The Pokemon Trading Card Game is going full gothic. Mega Evolution: Pitch Black is the next expansion headed to shelves, and if the name alone doesn't tell you what vibe the set is going for, the headlining cards will. According to The Pokemon Company's official press announcement, the set stars Mega Darkrai ex and Mega Zeraora ex as its flagship cards, two Pokemon that couldn't be more thematically on-brand for a set called Pitch Black.
The expansion launches on July 17, 2026. Prerelease events at local game stores kick off earlier, on July 4, where you can get a Build & Battle box before the general public gets anywhere near the shelves.
What makes Pitch Black different from recent sets
The Pokemon TCG has been deep in its Mega Evolution era, with sets like Mega Evolution, Phantasmal Flames, Ascended Heroes, and Perfect Order all rolling out over the past several months. Each has leaned into the Mega mechanic with different thematic flavors. Pitch Black is the darkest chapter yet, both in name and aesthetic.
Here's the thing: Mega Darkrai ex is a particularly notable pull target. Darkrai has always been one of the more compelling Legendary Pokemon from a lore standpoint, a Mythical tied to nightmares and shadow, and its Mega Evolution form in the TCG is exactly the kind of card that collectors and competitive players will be hunting. Mega Zeraora ex rounds out the headlining duo with a more electric-dark contrast that should make for some interesting deck-building options.
Prerelease events begin July 4, two weeks before the general July 17 launch date. Local game stores are your best bet for early access to Build & Battle boxes.
Pricing benchmarks and what to actually expect
The Pokemon Company doesn't announce official pricing ahead of launch, but based on recent sets, here's a realistic look at what the main Pitch Black products will likely cost at MSRP:
Pro tip: the Pokemon Center is the only place that consistently holds MSRP pricing, but stock disappears within minutes of going live. Bookmark it, set alerts if you can, and be ready to move fast.
What most players miss is that indie retailers like Miniature Market in the US and Wayland Games or Magic Madhouse in the UK often get stock in at reasonable prices before the big-box stores. They sell out quickly, but they're worth checking daily in the lead-up to launch.
Where pre-orders stand right now
As of early May 2026, Pitch Black pre-orders are beginning to surface across various retailers, though stock at anything close to MSRP is already scarce. The key here is not to wait around hoping prices will drop before launch. With recent sets, they almost never do until months after release.
For US buyers, Walmart and Amazon are the most consistent sources, though both tend to list above MSRP through third-party sellers. TCGPlayer and eBay will always have stock but expect heavy markups. Best Buy and Target are worth monitoring for in-store availability, though online stock at either is hit or miss.
UK buyers should prioritize Wayland Games and Magic Madhouse for the best chances at fair pricing. Zatu Games is also worth watching, particularly for prerelease event access. Amazon UK operates an invite-by-request system for high-demand Pokemon products that can lock in RRP pricing if you get selected.
The broader context here matters too. The Pokemon Company has been actively working to address distribution issues in the US market, so the supply situation for Pitch Black may be marginally better than it was for sets released 12 months ago. Don't bank on it, but it's worth noting.
For the full official product breakdown, the Pokemon Company's press release has the complete details on what's included in the expansion. Keep checking back as July 4 prerelease events approach, since that's when the first real wave of availability hits.
