A garden full of flowers, a quiet shoreline, a mischievous grin and a storm of black-and-white detail—Pokémon’s Mega Evolution—Pitch Black has more than one kind of card worth chasing. Its biggest pulls are striking, but some of its most enjoyable illustrations sit much further down the price ladder.
These are our 12 best Pitch Black cards to collect, chosen for their artwork, character and variety. We start with affordable favourites and count down to our standout chase at number 1. The order reflects our collecting picks rather than a strict price ranking.
Prices are in US dollars for ungraded cards.
Fomantis — 085/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 085/084 · Holofoil · EN
12. A tiny Pokémon in a big garden. Jiro Sasumo surrounds Fomantis with a carpet of daisies, pink blossoms and layered leaves. The small green Pokémon almost becomes part of the planting, so the illustration rewards a second look rather than demanding attention with a huge pose. It is a lovely starting point for this countdown: an affordable illustration rare with enough detail to make a binder page feel like a miniature garden.
$1.70
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
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Armarouge — 086/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 086/084 · Holofoil · EN
11. Fire, armour and forward momentum. Iwamoto05 sends Armarouge charging through orange flames and pale streaks of smoke, with its heavy armour pushed toward the viewer. The dark face and glowing eyes hold their own against the busy setting, while the tilted pose gives the whole card momentum. If you prefer action scenes to quiet landscapes, this illustration rare is an appealing way into Pitch Black without starting with a headline chase.
$2.16
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Goldeen — 087/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 087/084 · Holofoil · EN
10. A whole underwater scene. Gemi turns Goldeen into more than a simple portrait. Several fish move through clear blue water, with bubbles, rippling light and flowing fins pulling your eye around the image. The bright white and red bodies remain easy to pick out against the cooler setting. It is a particularly good choice for collectors who enjoy illustrations that suggest a wider Pokémon world beyond the main subject.
$3.79
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Primarina — 088/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 088/084 · Holofoil · EN
9. A moment at the shoreline. Primarina stands in shallow water against a warm, glowing horizon in satoma’s illustration. The pale figure and turquoise hair catch the light, while the open water leaves the composition room to breathe. After Armarouge’s flames and Goldeen’s busy underwater scene, this card feels unhurried. It makes a gentle centrepiece for a Water-type page and shows the softer side of a set named Pitch Black.
$2.37
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Slowbro — 090/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 090/084 · Holofoil · EN
8. The unexpected night-time favourite. Mékayu places a smiling Slowbro in a narrow, dimly lit passage, with a lamp overhead and pipes and stonework around it. The cheerful pink Pokémon looks wonderfully at ease in a setting that might otherwise feel slightly eerie. That contrast is the reason to pause on this card. It has a small visual story of its own, making it one of our favourite affordable illustrations in the expansion.
$5.78
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Gladion's Final Battle — 118/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 118/084 · Holofoil · EN
7. A dramatic Trainer portrait. DOM gives Gladion’s Final Battle a bright blue sky, wind-swept clouds and a strong sideways pose. Gladion’s blond hair stands out against the cool colours, while the streaks and angular shapes keep the scene moving. This special illustration rare is worth considering if you collect characters as well as Pokémon: it changes the rhythm of a binder page without losing the drama of the set’s larger chase cards.
$20.88
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Gwynn — 119/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 119/084 · Holofoil · EN
6. Personality in warm colours. Naoki Saito brings Gwynn forward in a close, expressive portrait, with rounded headgear and warm lights filling the background. The softer shapes and orange glow give this card a different personality from Gladion’s open-sky scene. Both are special illustration rares, but they offer quite different moods. Choose Gwynn if you enjoy character-focused artwork with small costume details to explore after the first glance.
$25.59
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Mega Darkrai ex — 120/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 120/084 · Holofoil · EN
5. Darkrai in gold. 5ban Graphics gives Mega Darkrai ex a bold gold treatment, with its pointed silhouette and circular patterns carrying the composition. The limited palette makes the design feel graphic and immediately recognisable, even in a small binder pocket. This is the Mega Hyper Rare at 120/084. Keep that number in mind: the other featured Mega Darkrai card later in this countdown is a completely different illustration, not simply another colour of this one.
$125.27
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Mega Zeraora ex — 114/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 114/084 · Holofoil · EN
4. Electricity from corner to corner. GIDORA fills Mega Zeraora ex with sharp blue-white flashes, with its body cutting diagonally through the lightning. Bright edges pick out the face and limbs against darker blue areas, creating a sense of power without flattening everything into one bright patch. The 114/084 special illustration rare is our pick for collectors who want an energetic, high-contrast chase card that still reads clearly from across the table.
$33.87
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Morpeko ex — 117/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 117/084 · Holofoil · EN
3. A burst of attitude. NG Empire gives Morpeko ex an enormous open-mouthed expression against jagged pink, green and black shapes. The flat colours and rough-edged marks feel closer to a graphic poster than a conventional landscape illustration. It is one of the clearest changes of style in this list. If your favourite cards have a strong expression and a little mischief, this special illustration rare deserves a close look.
$58.38
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Mega Chandelure ex — 115/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 115/084 · Holofoil · EN
2. A ghostly close-up. REND brings Mega Chandelure ex close to the viewer, with pale purple flames curling above its dark frame and a warm yellow light glowing inside. The blurred background helps the curved metalwork and flowing flame shapes take centre stage. This is our runner-up for atmosphere: it feels unmistakably ghostly, yet the soft light makes it inviting to look at rather than simply dark. Look for the special illustration rare at 115/084.
$30.07
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Mega Darkrai ex — 116/084
ME05: Pitch Black · 116/084 · Holofoil · EN
1. Our standout Pitch Black chase. AKIRA EGAWA makes Mega Darkrai ex the centre of an intricate black-and-white storm. Branching lines spread outward from the figure, with small yellow-green accents breaking through the darkness. The more closely you look, the more the surrounding shapes seem to move. The 116/084 special illustration rare earns our top spot for that combination of a powerful central silhouette and detail that rewards a longer look. Beside the gold 120/084 card, it shows how differently the same Pokémon can be presented.
$141.59
Source as of Oct 27, 2026 (UTC).
Which Pitch Black card should you collect first?
For a smaller budget: start with an illustration rare
Fomantis, Goldeen and Primarina offer three very different scenes: a flower-filled garden, an underwater world and a peaceful shoreline. Slowbro adds a little night-time character, while Armarouge brings the action. Any one of them can be the beginning of a satisfying collection without needing to start with the most expensive card.
For bold artwork: choose the mood you enjoy
Morpeko’s graphic colours, Zeraora’s lightning and Chandelure’s ghostly glow each give a binder page a different focal point. Pick the image you want to keep looking at. A price ranking can help you compare costs, but it cannot choose your favourite illustration for you.
For Darkrai collectors: compare 116/084 and 120/084
The special illustration rare uses a densely detailed black-and-white scene; the Mega Hyper Rare takes a bold gold approach. They share a Pokémon, not a composition. Compare the large images above and match the number before choosing a listing.
Pitch Black collecting questions
What are the main Pitch Black chase cards?
Our standout choices include the two Mega Darkrai ex printings, Morpeko ex 117/084, Mega Zeraora ex 114/084 and Mega Chandelure ex 115/084. The prices above let you compare them alongside the more affordable illustration rares in this countdown.
Which Pitch Black card is the most expensive?
At the time of this review, Mega Darkrai ex 116/084 had the highest raw market price in the set. Compare its latest displayed price with the gold 120/084 version, because prices can change.
Does best mean the strongest card for a deck?
This guide is for collecting the artwork. It does not rank tournament performance, so a favourite illustration here is not automatically the best choice for your deck.
Should I open packs or buy the card I want?
Opening packs can be fun if you enjoy the surprise. Buying a single lets you choose the exact illustration and version for your collection. Check the card number, condition and photos when comparing listings, and avoid assuming a particular number of packs will produce your favourite chase card.
When did Pokémon Pitch Black release?
Mega Evolution—Pitch Black released on 17 July 2026.
Build a collection around the cards you love
Pitch Black works as more than a checklist of its biggest pulls. You could build around its moody scenes, collect a favourite illustrator, or start with one affordable card that makes you smile. The full Pitch Black card list and prices can help you explore the rest of the expansion.
For more collecting inspiration, try our Rayquaza cards under $100 or budget Sylveon cards under $10. Keep your next addition looking its best with our Pokémon card sleeving guide.