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Pokémon Unveils Dual TCG Sets: Black Bolt, White Flare

Author：Kristen Update：May 14,2025

The Pokémon Company has announced an exciting new split expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), continuing the Scarlet & Violet series. Set to release on July 18, 2025, at participating retailers worldwide, the expansions are titled Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet: White Flare. These sets will bring a fresh wave of excitement for fans, focusing on the 156 Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region. Each Unova Pokémon will be featured as either an illustration rare or a special illustration rare card, with different versions available in each set.

Scarlet & Violet: White Flare and Black Bolt - English Reveal

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Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt will spotlight the Legendary Pokémon Zekrom, while Scarlet & Violet: White Flare will feature Reshiram. Both sets will introduce three types of parallel foil patterns, including two that showcase either a rainbow Poké Ball or Master Ball design across the card. Nostalgic elements from the Black & White series, such as foil styles and Basic Energy cards with the original designs, will also make a comeback.

Pokémon TCG: Black Bolt and White Flare Preorders

Preorders for Black Bolt and White Flare are expected to go live around mid-May. This timeline aligns with the reveal-to-preorder window we observed with another 2025 release, Pokémon TCG: Destined Rivals, which launches this month. Keep an eye on IGN for preorder updates and broader Pokémon TCG stock news, and follow @IGNDeals on Twitter for the latest drops. Below are the confirmed release dates for the new Black Bolt and White Flare expansions.

Pokémon TCG - Scarlet & Violet: White Flare - Credit: The Pokémon Company

Available July 18, 2025:

Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt or White Flare Elite Trainer Box: Each box includes nine booster packs, an illustration rare promo card featuring Thundurus or Tornadus, and gameplay accessories.
Binder Collection: Comes with five booster packs and a nine-pocket album featuring Zekrom or Reshiram.
Unova Poster Collection: Includes two booster packs from each expansion, three promo cards featuring Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott, and a full-size double-sided poster.
Unova Mini Tin: Contains one booster pack from each expansion, one art card, and one sticker card.

Available August 1, 2025:

Tech Sticker Collection: Offers three booster packs, a promo card featuring Reuniclus or Gothitelle, and a themed sticker sheet.
Unova Victini Illustration Collection: Includes four booster packs, a foil promo card featuring Victini, a premium parallel Poké Ball version of Victini, and an oversized foil card.

Available August 22, 2025:

Booster Bundle: Comprises six booster packs from either Black Bolt or White Flare.

Key Features Across Both Expansions:

Six Pokémon ex
Eight ultra rare Pokémon and Supporter cards
One illustration rare or special illustration rare card for each Unova Pokémon
One special illustration rare Supporter card
A new card style, called Black White rare, featuring full artwork in either black or white monochrome, depending on the expansion.

Players will be able to access Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and White Flare digitally starting July 17, 2025, through the Pokémon TCG Live app on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. The digital release will allow players to collect and battle with new Unova-region cards and earn in-game login bonuses. More details on the expansion, preorders, and card previews are expected in the coming weeks.

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A variety of Pokémon TCG products are back in stock today, offering some fantastic deals. The Infernape V set, for example, provides four booster packs, including Sword & Shield-era packs, along with a foil Infernape V, a foil Empoleon, and a jumbo card, all at a price lower than what you'd typically find on the secondary market. For collectors, the Prismatic Evolutions Eevee ex box is a great choice, containing four boosters, a random Eeveelution promo (with some reselling between $15 to $60), and a storage box with dividers.