Pokémon TCG: Pitch Black Pull Rates
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Pokémon TCG: Pitch Black is here, and the main chase is exactly what most collectors expected: Mega Darkrai ex. Whether you are opening a few packs, a booster box, or chasing one specific card, the big question is how realistic those pulls actually are.
To get a clearer picture, more than 4,000 Pitch Black booster packs were opened and recorded. The results give us a useful look at the estimated Pitch Black pull rates for Double Rare, Ultra Rare, Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare, and Mega Hyper Rare cards.
The short version is that Pitch Black follows the same pattern as other recent Mega Evolution era sets. Regular hits are very achievable, Illustration Rares appear often enough to keep openings exciting, but the top Mega Darkrai ex chase cards are still extremely difficult to pull.
Pitch Black pull rates: quick takeaways
Best quick summary: Pitch Black has friendly enough hit rates for casual openings, but very tough odds if you are chasing one exact card.
- Double Rares are the most common major hits at around 1 in 5 packs.
- Illustration Rares are slightly easier to pull than Ultra Rares overall, sitting at around 1 in 9 packs.
- Special Illustration Rares are much harder, at around 1 in 80 packs for any SIR.
- Mega Darkrai ex SIR is estimated at around 1 in 480 packs.
- Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare is the toughest chase, estimated at around 1 in 1081 packs.
This is important because a card being popular, expensive, or cheaper than another chase card does not change how rare it is inside booster packs. Mega Darkrai ex may not behave the same way in the market as Mega Charizard X ex, but the pull difficulty is still extremely high.
Pitch Black pull rates by rarity
The table below shows the estimated Pokémon TCG Pitch Black pull rates by rarity. These odds are based on booster packs, not booster boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes, or sealed cases.
The percentages include a 95% confidence interval. The rounded “1 in X packs” figures are easier to read, but they should be treated as rough guides rather than guarantees.
| Rarity | Pull Rate | Rounded Pull Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Double Rare | 21.02% ± 1.21% | 1 in 5 packs |
| Ultra Rare | 8.30% ± 0.82% | 1 in 12 packs |
| Illustration Rare | 11.01% ± 0.93% | 1 in 9 packs |
| Special Illustration Rare | 1.25% ± 0.33% | 1 in 80 packs |
| Mega Hyper Rare | 0.09% ± 0.09% | 1 in 1081 packs |
Pull rates are averages across a large number of packs. Your own opening can be better or worse because sealed Pokémon booster packs are random.
Double Rare odds: roughly 1 in 5 packs
Double Rare, 038/084
Double Rare, 016/084
Double Rares are the main hit tier you are most likely to see while opening Pitch Black. There are 10 Double Rare cards in the set, made up of regular Pokémon ex and Mega Evolution Pokémon ex cards.
The overall Double Rare pull rate is 21.02%, which works out at roughly 1 in 5 packs. That makes cards like Mega Chandelure ex and Wailord ex the kind of hits you can reasonably expect across a normal opening.
Chasing one exact Double Rare is still harder than it may seem. A specific Double Rare is estimated at 2.10%, or around 1 in 48 packs.
| Double Rare | Pull Rate | Rounded Pull Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Any Double Rare card | 21.02% ± 1.21% | 1 in 5 packs |
| Specific Double Rare card | 2.10% ± 0.43% | 1 in 48 packs |
Ultra Rare odds: roughly 1 in 12 packs
Ultra Rare, 103/084
Ultra Rare, 111/084
Ultra Rares sit in a slightly tougher space. Pitch Black has 18 Ultra Rare cards, including Full Art Pokémon ex, Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, Item cards, Tool cards, and Supporter cards.
The overall Ultra Rare pull rate is 8.30%, which is roughly 1 in 12 packs. That is frequent enough that many collectors will see Ultra Rares during larger openings, but not frequent enough to make one exact Full Art easy to chase.
A specific Ultra Rare, such as Mega Excadrill ex or Misty’s Vitality, is estimated at 0.46%, or about 1 in 217 packs.
| Ultra Rare | Pull Rate | Rounded Pull Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Any Ultra Rare card | 8.30% ± 0.82% | 1 in 12 packs |
| Specific Ultra Rare card | 0.46% ± 0.20% | 1 in 217 packs |
Illustration Rare odds: roughly 1 in 9 packs
Illustration Rare, 090/084
Illustration Rare, 087/084
Illustration Rares are often the most satisfying cards to pull in modern Pokémon sets because they feel special without being completely unrealistic. Pitch Black includes 11 Illustration Rare cards, all featuring full-card artwork of regular, non-ex Pokémon.
The overall Illustration Rare pull rate is 11.01%, or around 1 in 9 packs. That makes Illustration Rares more common than Ultra Rares overall in this data, although individual cards are still not easy to target.
If you are chasing one exact Illustration Rare, such as Slowbro or Goldeen, the estimated odds are 1.00%, or around 1 in 100 packs.
| Illustration Rare | Pull Rate | Rounded Pull Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Any Illustration Rare card | 11.01% ± 0.93% | 1 in 9 packs |
| Specific Illustration Rare card | 1.00% ± 0.30% | 1 in 100 packs |
Special Illustration Rare odds: roughly 1 in 80 packs
Special Illustration Rare, 116/084
Special Illustration Rare, 119/084
Special Illustration Rares are where Pitch Black becomes much more difficult. There are six Special Illustration Rare cards in the set: four alternate-art Pokémon ex or Mega Evolution Pokémon ex cards, plus two alternate-art Supporters.
The overall Special Illustration Rare pull rate is 1.25%, which is roughly 1 in 80 packs. That means you can open a fair amount of sealed product and still miss this rarity completely.
For many collectors, the main target here will be Mega Darkrai ex SIR. A specific Special Illustration Rare is estimated at 0.21%, or about 1 in 480 packs.
| Special Illustration Rare | Pull Rate | Rounded Pull Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Any Special Illustration Rare card | 1.25% ± 0.33% | 1 in 80 packs |
| Specific Special Illustration Rare card | 0.21% ± 0.14% | 1 in 480 packs |
Mega Hyper Rare odds: Mega Darkrai ex at roughly 1 in 1081 packs
Mega Hyper Rare, 120/084
Pitch Black has only one Mega Hyper Rare, and it is Mega Darkrai ex. That makes the card the cleanest chase in the set to understand, but also the hardest one to pull.
The estimated pull rate is 0.09%, or around 1 in 1081 packs. In practical terms, this is not a card most collectors should expect to see from a normal sealed opening.
If your goal is simply to enjoy opening Pitch Black, the set has plenty of achievable hits. If your only goal is to pull Mega Hyper Rare Mega Darkrai ex, the odds are extremely long.
| Mega Hyper Rare | Pull Rate | Rounded Pull Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Any Mega Hyper Rare card | 0.09% ± 0.09% | 1 in 1081 packs |
| Specific Mega Hyper Rare card | 0.09% ± 0.09% | 1 in 1081 packs |
Mega Darkrai ex pull rates compared
Because Mega Darkrai ex is the headline Pokémon of Pitch Black, it is worth separating the two biggest chase versions. Both are rare, but they are not equally difficult to pull.
| Card | Rarity | Estimated odds |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Darkrai ex, 116/084 | Special Illustration Rare | About 1 in 480 packs |
| Mega Darkrai ex, 120/084 | Mega Hyper Rare | About 1 in 1081 packs |
The SIR version is already a very difficult chase. The Mega Hyper Rare version is more than twice as hard to pull by the rounded pack estimate, making it the true long-shot card of Pitch Black.
How hard is Pitch Black to complete?
Pulling one hit is very different from completing a full rarity tier. If you are trying to collect every card at a specific rarity, the pack numbers climb quickly.
These estimates are useful for understanding scale, but they are not guarantees. Completing a rarity tier through packs alone can take far more or far fewer packs depending on luck.
| Rarity goal | Estimated packs needed |
|---|---|
| At least one copy of each Double Rare | About 140 packs |
| At least one copy of each Ultra Rare | About 760 packs |
| At least one copy of each Illustration Rare | About 302 packs |
| At least one copy of each Special Illustration Rare | About 1167 packs |
| Mega Hyper Rare Mega Darkrai ex | About 1111 packs on average |
This is why opening sealed product and completing a set are two very different things. Sealed openings are fun, but completing the hardest parts of Pitch Black through packs alone is not realistic for most collectors.
Is Pitch Black worth opening?
Pitch Black looks like a solid set to open if you enjoy the Mega Evolution era and want a spread of regular hits, Illustration Rares, and Darkrai-focused chase cards. The lower and mid rarity pull rates are close to what collectors have seen in recent sets, so openings should feel familiar.
The important thing is setting expectations. If you are opening for fun, Pitch Black has enough hit potential to make sealed product interesting. If you only want Mega Darkrai ex SIR or Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare, buying the single will usually be the more predictable route.
Where to buy Pitch Black in the UK
You can browse sealed Pitch Black products at OBSIDIA here: Pokémon TCG: Pitch Black.
This collection is the best place to check for available Pitch Black stock, sealed products, and future restocks.
Pitch Black pull rates FAQs
What are the Pitch Black pull rates?
Estimated rounded pull rates are: Double Rare 1 in 5 packs, Ultra Rare 1 in 12 packs, Illustration Rare 1 in 9 packs, Special Illustration Rare 1 in 80 packs, and Mega Hyper Rare 1 in 1081 packs.
What is the Mega Darkrai ex SIR pull rate?
A specific Special Illustration Rare, including Mega Darkrai ex SIR, is estimated at around 1 in 480 packs.
What is the Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare pull rate?
Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare is estimated at around 1 in 1081 packs.
Are Pitch Black pull rates guaranteed per booster box?
No. Pull rates are average estimates per booster pack. Individual booster boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes, and sealed cases can vary.
Is Pitch Black easier to open than Chaos Rising or Perfect Order?
Pitch Black appears to have very similar pull rates to recent Mega Evolution era sets such as Chaos Rising, Perfect Order, and Phantasmal Flames.
Where can I buy Pitch Black in the UK?
You can shop Pitch Black products here: Pitch Black at OBSIDIA.
