Mega Evolution—Pitch Black has officially arrived, and it brings a much-needed dose of dark, spooky aesthetics to the Pokémon TCG. Centered around a nightmarish battle between darkness and light, this set is absolutely loaded with powerful new Mega Evolution Pokémon and competitive Trainer cards that are already shaking up the current meta.
Because this set features the highly anticipated return of Darkrai—specifically as a Mega Evolution—the hype is incredibly high. But before you start ripping open booster boxes, you need to know exactly how hard it is to pull those top-tier hits.
Based on massive sample sizes of real pack openings, we have broken down the exact pull rates you can expect from Pitch Black.
The Best Chase Cards in Pitch Black
The absolute crown jewel of Pitch Black is without a doubt the Mega Darkrai ex Special Illustration Rare (SIR), alongside its elusive Mega Hyper Rare gold variant. Darkrai is a massive fan-favorite, and the incredible artwork (including pieces by the legendary Akira Egawa) makes these the highest investment priorities in the set.
Beyond Darkrai, collectors are aggressively hunting for the stunning Slowbro Illustration Rare (087/081), which features some of the best and most charming artwork in recent memory from illustrator Mékayu. The set also features incredible cards for Mega Chandelure ex, Mega Zeraora, and Mega Excadrill ex, giving you plenty of high-value targets to chase
Expected Hit Rates in Pitch Black
Unlike special Japanese “High Class” sets that guarantee specific hits in a box, Mega Evolution—Pitch Black is a standard English expansion. This means there are no strict guarantees in a single booster box.
However, because this set is similar in size to previous Mega Evolution era sets like Phantasmal Flames and Chaos Rising, the pull rates remain very consistent. If you are opening standard booster packs, here are the statistical odds of pulling a hit from the Rare or Reverse Holo slots.
Pitch Black Pull Rates Chart
Using aggregated data from thousands of opened packs, here is the estimated hit rate per individual Pitch Black booster pack:
| Card Type | Ratio | Percent Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Double Rare (Regular ex) | 1 in 5 packs | 21.02% |
| Illustration Rare (IR) | 1 in 9 packs | 11.01% |
| Ultra Rare (Full Art ex / Supporter) | 1 in 12 packs | 8.30% |
| Special Illustration Rare (SIR) | 1 in 80 packs | 1.25% |
| Mega Hyper Rare (Gold) | 1 in 1,081 packs | 0.09% |
(Note: Pulling the ultimate chase card is brutal this time around. The odds of pulling the specific Mega Hyper Rare Mega Darkrai ex from a single pack are a tiny fraction of a percent—roughly 1 in 1,111 packs!)
Is Mega Evolution—Pitch Black Worth Opening?
Absolutely! While hunting for the Mega Hyper Rare Darkrai might be a long shot, the mid-tier hits in this set make it incredibly fun to open. You are hitting an Illustration Rare in roughly 1 out of every 9 packs, which keeps the opening experience very engaging.
Plus, this set is highly relevant for competitive players. With massive single-prize attackers like Dhelmise and Slowbro entering the meta, and disruptive item cards like Dark Bell, standard cards from this set are going to carry solid value for players looking to upgrade their decks.
Where to Buy Pitch Black Booster Packs
If you are looking for the safest place to buy Pitch Black booster boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes (which include a great Zarude full-art promo), or just want to buy the Mega Darkrai ex single without testing your luck, TCGplayer.com is the perfect place. They provide a massive marketplace with transparent pricing and buyer protection so you don’t have to worry about resealed packs.
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