Set Guide / Set Guides & News / Jul 20, 2026 / 3 min
Mega Evolution Pitch Black best illustration rares
Review Pitch Black illustration rares by artwork, collector demand, and binder fit before launch prices settle.
The leading confirmed Pitch Black illustration chases are Mega Zeraora ex 114/084, Mega Chandelure ex 115/084, Mega Darkrai ex 116/084, and Morpeko ex 117/084. Compare these numbered cards by artwork and collecting goal before looking at early prices.
This article is current as of July 20, 2026. Mega Evolution-Pitch Black released on July 17 with a final English list of 120 numbered cards: 84 main-set cards and 36 secret rares. The first weekend produced sharp price resets, so choose illustration cards by artwork and binder fit before treating a launch reference as normal.
Use the Pitch Black checklist to see these cards in the full set. The price-watch guide explains how to revisit vendor data after release.
Quick answer
The first confirmed illustration chases to separate from their base cards are Mega Zeraora ex 114/084, Mega Chandelure ex 115/084, Mega Darkrai ex 116/084, and Morpeko ex 117/084. Save the exact collector number you want; a cheaper card with the same Pokemon name is not the same chase printing.
| Set detail | Current status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Official set | Mega Evolution-Pitch Black | Match the exact card and collector number |
| Release date | July 17, 2026 | Treat release-week demand as volatile |
| Numbered cards | 120: 84 main set + 36 secret | Build the card-list checklist first |
Set chase board
Illustration rare watch board for Pitch Black
Choose cards based on what you collect, then check sold prices from named sources before treating early prices as reliable.
Some marketplace links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Chase cards
High-rarity cards to wishlist by collector number before comparing release-week sales.
Mega Zeraora ex
Special Illustration Rare · EN
This Special Illustration Rare is the collectible Zeraora printing to watch, not the base Double Rare.
Marketplace price check
Checking saved data
Next step: Wishlist this exact 114/084 printing before comparing offers.
Catalog source: Unbinder catalog and PokeBeach English set guide - Reviewed 2026-07-25
Mega Chandelure ex
Special Illustration Rare · EN
The Special Illustration Rare is the art-led Chandelure chase; the base 038/084 serves a different collecting goal.
Marketplace price check
Checking saved data
Next step: Save 115/084 to your wishlist and compare it after release.
Catalog source: Unbinder catalog and PokeBeach English set guide - Reviewed 2026-07-25
Mega Darkrai ex
Special Illustration Rare · EN
This Special Illustration Rare is the main Darkrai chase printing to compare across sources.
Marketplace price check
Checking saved data
Next step: Track the exact 116/084 printing and wait for post-release sales.
Catalog source: Unbinder catalog and PokeBeach English set guide - Reviewed 2026-07-25
Morpeko ex
Special Illustration Rare · EN
Character appeal and Special Illustration Rare treatment make this more relevant than a generic rarity slot.
Marketplace price check
Checking saved data
Next step: Keep 117/084 on the chase list and compare sold copies after release.
Catalog source: Unbinder catalog and PokeBeach English set guide - Reviewed 2026-07-25
Mega Darkrai ex
Mega Hyper Rare · EN
The Mega Hyper Rare is a distinct Darkrai printing with thinner early evidence than the base card.
Marketplace price check
Checking saved data
Next step: Treat 120/084 as a separate premium chase and wait for real sales.
Catalog source: Unbinder catalog and PokeBeach English set guide - Reviewed 2026-07-25
Sources: Pokemon official pages and reviewed English catalog records. Reviewed 2026-07-16.
Rank the confirmed artwork, not the character name
Mega Darkrai ex appears as 048/084, 116/084, and 120/084. The Special Illustration Rare at 116/084 and Mega Hyper Rare at 120/084 are separate targets with different artwork and supply. Mega Zeraora ex 114/084, Mega Chandelure ex 115/084, and Morpeko ex 117/084 need the same collector-number discipline.
Use the gallery above to compare the cards visually before opening vendor pages. The image, set, rarity, and collector number should all match the card saved to the wishlist.
Decide what "best" means for your binder
Artwork preference, favorite Pokemon, set completion, and market demand produce different rankings. Pick the cards you would still want if prices were flat. Then place the higher-cost cards behind lower-pressure illustration targets rather than turning the entire special-art section into one urgent buy list.
Price comparisons only become useful after the product record matches and enough completed sales exist. Compare the numbered card on TCGplayer, Cardmarket, and eBay sold results, including condition and shipping. Early and release-week offers can be displayed in the module, but they should not be described as a settled value.
Source and freshness log
- Official Pokemon expansion page for release timing and set positioning, checked July 9, 2026.
- Official Pokemon announcement for card-count and special-illustration framing, checked July 9, 2026.
- PokeGuardian reveal coverage for prerelease and product context, checked July 9, 2026.
- TCGplayer Pitch Black price guide for exact collector numbers, rarities, and product records, checked July 16, 2026.
Next review: July 24, 2026. The first-weekend price reset shows how six TCGplayer references changed between July 18 and July 20.
Common mistakes
- Saving Mega Darkrai ex without its collector number.
- Ranking cards only by the highest active listing.
- Comparing the 048/084 Double Rare with the 116/084 special illustration.
- Buying before checking the English image and card record.
- Assuming every illustration rare has the same demand or supply.
How this fits into Unbinder
Open the numbered card in Unbinder from the gallery, add the print you want to the wishlist, and review the price chart as dated marketplace evidence accumulates. Vendor buttons remain attached to that same card record.
Next step
Continue with the Pitch Black chase-card ranking for demand context or the full Pitch Black checklist for set completion.
Continue this workflow
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