Pitch Black Is on Shelves Today: Day-One Prices for Mega Darkrai ex and How to Buy Launch Weekend
Mega Evolution - Pitch Black officially launches today, July 17. The Mega Darkrai ex Special Illustration Rare is opening near $400, and history says launch-week prices will not hold. Here is the day-one singles market and how to play it.
The Set Everyone Has Been Waiting For Is Finally Here
After a two-week digital head start on Pokemon TCG Live and prerelease events that ran July 4 through 12, Mega Evolution - Pitch Black officially hits store shelves today, July 17. The set brings more than 115 cards, over 20 Trainer cards, and more than 35 special illustration treatments, all wrapped around the most anticipated chase card of the summer: Mega Darkrai ex.
We covered the pull rates and product math in our buyer's guide earlier this month. Today is about what actually matters on launch day: what the singles market is doing right now, and what that means for how you should buy.
The Mega Darkrai ex SIR Opens Around $400
The Special Illustration Rare Mega Darkrai ex, featuring artwork from fan-favorite illustrator Akira Egawa, entered launch day sitting near $390 in presale sales, with early launch-window estimates ranging from $400 to $600. That tracks closely with the Japanese market, where the equivalent card from the Abyss Eye set has held around $400 since its May release.
A word of caution before you chase it at any price today:
English launch-week prices are historically the most volatile of a card's life. The pattern across recent Mega Evolution sets has been a day-one spike, a supply flood as breakers rip cases, and a settling period two to four weeks out that usually lands below launch prices.
If you are buying the Mega Darkrai ex SIR to hold, patience has been the winning play all year. If you are buying it because you love the card, none of that matters — buy the card you want.
The Rest of the Chase
Beyond the headliner, keep an eye on these early movers:
- Mega Zeraora ex — the set's secondary Mega chase, with strong early demand from both collectors and players.
- Mega Chandelure ex — the sleeper pick among the special illustrations, with striking dark-set artwork that fits the Pitch Black theme.
- Mega Excadrill ex — the most affordable of the four Megas so far, and a candidate to outperform if it finds a home in the meta.
Products on Shelves Today
The Elite Trainer Box includes nine booster packs, a full-art Zarude promo, sleeves, energy, and dice. Booster displays contain 36 packs of 10 cards plus a basic Energy. And do not forget the store promo program: purchases of $15 or more at participating retailers earn 30th-anniversary-stamped promos featuring Primarina, Zarude, and Armarouge while supplies last.
Given how Black Bolt and White Flare restocks played out last summer, expect first-wave sellouts at big-box retail within days. Your local card shop remains the best bet for launch-weekend product — find one near you with our shop directory.