Pitch Black ETB vs Stellar Crown ETB: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 19, 2026 · 5 min read
Buy Pitch Black if you want ME05 cards at near-MSRP prices, the exclusive Mega Darkrai ex and Zeraora ex promos, or are building the current Mega Evolution series. Buy Stellar Crown if you specifically need SV07 content for a complete Scarlet & Violet run, or want Stellar Form Terapagos cards from the set that introduced the mechanic.
The key difference is not the format: both are 9-pack standard ETBs. It is the price, with observed prices from $64.99 for Pitch Black (in print since July 17, 2026) versus $139 to $229 for Stellar Crown, which launched September 13, 2024 per Bulbapedia and is now out of print at retail.
At a glance
| ME05 Pitch Black | SV07 Stellar Crown | |
|---|---|---|
| Set code | ME05 / PBL | SV07 / SCR |
| Era | Mega Evolution series | Scarlet & Violet series |
| Released | July 17, 2026 | September 13, 2024 |
| Standard ETB packs | 9 | 9 |
| Standard ETB promo | Darkrai ex + Zeraora ex foil | Noctowl foil |
| PC ETB packs | 11 | 11 |
| PC ETB promo | Exclusive foil cards | 2 Terapagos promos |
| Energy cards included | No | Yes (45 basic) |
| MSRP (standard) | Not officially announced | $49.99 |
| Observed price floor (Oct 2026) | $64.99 | $139.00 |
| In print | Yes | No |
On this page 6 sections
Where Pitch Black wins
Price at current market
The standard Pitch Black ETB starts at $64.99 USD at observed October 2026 prices across independent shops. Stellar Crown standard ETBs start at $139 for the same 9-pack format, well above its original $49.99 MSRP. That $74-plus gap is purely a function of age and availability, not content quality.
Exclusive promos with no Japanese equivalent
The two standard ETB promos are Darkrai ex and Zeraora ex in foil. Both Mega forms debuted in the Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC on December 10, 2025, and there are no Japanese TCG equivalents for either card. The English standard ETB is the primary way to add them to a collection, making the promo value higher than a typical ETB inclusion.
Current competitive format
ME05 is Standard-legal for the current season alongside the rest of the Mega Evolution series. Players building toward ME06 Delta Reign have a direct reason to open Pitch Black packs first, as the card pools connect across the ME series.
Where Stellar Crown wins
The set that introduced Stellar Form Terapagos
Stellar Crown is the first set to feature Stellar Form Terapagos ex as the main headliner per Bulbapedia's Stellar Crown set entry. If your goal is to collect SV sets in order, SV07 is the only place that chapter of the card pool lives. The Noctowl promo in the standard ETB is a secondary draw, but the Terapagos chase cards are the reason most collectors seek out this box.
Energy cards in the box
The Stellar Crown standard ETB includes 45 basic energy cards alongside the standard accessories. Pitch Black does not. For a new player building their first deck, that difference is a practical one: you do not have to source energy cards separately.
Complete SV series collectors
Anyone completing the Scarlet & Violet run from SV01 to the current era needs SV07. There is no substitute. At $139-plus, it costs more than Pitch Black, but for collectors, the alternative is having a gap in the sequence.
The deciding question
The price gap is too large to ignore for most buyers. Pitch Black offers the same format (9 packs, full accessories) at less than half the observed cost of Stellar Crown. Unless you have a specific reason to own SV07 cards, Pitch Black is the better value right now.
Players and current-format builders
Players entering the ME series now should start with ME05 Pitch Black before Delta Reign arrives in November 2026. Stellar Crown cards see almost no play in current Standard because SV07 rotates with the rest of the pre-Mega Evolution pool when the format moves forward.
SV-series sealed collectors
If you are building a sealed collection of every SV-era ETB, Stellar Crown is non-optional. It is the only ETB for SV07. Buying now at $139 is cheaper than waiting, since secondary prices on out-of-print sets historically trend upward, making this a collector's decision rather than a player's.
The Pokémon Center ETB comparison
One detail worth noting: the Pitch Black Pokémon Center ETB is observed at $128-$133 at current prices, while the Stellar Crown PC ETB sits at $169-$185. If you are buying the premium tier of both, the Pitch Black PC ETB actually costs less than the Stellar Crown PC ETB today. That is an unusual inversion compared to what buyers expect from a 2024 set vs a 2026 set.
As a Q4 gift
Both ETBs land in the right price range for a Pokémon gift this season. Pitch Black is the cleaner pick for a recipient who is currently playing or just entering the game: the price is lower, the promos are current, and the set connects to the active competitive format. Stellar Crown works for a collector who already tracks the SV series and would notice the gap if it were missing.
For buyers building a broader Pokémon gift around one of these ETBs, the 2026 holiday gift guide covers accessories, plush, and apparel across every price tier, including what pairs well with a sealed TCG product.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stellar Crown still available in stores?
No. Stellar Crown (SV07, released September 13, 2024) is out of print at Pokémon Center and mass retail. It is available through independent sellers on the secondary market at observed prices of $139 to $229 USD as of October 2026.
Is Pitch Black ETB standard-legal in 2026?
Yes. ME05 Pitch Black released July 17, 2026 and is legal in Standard format for the current season. Stellar Crown is also Standard-legal, as no rotation has removed SV07 cards from the active pool as of this writing.
Which ETB includes energy cards?
Stellar Crown includes 45 basic energy cards in the standard ETB. Pitch Black does not include energy cards. Both include 65 card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a competition coin, and a deck box.
What are the exclusive promos in Pitch Black?
The standard Pitch Black ETB includes foil promos for Darkrai ex and Zeraora ex. Both Mega forms debuted in the Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC and have no Japanese TCG equivalents, making the English ETB the only way to collect these specific promo cards.
Can I compare Pitch Black with other ME series ETBs?
Yes. For a closer era comparison, see ME04 Chaos Rising vs ME05 Pitch Black, which covers the two most recent ME sets side by side including the PC ETB tier for each.
Browse current listings for both ETBs from independent sellers at DexHaul Elite Trainer Boxes. DexHaul is independent and not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Pitch Black and Stellar Crown ETB listings from independent shops.