The next English Mega Evolution-era expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game is now official. [Pitch Black](https://amzn.to/4dhjhZy) has been revealed as the fifth English Mega Evolution set, headlined by Mega Darkrai ex and arriving on July 17.
Ahead of launch, players will be able to get an early look at the set through prerelease events running from July 4 through July 12, giving collectors and competitive players a chance to open packs and test new cards before release day.
Pitch Black puts a spotlight on Dark-type power with Mega Darkrai ex as the face of the set. The English versions of Mega Darkrai ex and Mega Excadrill ex have also now been shown, offering the first official look at two of the expansion’s major chase cards.
With Mega Evolution Pokémon continuing to drive interest in the current era of the TCG, Darkrai is likely to be one of the season’s most in-demand headline cards.
The set’s Elite Trainer Box will include a brand-new Zarude Illustration Rare promo card. ETB promos have become a major selling point for modern releases, and a fresh Illustration Rare Zarude should make this product especially appealing to sealed collectors and promo hunters.
According to the official reveal, Pitch Black will include:
• Over 115 cards
• Six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex
• Four Pokémon ex
• 11 Illustration Rare Pokémon
• 18 Ultra Rare Pokémon and Trainer cards
• Six Special Illustration Rare Pokémon and Supporter cards
• More than 20 Trainer cards
• More than 35 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations
That suggests a compact but premium-heavy set, with strong pull rates for collectors chasing rarities.
Pitch Black is expected to be an almost one-to-one adaptation of Japan’s Abyss Eye set, which releases on May 22. Reports indicate the Japanese release will contain roughly 120 cards, including secret rares, meaning the English version is once again shaping up to be a relatively small expansion.
Smaller modern sets often create sharper demand around top chase cards because there are fewer total cards spread across the product line.
At the time of writing, preorders have not gone live on Pokémon Center. Fans are watching closely after The Pokémon Company International changed its usual release pattern with Chaos Rising, opening preorders roughly one month before launch.
That means [Pitch Black](https://amzn.to/4dhjhZy) listings could appear at any time in the coming weeks.
Pitch Black looks like a focused, collector-friendly set with a strong headline card in Mega Darkrai ex, solid rarity counts, and a desirable ETB promo. If the artwork quality matches recent Japanese releases, this could become one of the standout Mega Evolution-era expansions so far.
For Darkrai fans, sealed collectors, and players looking ahead to the next meta shift, July 17 is now a date to watch closely.
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Ahead of launch, players will be able to get an early look at the set through prerelease events running from July 4 through July 12, giving collectors and competitive players a chance to open packs and test new cards before release day.
Mega Darkrai ex Leads the Expansion
Pitch Black puts a spotlight on Dark-type power with Mega Darkrai ex as the face of the set. The English versions of Mega Darkrai ex and Mega Excadrill ex have also now been shown, offering the first official look at two of the expansion’s major chase cards.
With Mega Evolution Pokémon continuing to drive interest in the current era of the TCG, Darkrai is likely to be one of the season’s most in-demand headline cards.
Elite Trainer Box Promo Confirmed
The set’s Elite Trainer Box will include a brand-new Zarude Illustration Rare promo card. ETB promos have become a major selling point for modern releases, and a fresh Illustration Rare Zarude should make this product especially appealing to sealed collectors and promo hunters.
Full Pitch Black Card Count
According to the official reveal, Pitch Black will include:
• Over 115 cards
• Six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex
• Four Pokémon ex
• 11 Illustration Rare Pokémon
• 18 Ultra Rare Pokémon and Trainer cards
• Six Special Illustration Rare Pokémon and Supporter cards
• More than 20 Trainer cards
• More than 35 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations
That suggests a compact but premium-heavy set, with strong pull rates for collectors chasing rarities.
Based Closely on Japan’s Abyss Eye
Pitch Black is expected to be an almost one-to-one adaptation of Japan’s Abyss Eye set, which releases on May 22. Reports indicate the Japanese release will contain roughly 120 cards, including secret rares, meaning the English version is once again shaping up to be a relatively small expansion.
Smaller modern sets often create sharper demand around top chase cards because there are fewer total cards spread across the product line.
When Will Preorders Go Live?
At the time of writing, preorders have not gone live on Pokémon Center. Fans are watching closely after The Pokémon Company International changed its usual release pattern with Chaos Rising, opening preorders roughly one month before launch.
That means [Pitch Black](https://amzn.to/4dhjhZy) listings could appear at any time in the coming weeks.
Final Thoughts
Pitch Black looks like a focused, collector-friendly set with a strong headline card in Mega Darkrai ex, solid rarity counts, and a desirable ETB promo. If the artwork quality matches recent Japanese releases, this could become one of the standout Mega Evolution-era expansions so far.
For Darkrai fans, sealed collectors, and players looking ahead to the next meta shift, July 17 is now a date to watch closely.
[Follow Stock Checker on Google News](https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFWE4wYjJOckxXTm9aV05yWlhJdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ?hl=en-GB&gl=GB&ceid=GB%3Aen) and [add us as a preferred source](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=stock-checker.com) to get our news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!