Pitch Black Booster Box (ME05, 2026): Contents, MSRP, and Pack Count
By Dexhaul Team · October 15, 2026 · 6 min read
The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution: Pitch Black booster box holds 36 packs at 10 cards per pack, for 360 cards total.
Released July 17, 2026, Pitch Black (set code PBL, internal era code ME05) is the fifth Mega Evolution era expansion. The full set spans 120 cards according to Limitless TCG, with 84 in the base-numbered portion and 36 additional Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and Hyper Rares above that count. At the current observed floor of $164.99, the booster box works out to $4.58 per pack, the lowest per-pack rate of any ME05 sealed format in the catalogue right now.
On this page 6 sections
What's Inside a Pitch Black Booster Box
A sealed Pitch Black booster box contains exactly 36 packs. Each pack holds 10 cards. Unlike the Elite Trainer Box or Booster Bundle, the booster box ships with no accessories: no sleeves, no dice, no coin.
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Booster packs | 36 | Sealed, random content |
| Cards per pack | 10 | Standard for the Mega Evolution era |
| Total cards in set | 120 | Source: Limitless TCG |
| Base-numbered cards | 84 | Commons, Uncommons, Rares, Double Rares |
| Special-art cards (085 and above) | 36 | Illustration Rares, SIRs, Hyper Rares |
| Accessories included | None | Sleeves and dice sold separately |
The three highest-demand pull targets are Mega Darkrai ex SIR, Mega Zeraora ex SIR, and Mega Chandelure ex SIR. Mega Chandelure ex appears at three rarity tiers in the same set: Double Rare, full-art Ultra Rare, and SIR. That makes it the only Pokémon in Pitch Black where three different versions of the same card are available from a single box.
For a full breakdown of every chase target and its rarity tier, see the ME05 Pitch Black chase card guide.
Pitch Black Booster Box Price per Pack
The Pokémon Company does not publish a suggested retail price for booster boxes. All prices below are observed from in-stock and pre-order listings as of October 15, 2026.
| Format | Packs | Observed floor (Oct 15, 2026) | Per pack | Accessories included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booster Box | 36 | $164.99 | $4.58 | None |
| Booster Bundle | 6 | $34.95 | $5.83 | None |
| Elite Trainer Box (ETB) | 9 | $59.99 | $6.67 | 65 sleeves, dice, coin, damage counters |
| Sleeved single pack | 1 | $5.95 | $5.95 | None |
| Pokémon Center ETB (exclusive) | 11 | $125.00 | $11.36 | Sleeves, dice, exclusive promo card |
The booster box delivers the cheapest per-pack cost of any ME05 sealed format available today. The ETB floor of $59.99 comes to $6.67 per pack before factoring in accessories. Subtract the retail value of 65 card sleeves (roughly $10–$12 separately) and the ETB's effective per-pack cost drops to around $5.50.
The booster box still wins on raw cost per pack, but only if you already own sleeves for your new cards.
The Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box includes two extra packs (11 vs 9) and an exclusive stamped promo card, but at $125+ it is a premium option aimed at collectors who want the full sealed-product experience, not the cheapest per-pack rate.
How Pitch Black Compares to Other Mega Evolution Booster Boxes
The Mega Evolution era has maintained consistent pack counts across sets. Each booster box contains 36 packs at 10 cards each, regardless of the set.
| Set | Era code | Release | Observed floor | Per pack | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaos Rising | ME04 | May 22, 2026 | $159.99 | $4.44 | In stock |
| Pitch Black | ME05 | July 17, 2026 | $164.99 | $4.58 | In stock |
| Delta Reign | ME06 | Nov 6, 2026 | $224.99 pre-order | $6.25 | Pre-order; not yet shipped |
Chaos Rising (ME04) edges out Pitch Black on per-pack cost at the floor, and both are in stock today. Delta Reign (ME06) carries a pre-order premium ahead of its November 6, 2026 release. For Delta Reign's full booster box specs, see the Delta Reign ME06 booster box guide.
Pitch Black Release Timeline
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JP M5 Abyss Eye release | May 22, 2026 | Japanese source set |
| EN Pitch Black release | July 17, 2026 | Per Serebii |
| Pokémon Center ETB available | July 2026 | Exclusive, 11 packs + promo card |
| Delta Reign (ME06) releases | November 6, 2026 | Next set; per pokemon.com |
Pitch Black launched 56 days after its Japanese equivalent, M5 Abyss Eye. That 56-day JP-to-EN gap is the same as ME04 Chaos Rising. For the full Q4 2026 release calendar across all upcoming sets, see the Pokémon TCG Release Schedule 2026.
Who Should Buy the Pitch Black Booster Box
Buy the Pitch Black Booster Box if you want to open ME05 packs in volume and already own card sleeves.
At $4.58 per pack at the current floor, it is the cheapest sealed entry into the Pitch Black set from any format. Buyers who plan to open 20 or more packs, or who are building toward a playset of key cards, will pay meaningfully less per card than with any other Pitch Black format.
Skip it if you're new to the Mega Evolution era and don't have sleeves or accessories. The standard ETB at $59.99–$74.95 includes 65-count tournament-legal sleeves, six dice, damage counters, and a coin. That complete package is the better starting experience for a first-time ME05 buyer.
Skip it if you're hunting a single specific card. Pull rates do not change with box size, so a collector targeting one or two SIRs is better served by a single ETB or buying singles directly. For a side-by-side ETB comparison, see the Delta Reign ETB vs Pitch Black ETB guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many packs are in a Pitch Black booster box?
36 packs, each containing 10 cards, for 360 cards total per box.
What is the MSRP for the Pitch Black booster box?
The Pokémon Company does not publish a suggested retail price for booster boxes. Observed prices range from $164.99 to $184.99 at most independent retailers as of October 2026.
What are the chase cards in Pitch Black?
The three Special Illustration Rares are Mega Darkrai ex SIR, Mega Zeraora ex SIR, and Mega Chandelure ex SIR. Mega Chandelure ex also appears at Double Rare and Ultra Rare tiers in the same set, making it one of the most multi-tier Pokémon in the expansion.
How many cards are in the Pitch Black set?
120 cards total: 84 in the base-numbered set plus 36 special-art cards (Illustration Rares, SIRs, and Hyper Rares) numbered above 084.
How does Pitch Black compare to Delta Reign (ME06)?
Delta Reign is the next Mega Evolution era set, releasing November 6, 2026, with pre-orders currently at $224.99+. Pitch Black is in stock at $164.99 today. For a full side-by-side, see the Delta Reign vs Pitch Black ETB guide.
Browse every in-stock Pitch Black booster box from independent sellers at DexHaul's Booster Boxes collection. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
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