The Pokémon TCG continues to drop new sets and the next release is already on schedule. The Pokémon set will appear in July Pitch Black, based on the Japanese Abyss Eye, with Mega Darkrai ex. Very fat name we find, darker can not.
At first glance this is just a new, solid set. But if you look a little further, this release essentially feels as part of a larger development within the TCG and as a kind of intermediate station towards what comes next. In the Stockmon Discord and the Pokemon community there has long been speculation about a Rayquaza set!
The release of Pokémon Pitch Black is scheduled for Friday July 17, 2026, while pre-releases already take place between July 4 and 12th.
Another direction for Pokémon TCG sets
What is becoming increasingly clear is that Pokémon is changing the structure of releases. Sets become smaller, follow each other faster and appear to be more and more direct translations of Japanese releases.
For collectors, this means one thing: timing becomes important, we think.
Where you used to get in quite blind in a set, you should now look much more consciously at:
- what's in the set
- how popular the set will become (is it hard to get products to rip?)
- and above all: what is still coming
Darkrai remains popular, but is no guarantee
Darkrai is undoubtedly a strong choice. It is a fan-favorite with a recognizable, dark look and has always had a certain appeal within the TCG.
At the same time, it is not Pokémon that automatically causes extreme price increases or prolonged hype. The success of this set will therefore largely depend on the artworks and the quality of the chase cards. So perhaps another set that is nice to master, as . Unfortunately, this is part of the hobby that we have to take into account.
If the doctor unpacks well, this can be a surprisingly strong set. If not, then this is exactly the type of release that will soon be overtaken by the next one.
The equation we secretly make: Rayquaza
And here comes the real story.
Pretty soon after this Darkrai set the Mega Rayquaza set is expected (Emerald Storm), with a suspected release around September in English
That completely changes the context.
Rayquaza has a much stronger track record when it comes to value, hype and collectible interest. It is a Pokémon that is almost always linked to high-end cards and sets that remain relevant longer. Gen 3 Pokemon are incredibly popular and we at Stockmonster cannot wait for a very strong art by Rayquaza!
You already notice it in the community:
where Darkrai looks like a fun set, Rayquaza gets more anticicpated! (Let alone the 30th anniversary set)
Our opinion (Stockmonster)
Honestly, this feels like a set that's just fun to collect.
The Darkrai Vibe is strong, the theme is cool and if you're a fan of the Pokémon itself, you're gonna enjoy it anyway. It's not a set you have to skip.
But if you look purely at strategy and timing, we would not go all-in on this.
Chances are, the real hitter's gonna show up with Rayquaza shortly after. And if you have to choose where to put your budget, it makes more sense to leave some room for that. We also anticipate the 30th anniversary set at the end of September, next time more about it.
In short:
Pitch Black is a great set to pack,
but probably not the set that will define this period. As the youth would say; Midor something.
Conclusion
The Mega Darkrai ex-Pitch Black disregarded set will undoubtedly be an interesting release and will certainly find its place with collectors. But in the current market, in which sets quickly follow each other, it's not just about what comes now but mostly about what comes next.
And right now, Rayquaza seems to be taking over that role.
For most collectors this probably means the same thing:
enjoy Darkrai, but look ahead to the next sets to use the wallet a bit smarter. (writer of this piece is a bit bizarre because of Rayquaza)
