Series: Scarlet & Violet
Release Date: July 18, 2025
Set Abbreviation: BLK
Black Bolt is the Zekrom half of the Unova revival that arrived in July 2025, and a red Victini sits at the top of it. Here are the top 10 hits and chase cards from Black Bolt, ranked by current market value.
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10. Lilligant - $49.11
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 092/086
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Lilligant stands in a sunny field of daisies with Petilil gathered around it and pink petals drifting through a bright blue sky. En Morikura, who also drew Carmine on our Twilight Masquerade list, makes it feel like the first day of spring. The card's flavor text says it's popular with celebrities, which tracks.
9. Dwebble - $50.82
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 129/086
Rarity: Illustration Rare
My personal chase card of Black Bolt is a crab on a beach day. Dwebble is carrying its rock shell across the sand next to a bottle, a sailboat, and a bucket, all drawn in a flat, cartoony style. It's a tiny, charming scene, and it's the kind of card I'd put in a binder just because.
8. Volcarona - $55.79
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 100/086
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Volcarona spreads its fiery wings in a dark, ashy forest, with glowing embers drifting through the air. AKIRA EGAWA, who also drew the Chi-Yu ex on our Paldea Evolved list, makes the fire look hot against all the shadows. The flavor text says Volcarona's flames replaced the sun when volcanic ash blocked it out, and the art sells that.
7. Haxorus - $62.58
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 147/086
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Haxorus crouches on rubble in a dim, run-down space with its red-edged tusks front and center. akagi, who also drew Greninja ex on our Twilight Masquerade list, gives it a gritty, serious look. The card says its tusks can cut steel, and you believe it.
6. N's Plan - $63.98
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 170/086
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
N looks up at a glowing Ferris wheel in the background, which is a nice nod to the famous Nimbasa City scene from Black and White. The lights blur into golden bokeh behind him. You'll also find N's Zoroark ex and N's Reshiram on our Journey Together list, so N has been having a good year.
5. Kyurem ex - $72.38
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 165/086
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Kyurem ex crouches inside an icy cave covered in icicles and giant crystals, with a cold blue glow all around it. Kyurem is the third dragon of the Unova trio, so it makes sense to see it here alongside Zekrom. The whole card is about cold, hard ice.
4. Seismitoad - $214.49
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 105/086
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Now we're getting into the real chase cards for Black Bolt with Seismitoad. The incredible Shinji Kanda, the same artist behind the Magikarp on our Paldea Evolved list, surrounds it with a dizzying hand-drawn pattern of flowers, swirls, and dots. It's by far the most valuable Illustration Rare in Black Bolt, and it's worth seeing in person.
3. Zekrom ex - $267.04
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 166/086
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Zekrom ex hangs above a rocky ledge in the middle of a storm, with lightning splitting the dark clouds around it. danciao, who also drew the Mega Charizard X ex SIR on our Phantasmal Flames list, makes it look huge and loud. This is the painted Zekrom, and the black etched version comes next.
2. Zekrom ex - $611.19
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 172/086
Rarity: Black White Rare
The Black White Rare Zekrom ex snarls out of a pitch-black card, drawn in silver etched lines with a faint purple shimmer. takuyoa gives it a cold, metallic look, and it's about as far from the painted Zekrom as you can get. Only a red Victini is worth more.
1. Victini - $627.44
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt
Card Number: 171/086
Rarity: Black White Rare
Victini is the undisputed top pull in Black Bolt, which is a funny result for a set that's all about Zekrom. 5ban Graphics draws the Black White Rare in red etched lines, with Victini flying and making a V sign. The card text says Trainers with Victini always win, and collectors are betting on it. The same art appears in White Flare, where the copy is worth a bit less.
Final Thoughts
Black Bolt came by its name honestly, with two Zekrom ex cards in the top three. A red Victini still takes the top spot, but quirky Illustration Rares like Seismitoad, Dwebble, and Lilligant give the set a lot of personality below the big cards. It'll be interesting to see how the Unova nostalgia holds up from here.
FAQ
What are the best pulls from Pokémon Black Bolt?
The best pulls are the Victini and Zekrom ex Black White Rares. The Zekrom ex Special Illustration Rare (#166) is third, followed by the Seismitoad Illustration Rare (#105).
Is the Victini from Black Bolt worth buying?
If you want the top card in the set, yes. It's the most valuable Black Bolt card and a Black and White favorite. The same art also exists in White Flare, so check both and the current market value on Rare Candy.
What is a Black White Rare in Pokémon TCG?
A Black White Rare (BWR) is the top chase rarity in Black Bolt and White Flare. They're drawn in etched, single-color styles, like the red Victini and the black Zekrom ex in Black Bolt.
How many cards are in Pokémon Black Bolt?
Black Bolt has 86 cards in the main set. Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and Black White Rares are numbered past that, which is why you'll see cards like #171/086 and #166/086.
When did Pokémon Black Bolt come out?
Black Bolt released on July 18, 2025, alongside White Flare, as a Scarlet & Violet expansion built around the Unova region. Its set abbreviation is BLK.
