Pokémon TCG Pitch Black (July 2026): Mega Darkrai ex and how to value your pulls
By Eduard Mihaila · July 6, 2026
The 2026 Mega Evolution era — the Pokémon TCG’s revival of Gen VI Mega Evolution, reimagined through Pokémon Legends: Z-A — continues with Pitch Black, out 17 July 2026 and headlined by Mega Darkrai ex. A fresh set means a wave of new cards to identify, sort and value, and Pitch Black arrives with several rarities of the same Pokémon — exactly the situation where a clean catalogue pays off.
Quick answer: Pitch Black releases worldwide on 17 July 2026 (prerelease 4–12 July). It’s a 118-card set built around Mega Darkrai ex, whose chase prints are a gold Hyper Rare (#118) and a Special Illustration Rare by Akira Egawa. It’s the Western version of Japan’s Abyss Eye. The practical move as you open packs: scan every pull so each card is logged by set and number, and track its value on the right market.
What is the Pitch Black set?
Pitch Black is the next main expansion of the Mega Evolution era. It packs 118 cards — 81 in the main set plus 37 secret rares (Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares among them). The central Pokémon are Mega Darkrai ex and Mega Zeraora ex, with Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex rounding out the Mega line-up. It’s a near 1:1 adaptation of Japan’s Abyss Eye set from 22 May 2026.
When does Pitch Black release?
17 July 2026, worldwide. Prerelease events run 4–12 July 2026, so many collectors will have singles in hand before the full launch.
What are the chase cards?
Mega Darkrai ex carries the set. It has two premium prints:
- A gold Hyper Rare at #118.
- A Special Illustration Rare illustrated by Akira Egawa, rendering Mega Darkrai as a shadow-wreathed, eldritch force in his signature atmospheric style.
A separate Premium Collection adds Mega Greninja ex. Because the same Pokémon shows up as a standard ex, an SIR and a Hyper Rare, it’s easy to mislabel what you pulled — the value gap between them is large.
How do I know what I pulled, and what it’s worth?
Rarity, not artwork, drives price here. Check the collector number and rarity symbol, or scan the card. Poke - Deck reads the name, language and number automatically, so a standard Mega Darkrai ex isn’t confused with the Egawa SIR or the gold Hyper Rare. If you’re new to reading a card’s identity, see how to identify a card by its set and number.
Each pull is then valued on its own market — English on Cardmarket and eBay, French in euros, Japanese Abyss Eye copies on the Japanese market — and folded into your collection total, which updates automatically. Here’s how collection tracking works.
Should I chase the singles or open packs?
Either way, know the market before you commit. Prerelease singles often spike then settle in the weeks after launch, and the gap between raw and graded copies of the Mega Darkrai ex SIR will widen if demand holds. Log what you own first, watch the price, and decide from real numbers rather than launch-week hype.
Where do I start?
Poke - Deck scans and values cards in English, French and Japanese from your iPhone camera — including brand-new sets like Pitch Black. You start free with 25 scans; unlimited collection tracking is available with no commitment.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Pokémon TCG Pitch Black set release?
Pitch Black releases worldwide on 17 July 2026, with prerelease events from 4 to 12 July. It's part of the 2026 Mega Evolution era inspired by Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
What is the chase card in Pitch Black?
Mega Darkrai ex. It has two premium prints: a gold Hyper Rare at #118 and a Special Illustration Rare illustrated by Akira Egawa. A Premium Collection adds Mega Greninja ex.
How many cards are in the Pitch Black set?
118 cards — 81 in the main set plus 37 secret rares, including Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares. Alongside Mega Darkrai ex it features Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex.
Is Pitch Black the same as the Japanese Abyss Eye set?
Almost. Pitch Black is a near 1:1 English adaptation of Japan's Abyss Eye set, which released on 22 May 2026. Card numbers and artwork line up closely, though the two markets are priced separately.
How do I tell which Mega Darkrai ex I pulled?
The same Pokémon appears at several rarities, so the artwork alone isn't enough. Check the collector number and rarity symbol, or scan the card — Poke - Deck reads the name, language and number so the gold Hyper Rare isn't confused with the SAR or a standard ex.
Can I track the value of my Pitch Black cards automatically?
Yes. Scan each card once and it's added to your collection, whose total updates automatically from Cardmarket and eBay prices — English, French and Japanese copies each priced on their own market.
Is Poke - Deck free?
You start free with 25 scans, collection management and scan history. Unlimited scanning and tracking is available with no commitment.