With the Pokemon Trading Card Game's next expansion, Pitch Black, on the horizon, The Pokemon Company provided a selection of products for review. After tearing through a Booster Box, an Elite Trainer Box, a Build and Battle Kit, and a Booster Bundle, it is clear that this set is a departure from the high-energy openings players have come to expect.
My experience with Pitch Black was a stark contrast to my previous preview for Chaos Rising. In that set, 55 packs yielded three Special Illustration Rares—Greninja, AZ’s Tranquility, and Cinccino—alongside the golden Greninja ex. Pitch Black, by comparison, failed to deliver that same excitement.
A Thinner Expansion for the 30th Anniversary
The Pokemon TCG is currently releasing a series of smaller sets, a strategy speculated by store owners to be a move to ensure the upcoming 30th Anniversary expansion remains well-stocked. While this approach is helpful for collectors aiming to complete full sets, it leaves individual expansions feeling thin. Pitch Black is the second consecutive set to feature fewer than 200 cards, following Chaos Rising at 198 cards.
The lack of variety is felt in the pull rates and the card list itself. Beyond the Mega Darkrai ex SIR and its Gold variant, there are very few cards that stand out. The Illustration Rares also lack the appeal of recent sets; while Chaos Rising featured fan favorites like Ampharos and Crobat, Pitch Black relies on Pokemon like Slowbro, Thievul, Toucannon, Goldeen, and Formantis. The artwork remains high quality, but the lack of "must-have" Pokemon is a significant drawback.
The Reality of the Pack Opening
Across the 55 packs provided, the results were decidedly average. The highlight was a Misty Full Art card, accompanied by a Chandelure ex Full Art. My pulls included five Illustration Rares—Primarina, Toucannon, Bastiodon, Dhelmise, and Manectric—which is standard for this volume of packs, though none of the featured Pokemon generated much enthusiasm.
This is the third set in a row that feels underwhelming, especially when weighed against the high bar set by Ascended Heroes. However, there is a silver lining: the current release cadence may help deter the scalpers who have historically plagued the hobby. With the 30th Anniversary expansion on the horizon, collectors have a more significant event to look forward to. The product lineup for that milestone has been revealed, and despite the inevitable difficulty in securing stock, it promises a much stronger offering for the community.