Tempo
Type: Lightning Mega Evolution ex
Why It Matters: Lightning decks gained a new top-end attacker plus dedicated special Energy support in the same set — a packaged archetype push
Outlook: Watch early event results; packaged type support like this usually means the designers expect it to compete
Competitive Rating: Medium-High — Support committed
New Supporters — Gwynn, Jett & Misty's Vitality
Type: Supporter
Why It Matters: Every post-rotation set that adds playable Supporters reshapes consistency packages; three new options arrive here at once
Collector Note: Even if competitive play passes them by, the Saito and Morikura premium versions hold value on art alone
Competitive Rating: Watch list — art value floors the risk
Player's Tip
If Mega Darkrai ex posts results at the first major events, the whole Special Conditions package moves with it — the Double Rare Darkrai, Dark Bell, and Shadowy Darkness Energy are all cents-to-dollars right now. Playsets of new-set Trainers and special Energy are historically cheapest in the first two weeks after release, before tournament results reprice them.
Product Guide & Where to Buy
Pitch Black follows the standard Mega Evolution-era product lineup. Here's what's available and how to choose the right product for your goal:
Elite Trainer Box
The flagship product and best pack-per-dollar value at retail. Includes a full-art promo card and tournament-ready supplies.
- • 9 Pitch Black booster packs
- • 1 full-art promo card
- • 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards
- • Damage counters, status condition markers, player's guide
Booster Packs
Single booster packs for hunters who want to maximize Mega Darkrai pull attempts without ETB extras.
- • 10 cards per pack
- • 1 guaranteed holo or better
- • Available individually or in retail bundles
Booster Bundle
Clean 6-pack option for collectors who want a fixed number of packs without ETB accessories.
- • 6 Pitch Black booster packs
Build & Battle Box
Available at pre-release events the weekend before launch. Includes an exclusive pre-release promo and ready-to-play Evolution pack.
- • 4 Pitch Black booster packs
- • 1 pre-release promo card
- • 23-card Evolution pack
Buying Tip
Math the chase price against pack cost. With Mega Darkrai ex SIR at ~$290, that's roughly the price of 7 ETBs — and you're still statistically unlikely to pull it from 7 boxes. For chase cards, singles from TCGPlayer are almost always the smarter buy. Sealed product is for the experience of opening packs or a long-term hold.
Investment Analysis
Market Snapshot: Launch Week
Pitch Black opened below Chaos Rising's Greninja-fueled highs but well above typical mid-year sets. Mega Darkrai ex SIR debuted around $290 market — under Mega Greninja's ~$478 but nearly double what Perfect Order's top card opened at. The distinctive story this time is the artist premium: cards by EGAWA, Saito, and Morikura are all outperforming their rarity tier, while non-marquee SIRs sit in the $30-70 range.
Bullish Factors
- • Darkrai is a top-tier mythical with two decades of collector demand
- • AKIRA EGAWA SIRs have the best appreciation track record of any modern artist
- • Naoki Saito trainer cards historically become set-defining Supporters
- • Five first-appearance TCG-exclusive Mega Evolutions in one set
- • 120-card size keeps master-set completion realistic
- • Real competitive hook (Abyss Eye) supports the flagship card's floor
- • Alola nostalgia (Gladion/Silvally) is an emerging demand wave
Bearish Factors
- • Launch-week prices routinely cool 10-20% within a month
- • Modern print runs remain large by historical standards
- • Fifth Mega-era set in nine months — set fatigue is a real risk
- • Darkrai lacks Greninja's crossover mainstream audience
- • New characters (Gwynn, Jett) are unproven long-term draws
- • Mid-tier SIRs are soft when a set's value concentrates at the top
Investment Strategy by Budget
Budget: Under $30
The Slowbro IR (~$21) and Goldeen IR (~$14) are the value picks — displayable art with viral upside at pocket-money prices. Misty's Vitality UR (~$31) sits right at the line and is the cheapest way to own an En Morikura card. The Mega Darkrai ex Ultra Rare (~$13) is the budget route to the set's flagship.
Budget: $30-120
The Gwynn SIR (~$39) is the asymmetric bet — Naoki Saito Supporters have repeatedly outrun their launch prices. Gladion's Final Battle SIR (~$31) rides the Alola nostalgia wave. At the top of this range, the Morpeko ex SIR (~$109) is already the set's momentum card; if its price holds through August, it's the new Cinccino-style breakout.
Budget: $120-400+
The Mega Darkrai ex SIR (~$290) is the trophy — an EGAWA flagship with competitive relevance is the strongest hold profile in the set, though waiting out the launch-week premium often saves 10-15%. The Mega Hyper Rare (~$198) is rarer but has historically appreciated slower than same-set EGAWA SIRs. Graded copies of the SIR are the long-game play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Your Pitch Black Collection
Pitch Black is here, and Mega Darkrai's nightmare debut — backed by the strongest artist lineup of the Mega Evolution era — is giving collectors plenty to chase. Whether you're hunting the $290 EGAWA SIR, grabbing the Morpeko breakout, or sniping the Goldeen IR before it goes viral, use PokeScope to track live prices, scan singles, and build your collection smarter.