TL;DR
I researched the full pitch black card list, its rarity breakdown, and its chase cards to answer one question directly: is this set worth your time and money? My verdict, based on everything I found, is that the pitch black card list is worth chasing specifically for Mega Darkrai ex collectors and set completionists, and it's a smaller, more affordable set than average if you're on a budget.
What the pitch black card list actually represents
Pitch Black (ME05) is the fifth English-language Pokémon TCG "Mega Evolution" era expansion, released July 17, 2026. I confirmed it's the English adaptation of Japan's "Abyss Eye" set, released May 22, 2026, with a few added cards, Mega Delphox ex, Mega Slowbro ex, and Jett, and one cut, Zarude's Illustration Rare, which got repurposed as an Elite Trainer Box promo instead of appearing in the standard pitch black card list.
The full numbers behind the pitch black card list
Here's what I confirmed when I broke down the complete pitch black card list:
- 120 total cards: 84 main-set cards plus 36 secret rares
- Rarity breakdown: 30 Common, 37 Uncommon, 26 Rare, 11 Double Rare, 10 Ultra Rare, 18 Illustration Rare, 11 Special Illustration Rare, 6 Mega Hyper Rare, plus additional promos
- Headline chase card: Mega Darkrai ex, marking its TCG debut, alongside Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, and Mega Excadrill ex rounding out the pitch black card list's most sought-after pulls
Why I think the pitch black card list is worth your time
A few specific things convinced me this set genuinely earns attention:
- It's the smallest set in the Mega Evolution block, which I found is reportedly a deliberate move by Creatures and The Pokémon Company to ease ongoing global TCG print shortages. In practice, that means the pitch black card list is a more achievable, less expensive set to complete than recent larger releases
- Genuine chase-card appeal: Mega Darkrai ex's TCG debut is a meaningful pull specifically for dark-type and competitive-deck collectors, and I think this alone justifies real interest in the pitch black card list even for people who don't typically chase full sets
- Active, current market tracking: I found multiple independent price-tracking sites, TCG Watchtower, Pokecottage, Bill's Archive, and Pokellector, already publishing live pricing and pull-rate data based on 4,000 packs opened via TCGplayer's Authentication Center, so you can research value before buying rather than guessing blind
What I'd want you to know before buying into the pitch black card list
I found two specific details worth flagging directly before you commit any money:
- If you already collect the Japanese equivalent, Abyss Eye, this set is nearly a 1:1 reprint with only 3 cards added and 1 cut. I'd decide upfront whether the English-language versions specifically matter to you before double-dipping into essentially the same pitch black card list you may have already collected
- Store-exclusive promos (Primarina at Hot Topic, Barnes & Noble, and BoxLunch; Zarude at GameStop; Armarouge at Best Buy) require a $15+ purchase threshold and aren't included in standard packs, so don't assume you'll pull these through normal booster opening alone
How I'd approach completing the full pitch black card list on a budget
Since this is genuinely one of the smaller, more affordable sets in the current block, I think a full-set completion goal is realistic here in a way it might not be for larger releases. I'd recommend tracking the specific cards you're missing using one of the price-tracking sites I mentioned above, then targeting singles purchases for your last few needed cards rather than opening pack after pack hoping for a specific pull, especially for anything in the Special Illustration Rare or Mega Hyper Rare tiers of the pitch black card list, where pull rates are understandably low.
My honest take on chasing specific cards versus completing the full set
I want to be direct about this distinction, since I think it matters for how you approach the pitch black card list. If your goal is specifically Mega Darkrai ex, I'd focus your budget there directly, buying singles once market pricing settles rather than opening packs speculatively. If your goal is full-set completion, the smaller size of this particular release genuinely makes that goal more achievable than it would be for a larger set, and I'd budget accordingly with that realistic completion target in mind.
Bottom line on the pitch black card list
This is a genuinely collectible, headline-driven set that's smaller and more wallet-friendly than recent Mega Evolution releases. I'd prioritize it if Mega Darkrai ex specifically appeals to you, and I'd treat it as less urgent if you're simply set-collecting on a budget and can afford to wait for prices to settle post-release.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Pitch Black Card List
How many total cards are in the pitch black card list?
120 total cards, 84 main-set cards plus 36 secret rares.
What's the headline chase card in the pitch black card list?
Mega Darkrai ex, marking its TCG debut, is the standout chase card, alongside Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, and Mega Excadrill ex.
Is the pitch black card list the same as Japan's Abyss Eye set?
Nearly identical, with only 3 added cards (Mega Delphox ex, Mega Slowbro ex, Jett) and 1 cut (Zarude's Illustration Rare, moved to an Elite Trainer Box promo instead).
Are the store-exclusive promos included in standard packs from the pitch black card list?
No, promos like Primarina, Zarude, and Armarouge require a $15+ purchase threshold at specific retailers and aren't pulled from standard packs.
Why I think the print-shortage context matters for anyone evaluating the pitch black card list
I want to dig deeper into something I mentioned briefly above, because I think it genuinely shapes how you should think about this set's value. The Pokémon TCG has faced real, well-documented global print shortages over the past several years, driving up prices and creating genuine scarcity even for otherwise common cards in larger, more heavily-produced sets. A deliberately smaller set like the one behind the pitch black card list represents a specific business decision to ease that pressure, and I think it's worth recognizing this as a genuinely collector-friendly move rather than just a random production choice. Smaller print runs combined with a smaller overall card count mean the pitch black card list is more achievable to complete without requiring the kind of sustained, expensive pack-opening commitment that larger sets in this same era have demanded.
How I'd think about grading decisions for pitch black card list pulls
If you pull something valuable from the pitch black card list, a Mega Darkrai ex or one of the Special Illustration Rares specifically, you'll eventually face a grading decision. I'd recommend checking current grading turnaround times and costs from established services like PSA or Beckett before committing, since grading fees can meaningfully eat into a card's actual resale value if the card itself isn't rare enough to justify that specific investment. For lower-tier pulls from the pitch black card list, Commons through standard Rares, I generally wouldn't recommend grading at all, the cost typically exceeds any value the grading process itself would add.
Why market pricing data matters more for this specific set than usual
Since the pitch black card list is nearly a 1:1 reprint of an already-released Japanese set, I found something genuinely useful in my research: the Abyss Eye pricing data from Japan's earlier release gives you a reasonably reliable preview of how English-language pricing for the pitch black card list is likely to settle over time, once the initial release hype and scarcity smooths out. I'd recommend checking both the current English pricing and the historical Japanese Abyss Eye pricing trajectory together, since this comparison gives you more confidence in predicting where prices for specific cards in the pitch black card list are heading than English pricing data alone would provide this early in the set's release cycle.
My final ranking of who should prioritize the pitch black card list
To make this genuinely actionable, here's how I'd rank different collector types on how urgently they should pursue the pitch black card list:
- Mega Darkrai ex specific chasers — highest priority; this card's TCG debut is the clearest, most compelling reason to engage with this set at all
- Full-set completionists on a budget — high priority, since this is genuinely one of the more achievable full-set goals in the current Mega Evolution block
- Existing Abyss Eye collectors deciding whether to double-dip — medium priority; only worth it if you specifically value having the English-language version alongside your Japanese cards
- Casual collectors without a specific chase target — lower priority; I'd let prices settle post-release before committing significant budget here, since the smaller print run doesn't necessarily mean you're missing a limited-time opportunity
Why I'm comfortable giving this ranking with real confidence
I feel good about this specific ranking because the underlying data is genuinely solid and consistent, official set information from PokeBeach and Serebii, real market data from multiple independent tracking sites, and a clear historical comparison point through the Japanese Abyss Eye release. That combination of sources gives me more confidence in this particular verdict than I have for some other, more ambiguous product reviews I've worked through, where the underlying information itself was harder to pin down clearly.
What I'll be watching as the pitch black card list matures
Since this set only recently released, I plan to revisit this pitch black card list breakdown once more pull-rate and pricing data accumulates over the coming months. Early pricing on any new trading card release tends to be volatile, and I'd expect the specific verdicts in this piece, particularly around whether now is the right time to buy versus wait, to become clearer and more confident as the market settles into its longer-term equilibrium.
A final practical tip before you buy
Whatever you decide about the pitch black card list, I'd recommend setting a specific budget before you start buying, whether that's packs, a booster box, or targeted singles for Mega Darkrai ex specifically, and sticking to it. Trading card collecting has a way of encouraging "just one more pack" spending that can add up quickly, and having a clear, pre-decided limit going in is genuinely the most useful practical advice I can offer beyond the specific pitch black card list analysis I've walked through here.
Closing recommendation
That's my complete breakdown of the pitch black card list, its numbers, its chase cards, and exactly who should prioritize it. I hope this gives you enough to make a confident, well-informed decision rather than buying blind.
Sources
- PokeBeach set guide
- Serebii.net card database
- TCG Watchtower, Pokecottage, Bill's Archive, Pokellector set listings
- TCGplayer Authentication Center pull-rate data