1 month ago
Talha Sonmez
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is leaning into darkness this summer. A newly revealed English set titled Pitch Black is set to launch on July 17, bringing with it one of the franchise’s most iconic shadowy figures: Mega Darkrai ex.
A Dark-Themed Headliner
At the centre of Pitch Black is Darkrai, the Mythical Pokémon long associated with nightmares and darkness. Often referred to as the “Pitch-Black Pokémon,” Darkrai is a natural fit for a set built around shadowy themes and ominous power.
The standout card, Mega Darkrai ex, is expected to push Dark-type strategies forward in a big way. While full card details haven’t been officially confirmed yet, Mega Evolution ex cards have historically offered high HP, heavy-hitting attacks, and game-defining abilities. Players can expect Mega Darkrai ex to follow suit, likely emphasising disruption, status conditions, or energy manipulation.
Release Dates and Early Access
Players won’t have to wait long to get their hands on the new set:
• **Prerelease events**: July 4 – July 12
• **Official release**: July 17
Prereleases will give competitive players and collectors a first look at the set in a sealed format environment, often shaping early impressions of the metagame.
A Close Copy of Japan’s Abyss Eye
Pitch Black will be heavily based on Japan’s Abyss Eye, releasing May 22. With no additional Japanese subsets available to merge into the English release, this set is expected to be an almost exact 1:1 adaptation.
This mirrors recent releases like:
• **Phantasmal Flames**
• **Perfect Order**
• **Chaos Rising**
As a result, Pitch Black will likely be a smaller set, focusing on tighter card pools rather than large expansions.
Why Are Sets Getting Smaller?
This ongoing trend raises a bigger question: why are modern Pokémon TCG sets shrinking?
A key factor is Japan’s recent move away from printing smaller subset expansions. Without those additional cards to combine, English sets naturally become more compact.
There are a few possible reasons behind this shift:
• **Global supply pressures**: Fewer unique cards may allow higher print volumes per card, easing shortages.
• **Release strategy changes**: The Pokémon Company may be aligning global releases more closely with Japan’s model of frequent, smaller sets.
• **Collector accessibility**: Smaller sets can be easier (and sometimes cheaper) to complete.
At this stage, it’s unclear whether this is a temporary adjustment or a long-term strategy, but the pattern is becoming consistent.
Japan’s Upcoming Release Schedule
Japan’s roadmap gives us a preview of what may come next for international players:
• **May 22**: Abyss Eye (Mega Darkrai ex)
• **July 31**: Storm Emeralda (Mega Rayquaza ex)
• **July 31**: Starter Decks featuring Eevee ex, Zoroark ex, and Meowscarada ex
• **September 16**: 30th Celebration set + Premium Deck (Espeon & Umbreon)
• **October 16**: Starter Pokémon-themed 30th Celebration card sets
• **TBA**: Aura Seeker (possibly featuring Mega Lucario Z)
This schedule hints at a strong Mega Evolution focus throughout the year, alongside anniversary-themed releases celebrating the franchise’s legacy.
What to Expect from Pitch Black
Pitch Black is shaping up to be a focused, thematic expansion built around darkness and power. With Mega Darkrai ex leading the charge, the set will likely appeal to both competitive players and collectors drawn to Dark-type Pokémon.
While its smaller size may limit variety, it could also make the chase more approachable and the gameplay more refined.
For fans of Darkrai and the evolving Mega ex era, July is going to be a month worth watching.
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