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Mega Evolution • Set ME05
Pokemon Pitch Black grading guide
Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, and the rest of Pitch Black are about to hit boxes. Know what you’re pulling and pre-grade it with AI before you ever mail a card to PSA or BGS.
ME05
Set Code
Jul 17, 2026
Release Date
118 + 37
Main + Secret Rares
Pokémon Center Exclusive
Set Overview
About Pitch Black
Pokemon Mega Evolution: Pitch Black (set code ME05) is the fifth set in the Mega Evolution series, releasing July 17, 2026 after a July 4, 2026 prerelease. It’s based on the Japanese "Abyss Eye" set, released May 22, 2026. The set spans 118 main-set cards (including 82 reverse holos) plus 37 secret rares — 12 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares, 6 Special Illustration Rares, and the Mega Ultra Rare Mega Darkrai ex closing out the set at #118.
Pitch Black is built around four featured Mega Evolution ex Pokemon: Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, Mega Excadrill ex. The headline chase is Mega Darkrai ex #114, a Special Illustration Rare illustrated by Akira Egawa, with a second Mega Ultra Rare variant closing the set at #118. Mega Zeraora ex #112 and the trainer card Gwynn #117 round out the Special Illustration Rare tier that collectors will be chasing hardest.
Why pre-grade a brand-new set?
Because Pitch Black hasn’t released yet, there’s no public track record on how consistently its Special Illustration Rares print. That’s exactly why checking condition immediately — the moment you pull a card, before it’s been handled or shipped anywhere — matters more on a new release than on a set that’s been in circulation for years.
Chase Cards
Pitch Black’s top pulls
The cards worth protecting and pre-grading the moment you pull them.
Mega Darkrai ex #114
Special Illustration RareIllustrated by Akira Egawa — the set’s headline chase card.
Mega Darkrai ex #118
Mega Ultra RareThe set’s top-numbered secret rare — a second Mega Darkrai ex variant closing out Pitch Black.
Mega Zeraora ex #112
Special Illustration RareOne of four Mega Evolution ex Pokemon anchoring the set.
Gwynn #117
Special Illustration RareTrainer-gallery SIR, typically a strong secondary chase.
Mega Chandelure ex #113
Special Illustration RareRounds out the four Mega Evolution ex Pokemon at SIR rarity.
Morpeko ex #115
Special Illustration RareThe set’s non-Mega ex pull at the SIR tier.
Gladion’s Decisive Battle #116
Special Illustration RareA supporter-card SIR alongside Gwynn — six SIRs total in Pitch Black.
Full Checklist
Every Illustration Rare & Ultra Rare
The 12 Illustration Rares and 18 Ultra Rares below the six Special Illustration Rares — the full secret-rare tier of Pitch Black.
Illustration Rares (#82–93)
Fomantis#82
Armarouge#83
Goldeen#84
Primarina#85
Manectric#86
Slowbro#87
Dhelmise#88
Thievul#89
Zarude#90
Bastiodon#91
Toucannon#92
Silvally#93
Ultra Rares (#94–111)
Lurantis ex#94
Wailord ex#95
Mega Zeraora ex#96
Mega Chandelure ex#97
Rampardos ex#98
Mega Darkrai ex#99
Morpeko ex#100
Mega Excadrill ex#101
Iron Defender#102
Energy Switch#103
Crushing Hammer#104
Dark Bell#105
Heroic Bomb#106
Brave Bangle#107
Misty’s Energy#108
Gladion’s Decisive Battle#109
Rust Syndicate Grunt#110
Gwynn#111
Card list per tcgwatchtower.com. No market pricing shown — Pitch Black hasn’t released yet, so there’s no real sales data to report.
Why Pre-Grade
5 reasons to pre-grade your Pitch Black pulls
Protect the pull the moment you open it
Pitch Black packs go straight from a box to a binder or a submission envelope. CGI Vision checks centering, corners, edges, and surface across 47 inspection points right after you pull a card — before any handling adds wear you can’t undo.
Don’t submit a new set blind
PSA and BGS turnaround runs 30–120+ days. On a brand-new release, factory print quality on Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares hasn’t been publicly tested yet. Pre-grading tells you what you actually have before you pay $20–$300+ to find out.
Special Illustration Rares hide texture flaws
The full-bleed, textured surface treatment on modern SIRs (like Mega Darkrai ex #114 and Mega Zeraora ex #112) shows print lines and texture inconsistency more readily than a standard bordered card. AI inspection catches what’s easy to miss under normal light.
Skip the cards not worth the fee
Not every Pitch Black pull is a submission candidate. Pre-grading separates real PSA 10 contenders from cards better kept raw or set aside for economy/bulk tiers, so your grading budget goes to cards where it matters.
Enter the giveaway while you’re at it
Every active CardGrade subscriber is automatically entered to win a Pokémon Center Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box — so pre-grading your set doubles as your entry.
Grading Tips
Pitch Black grading tips
What to check on Special Illustration Rares and fresh pulls before you submit.
Surface
Inspect Special Illustration Rares under angled light
Full-bleed textured cards like #112–#117 show print lines and texture gaps most clearly under a raked LED light, not overhead room light. Check the entire surface, not just the art’s focal point.
Centering
Measure, don’t eyeball, thin-border SIRs
Special Illustration Rares carry a thin accent border rather than a wide yellow frame, so small centering shifts are far more visible than on a standard card. Use a centering tool on all four sides before deciding a pull is PSA 10 material.
Edges
Check edges straight out of the pack
Cards pulled from tightly-packed booster packs or Elite Trainer Boxes can pick up edge whitening from pack friction before you’ve even touched them. Inspect edges immediately after opening, before sleeving.
Corners
Sleeve and top-load before your first submission-quality pull
On any new set, the first few minutes after opening are the highest-risk window for corner dings. Have a sleeve and top-loader ready before you start opening product, especially around suspected Mega Darkrai ex or Mega Zeraora ex pulls.
FAQ
Pitch Black questions
When does Pokemon Pitch Black release?
Pokemon Mega Evolution: Pitch Black (set code ME05) releases July 17, 2026, with a prerelease event on July 4, 2026. It’s based on the Japanese "Abyss Eye" set, released May 22, 2026.
What are the chase cards in Pitch Black?
The headline chase card is Mega Darkrai ex #114, a Special Illustration Rare illustrated by Akira Egawa, alongside a Mega Ultra Rare Mega Darkrai ex at #118. The full Special Illustration Rare lineup is six cards: Mega Zeraora ex #112, Mega Chandelure ex #113, Mega Darkrai ex #114, Morpeko ex #115, Gladion’s Decisive Battle #116, and Gwynn #117 — with Mega Excadrill ex rounding out the set’s four featured Mega Evolution ex Pokemon at the Ultra Rare tier.
How many cards are in the Pitch Black set?
The main set has 118 cards (including 82 reverse holos), plus 37 secret rares numbered above the main set — 12 Illustration Rares, 18 Ultra Rares, 6 Special Illustration Rares, and the Mega Ultra Rare Mega Darkrai ex at #118.
Should I pre-grade Pitch Black cards before submitting to PSA?
Yes, especially for the Special Illustration Rares and Mega Darkrai ex pulls. Because this is a new release, there’s no public track record yet on how consistently these cards print. Pre-grading with CGI Vision shows you predicted PSA, BGS, and CGC grades in about 60 seconds, before you commit $20–$300+ and 30–120 days to a submission.
How do I enter the Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box giveaway?
Every active CardGrade subscriber (Hobby, Starter, Pro, or Business) is automatically entered to win a Pokémon Center Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box — higher plans get more entries, and each referral earns 5 bonus entries. No purchase is necessary to enter; see the giveaway page for the free alternate entry method and full rules.