Pitch Black finally arrived in July 2026.. but is it actually worth it?
On July 17, 2026, the English version of Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution — Pitch Black (ME05) released, and honestly, I was waiting for this drop just like a lot of card collectors I know. But when I cracked open the first boxes and saw the prices on Amazon, Target, GameStop, and Pokémon Center, I realized there's a massive gap between the marketing hype and the actual value of this set.
So what exactly is in this set?
Pitch Black is the fifth expansion in the Mega Evolution era — it's the English version of the Japanese set Abyss Eye. It contains 120 cards total: 84 in the base set and 36 Secret Rares, including Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares.
But here's the real draw for collectors — the actual cards that move people. The set features 6 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex cards:
- Mega Darkrai ex
- Mega Chandelure ex
- Mega Zeraora ex
- Mega Slowbro ex
- Mega Excadrill ex
- Mega Delphox ex
Plus 4 regular Pokémon ex cards, 11 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares for Pokémon and Trainers, and 6 Special Illustration Rares.
The Golden Card: Mega Darkrai ex
The card everyone's actually hunting for is Mega Darkrai ex with Hyper Rare rarity. I watched its prices on TCGplayer spike immediately after release, which makes sense. But from my experience with previous sets, these crazy high prices don't stick around — after two or three months, they drop noticeably once the scarcity hype dies down.
What's actually inside an Elite Trainer Box
If you grab an Elite Trainer Box of Pitch Black, here's what you're getting:
- 9 Pitch Black booster packs
- A full-art foil promo card featuring Zarude
- 65 card sleeves
- 40 energy cards
- An expansion player's guide
- A tournament-legal die
- 6 damage counter dice
- A plastic coin
- A storage box with 6 dividers
- A code for Pokémon Trading Card Game Live
That's solid if you want playables and display stuff. But when it comes to investment and long-term value? That's a completely different story.
My take: Rarity doesn't always mean value
I've bought cards from previous sets because they were "rare" and "in demand," and every single time I took an L. I sold cards I bought for $100 for just $40 after six months. The real players and collectors who stick with this hobby — they're not buying based purely on rarity and price tags. They're buying because they actually love the cards or want them for competitive play.
The thing is, Pitch Black got hyped to death, and that artificially inflated the price. Prerelease events ran from July 4-12, 2026, and that created insane demand. But demand like that doesn't last.
Quick heads up about where this is coming from
Pitch Black's content is pulled from the Mega Dimension DLC for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and yeah, that gave it some extra appeal. But that alone isn't enough to make it a solid long-term investment.
Where to buy if you decide to go for it
The product is officially available on Amazon, Target, GameStop, and Pokémon Center. If you're hunting the secondary market, TCGplayer is your best bet for comparing prices and getting real value.
Final verdict
I'd only recommend Pitch Black if you genuinely love the set's design and want the cards for play or to display in your personal collection. The cards look beautiful and they're legit collector's pieces.
But if you're buying because everyone's talking about it or you're expecting quick cash returns? Nah, pass. That artificial scarcity will fade, and the price will tank. I've been here before, more than once, and the disappointment hits the same way every time.
