The Black Bolt card list is the Zekrom half of the Unova-themed twin release that forms the final special expansion of the Scarlet & Violet Series, and it is one of the most rewarding English sets to collect from start to finish. Black Bolt and its partner set, White Flare, launched in English on 18 July 2025.
Pokémon says every Pokémon first discovered in the Unova region appears on an Illustration Rare or Special Illustration Rare-style card. Most are in the packs, while a few, such as Victini, get theirs as promos in accompanying products.
This guide walks through the full Black Bolt card list: how many cards there are, how the main set and secret rares are numbered, what the new Black White Rare is and which cards collectors chase hardest. We also explain why there is no English booster box, which products carry Black Bolt packs and how the Japanese and Korean boxes differ. If you collect the Reshiram side too, our White Flare card list covers that set’s own chase cards and products.
Black Bolt Key Facts
Before getting into individual cards, here are the basics that shape the whole Black Bolt card list.
- Full name: Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt
- English release: 18 July 2025, on the same day as White Flare
- Set abbreviation: BLK, as used in deck lists and card databases
- Card count: 172 cards, made up of 86 main set cards and 86 secret rares
- Mascot: Zekrom ex, whose Black White Rare version is the last card in the set
- Japanese source set: Black Bolt (SV11B), released in Japan on 6 June 2025
- English booster box: none, as the set was sold through Elite Trainer Boxes, booster bundles, binder collections, tins and collections
Black Bolt is also notable as the first international special expansion adapted from a Japanese main expansion. Bulbapedia notes that the set lists were modified slightly from the Japanese release, so that English Black Bolt fully features the Pokémon that were exclusive to Pokémon White. The numbering changed too, so the English Black Bolt card list does not match the Japanese one number for number.
How the Black Bolt Card List Is Structured
Black Bolt is a special set, so it works a little differently from a standard Scarlet & Violet expansion. The Unova Pokédex is split between the two twins, so each set carries part of the region’s Pokémon, along with its own Trainer cards and its own legendary dragon. Every card is numbered out of 086, so anything with a higher number is a secret rare.
The main set: cards 001 to 086
The first 86 cards make up the main part of the Black Bolt card list. These are the Commons, Uncommons, Rares and Double Rares you will see most often, covering Pokémon, Trainer cards and Special Energy. The set’s six Pokémon ex appear here first as Double Rares, including Zekrom ex at 034/086.
Common, Uncommon and Rare Pokémon also come in parallel foil versions. Alongside the standard reverse holo, Black Bolt has Poké Ball and Master Ball pattern parallels, so a single Common Pokémon can exist in three foil forms as well as its regular print. Common and Uncommon Trainer and Special Energy cards get the standard parallel and the Poké Ball version, but no Master Ball version.
The secret rares: cards 087 to 172
Above the main set sit 86 secret rares, split into four groups:
- Illustration Rares (087 to 155): full-art illustrations of individual Unova Pokémon, sorted by type
- Ultra Rares (156 to 163): full-art versions of the six Pokémon ex, plus the Supporters Fennel and N’s Plan
- Special Illustration Rares (164 to 170): the six Pokémon ex and N’s Plan with larger scene artwork
- Black White Rares (171 and 172): Victini, printed in red, and Zekrom ex in black and white
That shape means the Black Bolt card list leans heavily towards Illustration Rares. There are 69 of them, which is a big part of why the set is so popular with binder collectors who enjoy filling pages with artwork rather than chasing one or two cards.
Rarities in Black Bolt, Including the New Black White Rare
Most rarities in Black Bolt will be familiar to anyone who has opened Scarlet & Violet packs. The new addition is the Black White Rare, created for this twin release. In its official announcement, Pokémon describes these cards as having illustrations in a monochromatic black or white design. Bulbapedia adds that the artwork, symbols, text and borders are all black and white, with one exception: Victini, whose Black White Rare is printed in red.
- Common, Uncommon and Rare: the core of the main set, in regular and parallel foil versions
- Double Rare: the six Pokémon ex in their standard form
- Illustration Rare: full-art cards for individual Unova Pokémon
- Ultra Rare: full-art Pokémon ex and Supporter cards
- Special Illustration Rare: scene artwork for the Pokémon ex and the N’s Plan Supporter
- Black White Rare: the new rarity, used for Zekrom ex and a red Victini
The set also includes a foil pattern inspired by the Black & White Series and Basic Energy cards with original Black & White Series designs. These touches will appeal to anyone who remembers the original Black & White era, and they make even the bulk of a Black Bolt opening feel a little different from a standard set.
Black Bolt Card List: Chase Cards to Know
A Black Bolt card list does not need all 172 entries to be useful. The table below picks out the cards collectors talk about most, with numbers and rarities checked against Bulbapedia and Limitless TCG. We have left out prices on purpose, because they change constantly and depend on condition.
| Number | Card | Rarity | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 171/086 | Victini | Black White Rare | The red Victini, widely seen as the biggest chase across both twins; White Flare has the same card at 172 |
| 172/086 | Zekrom ex | Black White Rare | The mascot in the new black-and-white rarity, and the last card on the Black Bolt card list |
| 166/086 | Zekrom ex | Special Illustration Rare | Full scene artwork of the set’s legendary dragon |
| 170/086 | N’s Plan | Special Illustration Rare | The only Supporter at Special Illustration Rare in the set |
| 165/086 | Kyurem ex | Special Illustration Rare | Completes Unova’s legendary dragon trio with Zekrom and Reshiram |
| 169/086 | Genesect ex | Special Illustration Rare | A popular Mythical Pokémon in scene artwork |
| 167/086 | Meloetta ex | Special Illustration Rare | Another Mythical Pokémon from Unova |
| 164/086 | Serperior ex | Special Illustration Rare | The final evolution of Unova’s Grass-type starter |
| 168/086 | Excadrill ex | Special Illustration Rare | Completes the set of six Pokémon ex SIRs |
| 105/086 | Seismitoad | Illustration Rare | One of the most talked-about Illustration Rares in the set |
| 147/086 | Haxorus | Illustration Rare | A popular Dragon-type Illustration Rare |
Zekrom ex is the set’s mascot. It appears four times on the Black Bolt card list: as a Double Rare at 034, an Ultra Rare at 158, a Special Illustration Rare at 166 and a Black White Rare at 172. If you want a focused goal, collecting all four Zekrom ex cards is a satisfying mini-project.
The card many collectors chase first, though, is Victini. Its red Black White Rare appears in both twins with only the set code and number changed, which makes it the link between Black Bolt and White Flare.
The Six Pokémon ex in Black Bolt
Black Bolt’s six Pokémon ex are Serperior ex, Kyurem ex, Zekrom ex, Meloetta ex, Excadrill ex and Genesect ex. Each one appears as a Double Rare in the main set, an Ultra Rare and a Special Illustration Rare, so every ex has at least three versions on the Black Bolt card list.
Serperior ex brings the Unova Grass starter line into the set, while Kyurem ex completes the legendary dragon trio alongside Zekrom and White Flare’s Reshiram. Meloetta ex and Genesect ex give Black Bolt two Mythical Pokémon ex. Excadrill ex rounds out the group with one of Unova’s best-known Pokémon.
The two Ultra Rare Supporters are Fennel and N’s Plan. N is one of the most recognisable characters from Pokémon Black and White, so it is no surprise that N’s Plan is the Supporter chosen for a Special Illustration Rare.
How Black Bolt Differs From White Flare
The two twins look alike on the shelf, but their card lists are almost entirely different. Apart from the shared Unova theme and the Victini Black White Rare, very little overlaps.
- Legendary mascot: Black Bolt has Zekrom ex; White Flare has Reshiram ex.
- Card count: Black Bolt has 172 cards, while White Flare has 173.
- Pokémon ex: White Flare’s six are Whimsicott ex, Reshiram ex, Keldeo ex, Jellicent ex, Hydreigon ex and Bouffalant ex.
- Ultra Rare Supporters: Black Bolt has Fennel and N’s Plan; White Flare has Harlequin and Hilda.
- Elite Trainer Box promo: Thundurus for Black Bolt and Tornadus for White Flare.
- Victini: both sets include the same red Victini Black White Rare, which differs only in set code and number (171 in Black Bolt, 172 in White Flare).
If you are deciding which twin to open first, it often comes down to which legendary, Supporter and starter line you prefer. Our White Flare card list has the full breakdown of Reshiram’s side, including its Hilda Special Illustration Rare.
Is There an English Black Bolt Booster Box?
No. Black Bolt was handled as a special set, and in English it was not sold as a booster box. Instead, packs reached shops through Elite Trainer Boxes, booster bundles, binder collections, mini tins and collection boxes. It is one of the most common questions about the set, so it is worth being clear: if you see a sealed Black Bolt booster box, it will be an Asian-language product such as the Japanese or Korean boxes.
For English collectors, that makes the Black Bolt booster bundle the closest thing to a straight pack-opening product. The other options trade a few packs for accessories, promos or a binder.
The Black Bolt booster bundle
The Black Bolt booster bundle contains six Black Bolt booster packs in a slim box, with no accessories or promo cards. It arrived on 22 August 2025, a few weeks after the main launch. If your only goal is to work through the Black Bolt card list, the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt Booster Bundle (6 Booster Packs) is the simplest way to get packs on the table.
Some collectors prefer two or three bundles to one larger product, because a bundle has no extras to store. A Black Bolt booster bundle also makes a straightforward gift for someone who already owns sleeves and dice.
The Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box
The English – Black Bolt – Elite Trainer Box contains nine Black Bolt booster packs and a full-art foil Thundurus promo. It also includes 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, two condition markers, a collector’s box with four dividers and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live. It is the best fit for a new player or a gift.
The Black Bolt Binder Collection
The Pokemon – Scarlet & Violet 10.5 Black Bolt Binder Collection pairs five Black Bolt booster packs with a nine-pocket binder featuring Zekrom. For a set built around Illustration Rares, a binder is a natural fit, and it gives your first pulls somewhere to live straight away.
Mixed Unova products
Two products mix Black Bolt and White Flare packs. The English – Black Bolt & White Flare – Unova Mini Tin holds one pack of each set, a sticker card and an art card that matches the tin, in one of eight designs. The English – Illustration Victini Black Bolt & White Flare – Collection Box includes two packs of each set and three Victini cards, including an oversize promo.
Mixed products are handy if you are collecting both twins, but they give you fewer Black Bolt packs per product than a Black Bolt booster bundle.
Japanese and Korean Black Bolt Booster Boxes
If you want a sealed box to open, the Japanese and Korean versions are the way to do it. Japanese Black Bolt (SV11B) was released on 6 June 2025, about six weeks before the English set. A standard Japanese box holds 20 packs of seven cards. Japan also sold a separate Deluxe pack version, so it helps to check the product name when comparing listings.
The Japanese Pokémon Black Bolt Booster Box follows the Japanese card list, which has a different length and numbering from the English one. For example, the Japanese Zekrom ex Black White Rare is card 174 rather than 172. Japanese rarity names also differ slightly: Illustration Rares are called Art Rares (AR) and Special Illustration Rares are Special Art Rares (SAR).
The Korean Pokémon Black Bolt Booster Box is printed in Korean and based on the Japanese SV11B release, so its numbering follows the Japanese set rather than the English Black Bolt card list. The Korean edition was released on 1 August 2025. Some collectors choose Korean boxes for openings and streams, and others simply like having the same artwork in a second language.
Players building decks for UK events usually stick with English product, so foreign-language boxes are mainly a collector’s choice. For collectors, though, they are the only way to open Black Bolt by the box, and many like comparing the Japanese and English versions of the Black Bolt card list side by side.
Which Black Bolt Product Should You Choose?
Each product suits a different kind of buyer. Here is how we would match them up.
- To open as many English packs as possible: a Black Bolt booster bundle, or a few of them.
- For a new player or a gift: the Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box, with sleeves, dice and a promo.
- For a binder collector: the Black Bolt Binder Collection, which gives your Illustration Rares a home.
- For collecting both twins: the Unova Mini Tin or the Victini collection.
- For a full box opening: the Japanese or Korean Black Bolt booster box.
If you are unsure, the Black Bolt booster bundle is the safest middle ground. It contains only packs, so every penny goes towards the cards you are trying to collect.
Tips for Completing the Black Bolt Card List
Completing a set is easier with a plan. These are the habits we see work best for collectors chasing the Black Bolt card list.
- Decide your scope first. The main set is 86 cards, the full set is 172, and a master set adds every reverse holo, Poké Ball and Master Ball parallel.
- Track parallels separately. Note which foil pattern each card has, because a Poké Ball parallel and a Master Ball parallel count as different cards.
- Sleeve your best pulls straight away. Special Illustration Rares and Black White Rares deserve a sleeve and top loader as soon as they leave the pack.
- Keep languages apart. Japanese and Korean numbering differs from English, so store them in separate binders or pages.
- Trade with White Flare collectors. Friends opening the other twin may be happy to swap their spare Black Bolt cards.
Buying singles for the last few gaps is often the most efficient way to finish, especially for the rarer secret cards. Opening sealed product is the fun part, but very few collectors complete the full Black Bolt card list from packs alone.
Black Bolt Card List FAQs
How many cards are on the Black Bolt card list?
The English Black Bolt card list has 172 cards: 86 in the main set, numbered 001 to 086, and 86 secret rares numbered 087 to 172. White Flare has 173 cards.
What is a Black White Rare?
It is a new rarity introduced with Black Bolt and White Flare, with artwork in a monochrome black-and-white style. The Black Bolt card list has two: Zekrom ex at 172/086 and Victini at 171/086, the one exception, which is printed in red.
Is there an English Black Bolt booster box?
No. In English, Black Bolt was sold through Elite Trainer Boxes, booster bundles, binder collections, tins and collections. Sealed Black Bolt booster boxes are Asian-language products, such as the Japanese and Korean boxes.
What is inside the Black Bolt booster bundle?
The Black Bolt booster bundle contains six Black Bolt booster packs in a slim box, with no accessories or promo cards. It was released on 22 August 2025.
Are Black Bolt and White Flare the same set?
No. They are separate twin sets released on the same day, with different card lists, different mascots and different Pokémon ex. The main overlap is the red Victini Black White Rare, which appears in both with a different number.
Where to Buy Black Bolt Products
Black Bolt is a set that rewards collectors who enjoy artwork, and the Black Bolt card list gives you plenty of goals, from a single Zekrom ex to a full master set. Whichever route you choose, we stock a range of English and foreign-language products for it.
For English packs, start with the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt Booster Bundle (6 Booster Packs), the English – Black Bolt – Elite Trainer Box or the Pokemon – Scarlet & Violet 10.5 Black Bolt Binder Collection. For a box opening, compare the Japanese Pokémon Black Bolt Booster Box with the Korean Pokémon Black Bolt Booster Box, or browse every set in our English booster packs category.
For full checklists, the Bulbapedia Black Bolt and White Flare page and the Limitless TCG Black Bolt database list every card. When you are ready for the next set, our Mega Evolutions booster box guide covers the expansion that followed, and the Obsidia TCG blog has more set guides for collectors.
