Pokémon Pitch Black (ME05) Guide: Mega Darkrai ex, Best Cards & EV
Pitch Black Pokémon booster set releases July 17, 2026, with Mega Darkrai ex and five other Mega Evolution ex. Here's what's in the set and the EV to expect.
In this guide
Pokémon Pitch Black (ME05) is hitting stores July 17, 2026, and it's the next set after the 30th Anniversary Celebration. This one pivots hard into Mega Evolution territory, with six Mega-Evolved ex cards headlining the expansion. Here's what the set brings and what to expect from the box EV.
The Mega Evolution Focus
Pitch Black is built around Mega-Evolved Pokémon ex, which haven't been the centerpiece of a main set in years. The six megas are:
- Mega Darkrai ex (the marquee chase card, dark theme)
- Mega Zeraora ex
- Mega Chandelure ex
- Mega Excadrill ex
- Plus two more Mega ex cards
The set has over 115 cards total, tied thematically to Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Mega Dimension), so expect dark, moody artwork across the lineup.
What to expect in the box
114 cards in the set, including:
- 6 Mega Evolution ex (the big pulls)
- Multiple Illustration Rares (modern chase treatments)
- Trainer cards tuned for Mega-forward strategies
- Dimension-inspired full-art variants
The rarity distribution follows modern Pokémon, so most packs have one holo, chase rates are typical for the current format.
EV estimate
Mega-focused sets tend to sit 60–75% of retail in single value because the Mega ex are premium, low-rate pulls; the rest of the set is lean on bulk hits. Without live pricing yet, plan for an EV closer to the lower end of modern boxes, especially if you're opening for value rather than specific Megas.
Check Pitch Black's live EV on July 17 → — the calculator updates with live card prices as soon as the set hits.
What to look for in your pulls
- Mega Darkrai ex, the top-end hit; if you pull it, check whether it's worth grading (clean copies of chase ex often are).
- Illustration Rares, these command strong premiums, especially on popular Pokémon.
- Any Mega ex, these hold value longer than single-print cards because the Mega mechanic isn't easy to reprint.
Value your Pitch Black pulls free → once July 17 arrives.
Set details from Pokémon official announcements; EV estimates are predictive models, not guarantees, based on current pricing patterns. Reference prices via pokemontcg.io. Foilio is an unofficial fan project, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.