What is Pitch Black?
Pitch Black is the fifth English-language Mega Evolution set, releasing on 17 July 2026 alongside the North American launch. It's the smallest Mega Evolution set so far at roughly 115 cards, adapted directly from Japan's Abyss Eye (22 May 2026). The headliner is Mega Darkrai ex, joined by Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex — a darker lineup than anything earlier in the series.
UK Release Information
- UK release date: 17 July 2026
- Pre-release events: 4–12 July 2026 at participating UK league stores
- UK RRP guide: ETB ~£49.99, Booster Bundle ~£24.99, Booster Pack ~£4.49 (varies by retailer)
- Set size: ~115 cards
- Series: Mega Evolution (5th English set)
- ETB promo: Zarude full-art Illustration Rare
Where to Buy Pitch Black in the UK
Most UK retailers have pre-orders open. Chaos Cards, Magic Madhouse, Total Cards and Wayland Games typically take launch-day pre-orders weeks in advance and tend to deliver on time. Specialist sites are usually the safest bet for sealed product if you want a guaranteed copy without the launch-morning scramble.
For high-street and mainstream channels, Argos and Smyths stock Mega Evolution sets reliably but sell through fast at launch. Click-and-collect at Argos is often the quickest way to get a copy on release day if a local store has stock — we'd advise checking the morning of release rather than the day before. GAME carries Mega Evolution products but stock levels are inconsistent across stores.
Amazon UK uses an invite-request system for hot Pokémon TCG releases. You'll see "request invite" rather than a buy button. We've found these invites tend to land for established Amazon accounts with order history; new accounts rarely get them. For the Pitch Black ETB and Booster Bundle, Amazon is worth setting up but not relying on.
Pokémon Center UK runs an exclusive PC ETB with a different promo card than the standard retail ETB. Worth knowing if you're a completionist.
Top Chase Cards
- Mega Darkrai ex (Mega Hyper Rare) — the headline. Already commanding strong pre-release secondary prices in Japan.
- Mega Darkrai ex (Special Illustration Rare) — full-art version, usually the second-most-valuable variant.
- Mega Chandelure ex (SIR) — competitive card with collector appeal; smaller print run lifts it.
- Mega Excadrill ex (SIR) — strong artwork and a less-played Pokémon, which collectors tend to value.
- Zarude (ETB Illustration Rare promo) — only obtainable in the standard ETB; ETB-promo IRs tend to hold value once the print run ends.
For current values, TCGplayer and PriceCharting are the standards we'd point to. Pricing isn't our lane.
Is Pitch Black Worth Buying Sealed?
Honest answer: probably yes for sealed ETBs and Booster Bundles, with a caveat. Every previous English Mega Evolution set has sold out at launch and held value above RRP afterwards. Pitch Black has a smaller print run than Ascended Heroes, which suggests the same pattern will repeat or be more pronounced.
The caveat: Mega Darkrai ex is a popular Pokémon driving demand, which is good for sealed appreciation, but it also means singles are likely to be readily available cheaply once boxes are opened en masse at launch. If you want the cards, the singles market often clears below pack EV after a few months. If you want the experience of opening or to hold sealed long-term, an ETB or Booster Bundle at RRP is reasonable. For background on the set and its place in the series, our Pitch Black announcement guide has the deeper read.
How Poké Tracker Helps You Find Pitch Black
We monitor the major UK retailers continuously and notify you when Pitch Black products come back in stock. Our stock dashboard shows current availability across Argos, Amazon, Smyths, GAME, Chaos Cards and the rest. Set up a free alert and you'll get a notification within seconds of a restock; that's usually the difference between a successful order at RRP and seeing "out of stock" by the time you load the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Pitch Black release in the UK?
The UK release date is 17 July 2026, mirroring the North American launch. Prerelease events at participating league stores run from 4–12 July 2026.
What's the chase card?
Mega Darkrai ex variants are the chase, and the Mega Hyper Rare in particular. The Special Illustration Rare is the second-most-valuable variant.
Is the Pitch Black ETB exclusive to Pokémon Center?
No. The standard ETB is at high-street UK retail through Argos, Smyths, GAME and the specialists. Pokémon Center UK does sell its own exclusive PC ETB which carries a different promo card, so completionists may want both.
Can I pre-order Pitch Black in the UK?
Yes. Pre-orders are open at Chaos Cards, Magic Madhouse, Total Cards, Wayland Games and Smyths. Specialist retailers tend to be the most reliable for launch-day delivery.
Will Pitch Black sell out at launch?
Almost certainly. Every previous English Mega Evolution set has sold out at launch, and Pitch Black has a smaller print run than Ascended Heroes. Plan to be at the keyboard the morning of 17 July or set up a Poké Tracker alert.