Pitch Black Build and Battle Box (2026): Contents and MSRP
By Dexhaul Team · October 19, 2026 · 6 min read
Four booster packs. One ready-to-play deck. One foil promo card you cannot pull from a standard pack.
The Pitch Black Build and Battle Box includes four ME05 booster packs, a 23-card Building Kit assembled into a 40-card playable deck, and one exclusive alternate-art foil promo card. It released alongside the full Pitch Black lineup on July 17, 2026, as the format designed for players who want to start playing ME05 without buying additional singles.
What's inside the Pitch Black Build and Battle Box
| Item | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Booster packs | 4 | Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution: Pitch Black (ME05) |
| Ready-to-play deck | 40 cards | Built from 23 Building Kit cards plus 17 cards from the included packs |
| Exclusive alternate-art foil promo | 1 | Variant depends on the deck configuration; stamped ME05 set stamp |
| Deck-building guide | 1 | Instructions for assembling and extending the deck |
| Set | Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution: Pitch Black (ME05) | |
| Retail release | July 17, 2026 | |
The deck comes together by combining the 23 pre-selected Building Kit cards with 17 cards pulled from the four included packs. The result is a 40-card tournament-legal deck playable out of the box. A deck-building guide walks through each step and explains how to adapt the deck using cards from future purchases.
On this page 8 sections
The exclusive foil promo card
The promo card is the part most buyers do not fully account for when comparing this box to other formats. It is an exclusive alternate-art foil with the ME05 set stamp, not available in standard Pitch Black booster packs or any other ME05 product.
Pitch Black's featured Mega Pokémon are Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, and Mega Chandelure ex. The promo variant included with each box depends on the deck configuration inside. If you want a specific variant, buying multiple retail boxes is the most reliable approach rather than attending a prerelease event and hoping for the right assignment.
To collect the full range of promo variants, you need multiple Build and Battle Boxes, one per configuration. The stamped alternate-art treatment makes these promos distinct from any version available in the main set, including Special Illustration Rares.
MSRP and observed prices
An official MSRP for ME05 Pitch Black products has not been published by The Pokémon Company on a dated primary source. Observed prices across independent shops as of October 2026 range from $25.00 to $44.99 USD for single boxes. Prices in the $29 to $35 range are most common.
| Seller | Price | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Skybox Collectibles | $25.00 USD | USA |
| Danireon Cards & Games | $29.00 USD | USA |
| Reformed Poke Lab | $30.00 USD | USA |
| Wyntercreek Cards & Collectibles | $39.99 USD | USA |
| Collection Realm | $44.99 USD | USA |
At $30 USD for four packs, the price-per-pack works out to $7.50 before factoring in the deck and exclusive promo. Single ME05 booster packs are observed at $5 to $6 each, meaning the box carries a meaningful premium. That premium reflects the deck component and the stamped promo rather than the pack count alone.
How the Pitch Black Build and Battle Box compares to other ME05 formats
| Format | Packs | Promo | Deck included | Accessories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Build & Battle Box | 4 | 1 exclusive alternate-art foil | Yes (40 cards) | Deck-building guide only |
| Booster Bundle | 6 | None | No | None |
| Elite Trainer Box | 9 | Darkrai ex + Zeraora ex (English exclusive) | No | 65 sleeves, 45 Energy, dice, coin, box |
The Booster Bundle at $27.99 for six packs offers the lowest price-per-pack with no extras. The Elite Trainer Box at $52.99 to $65.00 includes more packs and the English-exclusive Darkrai ex and Zeraora ex promos but does not come with a playable deck. The Build and Battle Box is the only ME05 format that includes a ready-to-play 40-card deck.
About ME05 Pitch Black
Pitch Black is the fifth main English Mega Evolution set. The Japanese equivalent, Abyss Eye, released on May 22, 2026. The English edition launched on July 17, 2026, across all formats: booster packs, Booster Bundle, Build and Battle Box, and Elite Trainer Box. The main set runs 84 cards with additional secret rares numbered beyond 084.
Mega Darkrai ex leads the set as the top chase card and the highest-value Special Illustration Rare. Mega Zeraora ex and Mega Chandelure ex round out the SIR tier. Chandelure appears on the booster pack art. The set has a strong dark-type and ghost-type focus, setting it apart from earlier ME sets that leaned toward fighting and fire types. For a breakdown of the set's chase cards and what they are worth, see the Pitch Black chase cards guide.
Prerelease events
Build and Battle Boxes are the official product for Pokémon TCG prerelease events. At a prerelease, participating players each receive a box and build their 40-card deck on the spot using the Building Kit cards and their pack pulls. Retail copies use the same format and are fully playable outside of organized events. The ME05 prerelease ran ahead of the July 17, 2026 retail launch.
Who should buy the Pitch Black Build and Battle Box
Players who want to start playing ME05 immediately and do not already own singles get a complete 40-card deck in a single purchase. No additional cards are required to play. The deck-building guide explains how to expand the deck using future pack pulls.
Collectors who want the exclusive stamped promo have no alternative source for the ME05 alternate-art foil with the set stamp. The promo is not available in any other ME05 product, which gives it long-term scarcity value for set completionists.
Who should skip it
Buyers who only want pack pulls for a chance at Special Illustration Rares get worse pack-per-dollar value here than with the Booster Bundle. The Elite Trainer Box is the better choice if more packs, accessories, or the English-exclusive Darkrai ex and Zeraora ex promos matter more than the playable deck.
FAQ
What is inside the Pitch Black Build and Battle Box?
Four ME05 Pitch Black booster packs, a 40-card ready-to-play deck (built from 23 Building Kit cards plus 17 cards from the included packs), one exclusive alternate-art foil promo card with the ME05 set stamp, and a deck-building guide.
What promo card comes in the Pitch Black Build and Battle Box?
The box includes one exclusive alternate-art foil promo stamped with the ME05 set stamp. The specific variant depends on the deck configuration inside the box. Pitch Black's featured Mega Pokémon are Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, and Mega Chandelure ex. You will not know the variant until the box is opened; there is no way to select a specific promo at retail.
What does the Pitch Black Build and Battle Box cost?
No official MSRP has been published by The Pokémon Company for ME05 products. Observed prices at independent shops as of October 2026 range from $25 to $45 USD for single boxes. The most commonly listed price is $29 to $35 USD.
What is the difference between the Pitch Black Build and Battle Box and the Elite Trainer Box?
The Build and Battle Box includes a 40-card playable deck and one exclusive foil promo but only four booster packs. The Elite Trainer Box contains nine packs, the English-exclusive Darkrai ex and Zeraora ex foil promos, and a full set of accessories including sleeves, energy cards, and a collector's box. The ETB does not include a playable deck.
When did ME05 Pitch Black release?
July 17, 2026, for the English edition. The Japanese equivalent, Abyss Eye, released on May 22, 2026.
Find Pitch Black Build and Battle Box listings from independent shops on the collection boxes page. Use the search bar above to compare prices across every ME05 product in stock right now.
Catch 'em all
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