Release News · July 17, 2026
Mark it on the calendar: Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black hits shelves worldwide on Friday, July 17, 2026. It's the fifth expansion in the Mega Evolution era, the English adaptation of Japan's Abyss Eye set, and the arrival of one of the most hyped chase cards of the year — Mega Darkrai ex.
We've got the whole English sealed lineup landing at Crown TCG. Here's what's inside, what to chase, and how to lock in your product before the shelves clear.
The Chase Cards Everyone Is Hunting
Six Mega Evolution ex cards headline Pitch Black, and one of them is already the most talked-about pull of 2026:
- Mega Darkrai ex — Special Illustration Rare (#114) — Illustrated by Akira Egawa. Japanese copies of Abyss Eye's equivalent card have been trading in the $400–$600 range before the English release. This is the crown jewel.
- Mega Darkrai ex — Gold Mega Hyper Rare (#118) — The rarest pull in the set at roughly 1 in 45 booster boxes. True case-hit territory.
- Mega Zeraora ex SIR — 270 HP, Electric-type Mythical Mega Evolution.
- Mega Chandelure ex SIR — 350 HP Ghost/Fire, atmospheric shadow art.
- Mega Excadrill ex SIR — 340 HP Ground/Steel with competitive relevance.
- Zarude Illustration Rare — Only available in the Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box, making the ETB the most important sealed product to secure for completionists.
Fair warning: the Mega Darkrai ex SIR is expected to be the defining chase of the entire year. If you're breaking cases for the Gold Mega, you're looking at roughly one hit every 45 boxes — plan your ROI accordingly.
Every Pitch Black Sealed Product at Crown TCG
1. Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box
The single most important sealed product for collectors. Each ETB contains:
- 9 Pitch Black booster packs
- 1 exclusive Zarude foil promo (Illustration Rare-style — only found in the ETB)
- 65 Mega Darkrai-themed card sleeves
- 40 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
- Player's guide, dice, coin, collector's box, and TCG Live code
The Zarude promo alone is a top-6 chase card in the set.
2. Pitch Black Booster Bundle
Six booster packs of Pitch Black in a display-friendly bundle box. Each pack contains 10 cards, 1 Basic Energy, and a TCG Live code. The cleanest way to open a small wave of packs without committing to a full case.
3. Pitch Black Booster Display Box (36 Packs)
The sealed factory display — 36 packs, the format serious openers and case-crackers hunt in. Statistically, a full box gives you around 3 Illustration Rares on average, and roughly 1 Special Illustration Rare every 20 boxes. If you want a real shot at that Mega Darkrai ex SIR or Gold Mega Hyper Rare, this is where you start.
Why Pitch Black Is a Big Deal
Pitch Black is the fifth main set in the Mega Evolution era, tied thematically to the Mega Dimension DLC of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The set introduces six new Mega Evolution ex cards, and the entire expansion leans into a dark, moody aesthetic that gives artists like Akira Egawa room for some of the most striking artwork the TCG has produced in years.
If you collected Perfect Order — the previous Mega Evolution set — Pitch Black is the natural follow-up. Different Pokémon, darker tone, and a set-defining chase card in Mega Darkrai ex that's already broken $400 in Japan.
Other Recent Pokémon Releases at Crown TCG
New to the store alongside Pitch Black: