Set Guide / Set Guides & News / Jul 20, 2026 / 6 min
Mega Evolution Pitch Black chase cards collectors are watching
A chase-card watchlist that separates collector demand from launch-week price noise.
Mega Evolution Pitch Black chase cards should be treated as a release-week watchlist, not as a final price ranking. Start with the featured Mega Evolution Pokemon ex cards, add personal artwork and master-set priorities, and wait for TCGplayer, Cardmarket, and eBay evidence before deciding what to buy.
This article is current as of July 20, 2026. Mega Evolution-Pitch Black released on July 17 and has a final English list of 120 numbered cards: 84 main-set cards and 36 secret rares. Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, and Mega Excadrill ex lead the first cards to watch, while release-week prices remain volatile.
For the full set workflow, read the Mega Evolution Pitch Black checklist and collector guide and browse the Set Guides & News hub.
Quick answer
The first release-week watchlist starts with the exact high-rarity printings, not every card that shares the same Pokemon name. Mega Darkrai ex 116/084 is the clearest headline chase. The separate Darkrai 120/084 Mega Hyper Rare, Morpeko ex 117/084, Mega Zeraora ex 114/084, and Mega Chandelure ex 115/084 complete the first group to monitor. This is a reviewed watchlist, not a stable price ranking.
| Watch rank | Exact card | Why it is on the chase list | Release-week action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mega Darkrai ex 116/084, SIR | Headline Pokemon, high rarity, and collector attention | Wishlist, then wait for release-week sales |
| 2 | Mega Darkrai ex 120/084, MHR | Separate premium printing with very thin early evidence | Track separately from the Darkrai SIR |
| 3 | Morpeko ex 117/084, SIR | Character appeal plus special-illustration treatment | Compare sold copies after release |
| 4 | Mega Zeraora ex 114/084, SIR | Featured Pokemon in the set's high-rarity art treatment | Watch supply and comparable sales |
| 5 | Mega Chandelure ex 115/084, SIR | Art-led chase with a distinct base Double Rare printing | Confirm 115/084 before comparing prices |
Marketplace disclosure: Vendor buttons in this chase board can use affiliate links. A qualifying purchase may earn Unbinder a commission without changing your price or our ranking method.
Set chase board
Build the chase watchlist before prices settle
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.
Source and freshness log
This ranking uses three checks: the exact English catalog record, the card's rarity, and reviewed marketplace evidence in Unbinder. The July 16 review uses early marketplace evidence to identify cards receiving attention, not to present live or stable values.
- Official Pokemon expansion page
- Official Pokemon announcement
- Pokebeach set guide
- TCGplayer Pitch Black price guide
- TCGplayer chase-card editorial
- Cardmarket Pokemon price guide
- eBay sold Pokemon card results
- PokeGuardian reveal coverage
Card numbers and article guidance were reviewed July 20, 2026. The six-card first-weekend price comparison found declines across every sampled TCGplayer reference. Next review: July 24.
How to rank chase cards before prices settle
During release week, ask why you want each card:
- Set identity: the card most people associate with the release.
- Character demand: popular Pokemon, trainers, artists, or themes.
- Set completion: cards you still need for a set or master set.
- Visual appeal: illustration rares and special-illustration cards.
- Scarcity signal: promos, product exclusives, or hard-to-find variants.
- Price evidence: only after sold prices and active supply can be compared.
That order keeps a watchlist useful even before the market has a reliable number.
Group your watchlist
Split the watchlist into useful groups instead of making one hype-driven ranking.
| Group | What belongs here | When to consider buying |
|---|---|---|
| Must-keep chase | Cards you want regardless of short-term price | Condition, version, and budget match |
| Waitlist chase | Cards you like but can miss at launch | Sold prices cool or supply improves |
| Master-set chase | Cards required for completion | Exact missing gap is confirmed |
| Art chase | Illustration-focused cards | You prefer the art enough to ignore hype noise |
| Sealed-adjacent chase | Promos or product-specific cards | Product contents and promo source are confirmed |
For the missing-list method, read how to track missing Pokemon cards.
What to check before buying a chase card
Do not buy a launch-week chase card from one signal. Check:
- Exact card, collector number, language, finish, and rarity.
- Whether the card is raw, graded, a promo, or product-linked.
- Recent eBay sold listings after release.
- TCGplayer context for English raw-card demand.
- Cardmarket context for European supply.
- Active listing depth, not just the lowest or highest ask.
- Photos, condition, seller trust, shipping, and return terms.
For the value method, read asking price vs sold price for Pokemon cards and how to read Pokemon card photos on eBay.
When to buy, wait, or skip
| Situation | Better move | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| It is your favorite Pokemon and the price fits your budget | Buy carefully | Personal value can matter more than timing |
| The card is expensive and sold prices are thin | Wait | One early comp is not enough |
| The card is needed for a master set but supply is normal | Wishlist and compare | Exactness matters more than speed |
| Active listings are far above sold prices | Wait or offer lower | Asking prices are seller signals |
| You only want the card because it is trending | Skip for now | Hype is not a collecting goal |
Build your own chase list
The market's top card does not have to be yours. Mark the cards you would still want if their price fell, keep master-set gaps separate from impulse wants, and record a card as owned only after it arrives. A wishlist—on paper or next to your collection in Unbinder—makes it easier to wait for several comparable sales instead of buying from the first loud price.
Bottom line
Mega Evolution Pitch Black chase cards are worth watching now, but release-week prices are not stable. Use the card list, rarity, artwork, and personal binder goals to build the wishlist, then wait for TCGplayer, Cardmarket, and eBay sold evidence before treating any card as fairly priced.
FAQ
What is the top Mega Evolution Pitch Black chase card?
Mega Darkrai ex 116/084 is the safest initial top watch because it combines the set's headline Pokemon with a Special Illustration Rare printing. The 048/084 Double Rare is a different card and should be treated as a completion target. The market ranking should be reviewed as release-week sales and supply appear.
Should I buy Pitch Black chase cards during release week?
Only if the card is a personal favorite, the price fits your budget, and you accept that early pricing may move. For most collectors, wishlist now and wait until multiple comparable sales are available.
Are illustration rares chase cards?
They can be. Illustration rares and special-illustration cards often attract art collectors, but demand depends on Pokemon, trainer, artwork, rarity, and post-release supply.
How do I track Pitch Black chase cards?
Put them in a wishlist, record the exact version you want, compare TCGplayer, Cardmarket, and eBay after release, and move the card into your binder only when you actually own it.
Continue this workflow
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