Pitch Black Pokémon Card List: 10 Amazing Mega Darkrai ex Chase Cards
The Pitch Black Pokémon card list brings the darkest artwork of the Mega Evolution era so far. Released worldwide on 17 July 2026, Pitch Black is the fifth main expansion of the series and introduces Mega Darkrai ex, the first Mega Evolution of a mythical Pokémon in the modern game. With 120 cards, six new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and some of the most striking Special Illustration Rares of the year, it quickly became a favourite with collectors. This guide covers the full Pitch Black Pokémon card list, how it is numbered, the top chase cards and which products make sense in Australia.
Pitch Black follows Chaos Rising and shares its structure, so if you collected that set you already know how the rarities work. If you are new to the era, our Mega Evolution card list guide explains the rarity system from the beginning.
Table of Contents
Pitch Black Pokémon card list at a glance
- Release date: 17 July 2026, with prerelease events from 4 to 12 July
- Set code: ME05, set abbreviation PBL
- Total cards: 120, made up of 84 main set cards and 36 secret rares
- Japanese source: the Abyss Eye expansion released in May 2026
- Headline Pokémon: Mega Darkrai ex, with Mega Zeraora ex and Mega Chandelure ex among the new Megas
- Contents: six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, four Pokémon ex, 11 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares and 6 Special Illustration Rares
- Elite Trainer Box promo: Zarude
How the Pitch Black Pokémon card list is numbered
Every card is numbered out of 084. Cards from 001 to 084 are the main set, which includes the commons, uncommons, rares and all ten double rare Pokémon ex. Anything numbered 085 or higher is a secret rare, and those cards follow the same layout used across the era.
- 085 to 095: 11 Illustration Rares, including the popular Slowbro at 090
- 096 to 113: 18 Ultra Rares, such as Mega Darkrai ex at 101 and Misty’s Vitality at 111
- 114 to 119: 6 Special Illustration Rares
- 120: the gold Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare
If you are sorting a big opening, set aside anything with a number above 084 first. That small pile holds every card that matters for the secret rare checklist.
A printed checklist makes the Pitch Black Pokémon card list much easier to manage. Write the numbers 001 to 120 down a page, tick each card as it comes out of a pack, and circle any duplicates you can trade. It takes five minutes and saves a lot of guesswork later.
Every rarity in the set
The rarity spread mirrors the last two main sets, which makes Pitch Black a realistic set to complete. Here is the breakdown of all 120 cards.
- Main set: 84 cards, including 6 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and 4 Pokémon ex
- Illustration Rare: 11 cards
- Ultra Rare: 18 cards
- Special Illustration Rare: 6 cards
- Mega Hyper Rare: 1 card
The dark theme runs through every rarity. Shadow-heavy backgrounds, moonlit scenes and deep purples give the Illustration Rares a moody look that stands out in a binder, especially next to the bright cards from earlier sets.
Top 10 chase cards in the Pitch Black Pokémon card list
Prices change every week, so this is a ranking based on sales in the weeks after release rather than a price guide. These are the cards collectors have chased hardest.
- Mega Darkrai ex, Special Illustration Rare 116/084
- Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Hyper Rare 120/084
- Morpeko ex, Special Illustration Rare 117/084
- Mega Zeraora ex, Special Illustration Rare 114/084
- Mega Chandelure ex, Special Illustration Rare 115/084
- Gwynn, Special Illustration Rare 119/084
- Gladion’s Final Battle, Special Illustration Rare 118/084
- Misty’s Vitality, Ultra Rare 111/084
- Slowbro, Illustration Rare 090/084
- Mega Darkrai ex, Ultra Rare 101/084
Mega Darkrai ex leads the way
Unusually for the era, the Special Illustration Rare of Mega Darkrai ex has outranked the gold Mega Hyper Rare for much of its run. The artwork captures Darkrai’s nightmare theme perfectly, and many collectors simply prefer it to the gold version. Owning both is the ultimate goal for Darkrai fans.
Morpeko ex and the other surprises
Morpeko ex is not a Mega, yet its Special Illustration Rare has ranked third, ahead of two new Mega cards. The set also stands out for its Trainer cards. Gwynn, Gladion’s Final Battle and Misty’s Vitality have all earned spots in the top ten, which shows how much collectors value strong Supporter artwork.
Slowbro, the standout Illustration Rare
Illustration Rares are usually the affordable part of the secret range, but the Slowbro at 090/084 has held real value. It is a good example of why it pays to check every Illustration Rare before you file it away.
Pull rates are never officially published, so any figures you see online are community estimates. Across the Pitch Black Pokémon card list, a booster box usually delivers a spread of Illustration Rares and Ultra Rares, while each specific Special Illustration Rare is far rarer. The Mega Hyper Rare can be missing from several boxes in a row, which is why so many collectors buy it as a single.
What Pitch Black means for players
The top ten includes several cards that are as popular with players as with collectors. Mega Darkrai ex can trade away its own resources for a powerful swing, which makes it a high-risk, high-reward attacker. Mega Zeraora ex and Mega Chandelure ex add new options for Lightning and Psychic decks, and Supporters such as Misty’s Vitality quickly found places in competitive lists. As always, the main set versions play exactly the same as the expensive chase versions, so players should collect those in multiples.
How to finish the Pitch Black Pokémon card list
- Open a booster box to complete most of the 84-card main set
- Fill the remaining main set gaps with cheap singles
- Collect the 11 Illustration Rares, starting with Slowbro
- Trade duplicate Ultra Rares for the ones you need
- Buy the Special Illustration Rares and the Mega Hyper Rare as singles once prices settle
A master set including reverse holos comes to roughly 200 cards and fits neatly in a 9-pocket binder.
Collectors who are also players often keep two copies of their favourite cards: one sleeved for play and one stored in a binder. With the Pitch Black Pokémon card list, that works especially well for the Supporters, because the main set versions are cheap and easy to find.
Caring for dark-bordered cards
Dark artwork shows every scratch and speck of whitening, so handle your best Pitch Black pulls with extra care. Sleeve them straight away, avoid sliding them across the table, and check the back edges for wear before grading. Store binders upright in a cool, dry room away from sunlight, which can fade inks over time.
If you are deciding between sealed and singles, think about what you enjoy most. Opening packs is about the experience and the surprise, while singles are about finishing the Pitch Black Pokémon card list for the lowest cost. Many collectors do both: open a box on release day, then buy the last few cards once prices calm down.
Whichever route you take, keep your sealed boxes out of the sun and store them flat, so the shrink wrap and box art stay in good condition.
Best Pitch Black products to buy
- Pitch Black booster box: 36 packs and the best value per pack
- Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box: 9 packs, the Zarude promo, sleeves, energy, dice and storage
- Pitch Black booster bundle: 6 packs and a simple gift
- Pitch Black booster box case: for stores and sealed collectors
- Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box case: multiple ETBs for long-term collecting
Browse everything in stock on our Pitch Black product page.
Bookmark this Pitch Black Pokémon card list and come back to it as you open. We update our guides as new products arrive, and the Pitch Black Pokémon card list above is the quickest way to check whether a card belongs in your binder.
Pitch Black FAQ
How many cards are in Pitch Black?
There are 120 cards: 84 main set cards and 36 secret rares numbered from 085 to 120.
What is the best card in Pitch Black?
The Mega Darkrai ex Special Illustration Rare 116/084 and the Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare 120/084 are the two most valuable cards.
Which Japanese set is Pitch Black based on?
Pitch Black is the English version of the Japanese Abyss Eye expansion.
Where can I see the full checklist?
The Bulbapedia Pitch Black page lists every card with numbers and rarities.
Keep exploring the Mega Evolution era
The set after Pitch Black is Delta Reign, covered in our Delta Reign card list guide. For the earlier sets, read about Phantasmal Flames, Ascended Heroes, Perfect Order and Chaos Rising, or browse the Obsidia Collectables trading card blog.
The Pitch Black Pokémon card list is dark, compact and full of character. Whether you are hunting Mega Darkrai ex or simply love moody artwork, it is one of the most memorable sets of the Mega Evolution era.