Darkrai in 2026: Which Product Fits Your Collecting Style?
By Dexhaul Team · August 26, 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026 · 8 min read
The Mega Forces Tin launched August 28, 2026, and the Mega Darkrai ex card is now available in English for the first time.
That makes this a good moment to map the full collector landscape: what Darkrai products exist right now, what each costs, and which one makes sense depending on where you are in your collection. The range runs from a $17 Majestic Dawn holo to a $17 MonColle figure to the $39.99 Mega Forces Tin, a Japanese VSTAR SAR in the $50–$130 range, and sealed vintage product approaching $900 at the top.
This guide is structured as a decision tree by collector profile. Pick your profile and skip to the right section.
On this page 8 sections
- Who Darkrai Is and Why It Keeps Appearing on High-End Products
- Darkrai Products at a Glance (October 2026)
- Profile 1: The Gift Buyer or New Collector (Under $50)
- Profile 2: The TCG Collector Who Wants the Mega Forces Tin ($39.99)
- Profile 3: The Mid-Tier Singles Collector ($80–$200)
- Profile 4: The Sealed and High-End Collector ($155+)
- The Right Product for Your Goals
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who Darkrai Is and Why It Keeps Appearing on High-End Products
Darkrai is a Mythical Dark-type from Generation IV, introduced in Diamond and Pearl (2006). It is the Pitch-Black Pokémon, associated with nightmares, and notably starred in the film "The Rise of Darkrai" (2007), which drove significant early collector interest in its cards and merchandise.
Unlike most Legendary Pokémon, Darkrai was distributed exclusively through event distributions rather than in-game encounters in the Diamond/Pearl era. That scarcity built durable collector interest that has carried through every subsequent TCG era, culminating in the Mega Evolution card arriving in the August 28 tin.
The specific card in the Mega Forces Tin is Mega Darkrai ex, originally from the Japanese ME05 Pitch Black set, which released in Japan in 2025. English buyers who wanted Mega Darkrai ex previously had to import the Japanese single, available from independent retailers at $150–$220 depending on the specific print. The August 28 tin is the first time the card appeared in an English-market product.
Darkrai Products at a Glance (October 2026)
| Product | Type | Price (approx.) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Center Fit Plush (Darkrai) | Plush figure | ~$20 | Display, gift buyers |
| MonColle MS-49 Darkrai figure | Articulated figure | ~$17 | Display, Gen 4 fans |
| Majestic Dawn holo (3/100) | Single TCG card | ~$17 | Original-era TCG collectors |
| Mega Forces Tin [Mega Darkrai ex] | TCG tin | ~$40 | Mega Evolution collectors |
| Darkrai XY114 promo (holo) | Single TCG card | ~$82 | Mid-tier singles collectors |
| Darkrai VSTAR SAR 228/172 (raw) | Single TCG card | $50–$130 | Modern Japanese collectors |
| Darkrai VSTAR Premium Collection | Sealed box | ~$175 | Sealed modern collectors |
| Mythical Pokémon Collection Box | Sealed vintage box | ~$900 | Vintage sealed collectors |
Profile 1: The Gift Buyer or New Collector (Under $50)
Three options make sense here, depending on whether you want a display figure, a plush, or a TCG card.
For a shelf figure, the MonColle MS-49 Darkrai from the official Pokémon Moncolle line is the most affordable option at around $17 from Japanese import shops. Moncolle figures are articulated PVC figures manufactured under Pokémon Center license and are sized for display and play. Darkrai's sculpt captures the flowing, asymmetric body well at this price point.
For a plush, the Pokémon Center Fit Plush is the cleaner choice at around $20. The Fit series reproduces each Pokémon in accurate proportions designed for single-character display. Darkrai's PP219 plush from Sanei is the All Star Collection version at around $30 and runs slightly larger (22.5 cm).
For a TCG entry, the Majestic Dawn holo is the standout. Darkrai (3/100) from Diamond & Pearl: Majestic Dawn (2008) is currently available from independent shops at around $16.99.
It is a clean LP/NM holo rare from the generation Darkrai was introduced, genuinely affordable for a card nearly 20 years old. If you want one Darkrai card on a shelf, this one tells the full story without requiring a significant outlay.
One notable Japanese collectible also sits in this price band: the Darkrai Gold Medal from the 2007 theatrical promo release (CN055), currently around $35. It is not a standard TCG card but a pressed gold medal distributed at Japanese theaters during the film's run. A legitimate movie merchandise artifact, it is a different kind of Darkrai collectible from the standard card collector's path.
Profile 2: The TCG Collector Who Wants the Mega Forces Tin ($39.99)
The Mega Forces Tin is now in stock at independent retailers. At $39.99, you get Mega Darkrai ex in an English-market product for the first time, plus four booster packs. Prices vary by seller; $39.99 is the current going rate at standard retailers.
The tin versus the single decision is real. The Japanese Mega Darkrai ex 120/084 from Pitch Black retails from independent shops at $150–$220 depending on condition. If you want a raw copy for your collection, the tin gives you one for around $40. If you want a PSA/CGC graded copy of the Japanese print specifically, the singles path is the only option: the tin version is an English print.
Profile 3: The Mid-Tier Singles Collector ($80–$200)
Two cards define this range for Darkrai.
Darkrai XY114 (XY Black Star Promos)
This promotional card was distributed through various events and retailer programs during the XY era (2014–2019). It is a full-art style holofoil with a striking nighttime background, and it currently retails at around $82 from independent card shops. It is the most visually distinctive Darkrai card in the under-$100 range and a natural step up from the Majestic Dawn holo for collectors building an era-by-era set.
Darkrai VSTAR 228/172 SAR (VSTAR Universe, Japanese)
This is the most prestigious Darkrai card of the modern era. The 228/172 Special Art Rare from VSTAR Universe (released in Japan in December 2022) features Darkrai in a full-art illustrated style spanning the entire card face. It was a Japanese-exclusive SAR that never appeared in an English equivalent product.
Raw ungraded copies from independent dealers currently run $50–$130 depending on condition and seller. PSA 10 copies have moved up to the $190–$265 range. If you want a modern Darkrai card with genuine rarity, this is the target. Graded copies have appreciated steadily since the English tin launched, which provided no direct competition for this card's format.
Profile 4: The Sealed and High-End Collector ($155+)
The sealed Darkrai market spans a wide range, with a real quality difference between products.
The Darkrai VSTAR Premium Collection at around $175 is the most accessible sealed modern product. It contains a jumbo Darkrai VSTAR card, promo cards, and booster packs: the easiest sealed Darkrai box without approaching vintage territory.
At the top of the market, the sealed Mythical Pokémon Collection Box for Darkrai (the 2016 XY-era retail box) is available at around $900 depending on condition. Its price reflects supply compression: the XY Mythical Collection series was a limited anniversary run and very little sealed stock remains.
The Right Product for Your Goals
If you want Mega Darkrai ex specifically, the calculus is simple. The Mega Forces Tin at $39.99 gives you the English version, now in stock. The Japanese ME05 singles at $150–$220 are also available and are a different print. They are not the same product: the Japanese prints carry ME05 Pitch Black branding, while the English tin has standard English card formatting.
Neither is better in any objective sense. Japanese collectors and purists tend to prefer the original prints; English collectors building sets within a coherent language will prefer the tin. Both are legitimate paths to owning Mega Darkrai ex.
For everyone else, the Majestic Dawn holo at $17 and the VSTAR SAR PSA 10 at $190–$265 are the two most historically significant Darkrai cards outside the Mega Evolution line. The Majestic Dawn holo is the original, from the generation Darkrai was introduced. The VSTAR SAR is the modern pinnacle: a Japanese-exclusive SAR unlikely to have an English equivalent.
Browse all current Darkrai listings at DexHaul's Darkrai search to compare prices across independent shops. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with The Pokémon Company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mega Darkrai ex available in English now?
Yes. The Mega Forces Tin [Mega Darkrai ex] launched August 28, 2026 and is currently available at independent retailers for around $39.99. It includes the Mega Darkrai ex card plus four booster packs.
What is the cheapest official Darkrai product right now?
The Pokémon Center Fit Plush, the MonColle MS-49 figure, and the Majestic Dawn holo (3/100) all sit around $17–$20. The Fit Plush and MonColle figure are the best options if you want a display piece; the Majestic Dawn holo is the entry for TCG collectors.
Is the Japanese VSTAR SAR still worth buying now that the English tin is out?
Yes, and the two are not substitutes. The English Mega Forces Tin gives you a Mega Darkrai ex card, a Mega Evolution card from ME05 Pitch Black. The VSTAR SAR is a completely different card from the VSTAR era (2022). They serve different collections. Raw VSTAR SAR copies run $50–$130; PSA 10 copies are in the $190–$265 range.
What is the rarest Darkrai card?
Among modern cards, the Darkrai VSTAR 228/172 SAR from VSTAR Universe (Japanese, December 2022) is the most scarce widely circulated card. It was a Japanese-exclusive Special Art Rare with no English equivalent. Among vintage sealed, the Mythical Pokémon Collection Box from the XY era represents near-ceiling rarity on the sealed market at around $900.
What Darkrai plush does the Pokémon Center sell?
The Pokémon Center Fit series has a Darkrai plush available through import shops at around $20. The Sanei All Star Collection PP219 is a slightly larger version (22.5 cm) at around $30. Both are licensed Pokémon merchandise; neither is a regional-exclusivity issue, as import shops carry both.