How to complete the Pitch Black master set (reverse holos included)

Pitch Black came out on July 17, 2026, with Mega Darkrai ex on the box and Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex right behind it. It's a small set, only 120 numbered cards. The reverse holos are what make the master set bigger than it looks.

I'm at 175 of 194 cards myself, about 90% of the master set. What's left is the expensive end: most of the ultra rares, five special illustration rares, the Mega Hyper Rare and three stubborn reverse holos. That's exactly the stage where a plan saves you the most money, so this is the plan I'm following.

What's in the Pitch Black master set

A master set is every card from the set's booster packs, including every reverse holo. (Not sure what each rarity means? See rarity symbols explained.) Add the stamped cards and Black Star promos from boxes, blisters and events and you have a Grand Master Set.

Want to tick cards off as you go? The interactive Pitch Black checklist on my collector hub lists all 216 cards, saves your progress on your device and plans your binder page by page. There's a free printable version too.

The reverse holos double your work

Every Common, Uncommon and Rare from 001 to 084 also comes as a reverse holo: 74 extra cards. The 10 ex cards don't have one, and neither do the secret rares. There are no Poké Ball or Master Ball pattern reverses in this set, just the standard one.

Three things make reverses easier:

• Track them separately. "I have Tropius" means nothing until you know which Tropius. A checklist with a separate reverse column, or a separate section, saves you from buying duplicates.
• Keep them from the start. Reverse commons feel worthless while you open packs, so they end up in the bulk box. Pull them out as you go: hunting them later costs more than it should.
• Buy them in lots. Once you're close, look for reverse holo lots instead of single cards. Shipping on one-card orders adds up fast.

The chase cards

These seven secret rares are where most of the budget goes:

For cards this rare, buying the single is almost always cheaper than opening packs until you pull one. Check recent sold prices for the Mega Darkrai ex Mega Hyper Rare before you decide how many packs to open.

Step 1: Decide what "complete" means to you

• Master Set (194): every pack card and every reverse holo. The realistic goal for most collectors.
• Grand Master Set (216): adds 22 stamped cards and promos. Some come from limited store giveaways and event prizes, so they get harder to find over time.
• Your own set: just the 120 numbered cards with no reverses, just the art cards, or just the Megas. Perfectly valid, and much cheaper.

Write your choice down. It keeps "just one more product" from quietly turning into a Grand Master Set budget.

Step 2: Pick products by the promo inside

If you're going to open packs anyway, choose the product that also gives you a promo you need:

Then use the same rule as any set: once more than half of each pack is duplicates, stop opening and start buying singles. If you're comparing products, ETB vs booster bundle vs booster box explains the real price per pack of each one. The Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box is the one that comes with the Zarude promo. If you only want to open a few packs, the Pitch Black booster bundle is usually the cheapest way.

Step 3: Buy the cheap singles first, the chase cards last

Want to know what the whole set costs right now? The Pitch Black set value page adds up every card and lists the most valuable ones, updated monthly.

1. Bulk first. Missing commons, uncommons and their reverse holos are cheap in lots, at local stores and at card shows.
2. Mid-tier next. Double rares, illustration rares and ultra rares, one at a time, comparing recent sold prices.
3. Chase cards last. Prices for the most wanted cards are usually highest in the first weeks after release. If you can wait, they often settle.

Always price singles using sold listings, not asking prices. Pitch Black singles on eBay is a good place to compare.

Step 4: Plan the store giveaways

Three cards in the Grand Master Set were gift-with-purchase promos, each stamped "What's Your Favorite?":

• Armarouge (012/084): Best Buy (US) and JB Hi-Fi (New Zealand).
• Primarina (020/084): Barnes & Noble, BoxLunch and Hot Topic (US).
• Zarude (056/084): GameStop (US) and EB Games (Canada and Australia).

Giveaways like these don't come back once the stock runs out, so the single is usually the only way in. Misty's Vitality (080/084) also has a 2027 Regional Championships promo; if you don't play, that one is the easiest to skip.

Step 5: Set up your binder

There are two ways to place reverse holos. Side by side, each card next to its reverse, looks great once the binder is full. Separate sections (main set, then reverses, then secret rares) is easier while you're still collecting, because a new reverse never pushes the rest of the page around. The page counts above use separate sections.

The best trick I know: fill every pocket with a placeholder from day one. You see exactly what's missing, and swapping a placeholder for the real card is surprisingly satisfying.

Step 6: Protect the chase cards

The special illustration rares and the Mega Hyper Rare deserve more than a binder pocket. Sleeve them, put them in toploaders (I use this sleeves and toploaders pack), and keep the binder somewhere cool and dry.

If you're thinking about grading a chase card, check its centering first. CardCenter Pro measures it from a phone photo for free, and the pre-grading checklist covers corners, edges and surface.

Frequently asked questions