Black Bolt & White Flare

Welcome Back to Unova: Black Bolt & White Flare Are Breaking New Ground in the English Pokémon TCG

Pokémon fans, get ready for a midsummer heatwave—because Black Bolt and White Flare are bringing Unova roaring back to the spotlight! The twin special sets mark the first-ever “split set” launch for the English TCG, mirroring the way Japan often releases paired expansions. Even better, both English sets will share the same names as their Japanese counterparts, another historic first.

Below you’ll find everything you need to know—release dates, product line-up, card highlights, and why this is shaping up to be one of the most collectible drops in years.

Release Date at a Glance:

July 18, 2025

• Black Bolt & White Flare Elite Trainer Boxes
• Binder Collections featuring Zekrom or Reshiram
• Unova Poster Collection
• Unova Mini Tins

August 1, 2025

• Black Bolt & White Flare Tech Sticker Collections
• Victini Illustration Collection

August 22, 2025• Black Bolt & White Flare Booster Bundles

Set Highlights

Monumental Card Count

• Over 170 cards per set—and that’s just the main list.

• With three parallel-foil patterns (standard reverse, Poké Ball, and Master Ball) plus Illustration Rares, the combined checklist soars past 800 cards. Completionists, start saving your pennies now!

Every Unova Pokémon Shines

All 156 Unova species receive:

1. A standard card

2. A reverse-holo

3. Poké Ball reverse-holo

4. Master Ball reverse-holo

5. An Illustration Rare or Special Illustration Rare

It’s the most exhaustive Unova love letter the TCG has ever printed.

Product Breakdown

Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs)

Available July 18, 2025

• 9 booster packs (choose Black Bolt or White Flare)

• Illustration-style promo: Thundurus (Black Bolt) or Tornadus (White Flare)

• Sleeves, dice, and the usual ETB goodies—ideal for players who want accessories and a box for storage.

Binder Collections

Available July 18, 2025

• 5 booster packs

• 9-pocket binder featuring Zekrom (Black Bolt) or Reshiram (White Flare)

• Perfect for organizing your growing Unova haul.

Unova Poster Collection

Available July 18, 2025

• 2 Black Bolt + 2 White Flare packs

• Promos: Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott

• A double-sided, full-size Unova map & artwork poster—ideal wall décor between pull sessions.

Mini Tins

Available July 18, 2025

• 1 Black Bolt + 1 White Flare pack

• Matching art card & sticker

• Compact, affordable, and tradable—stocking-stuffer gold.

Tech Sticker Collections

Available Aug 1, 2025

• 3 booster packs

• Illustration-style promo: Reuniclus (Black Bolt) or Gothitelle (White Flare)

• Sticker sheet for laptops, tablets, and phone cases.

Victini Illustration Collection

Available Aug 1, 2025

• 2 Black Bolt + 2 White Flare packs

• Illustration Rare Victini promo

• Premium Poké Ball parallel Victini card

• Oversize Victini Illustration Rare—display-case material.

Booster Bundles

Available Aug 22, 2025

• 6 booster packs (choose your side)

• Pure packs, no frills: maximum value for drafters and rip-to-your-heart’s-content collectors.

Why This Set Matters

1. Historic English–Japanese Alignment
   No more guessing local set names—global collectors can finally speak the same language.

2. Split-Set Strategy
   Choice is power. Chase Zekrom, Meloetta, and a darker aesthetic in Black Bolt or embrace Reshiram, Keldeo, and White-hot flair in… well, White Flare.

3. Artwork Explosion
   The Illustration Rare program reached new heights in Scarlet & Violet; Black Bolt and White Flare crank it to eleven with a dedicated artistic take on every Unova Pokémon.

4. Monochrome Black/White Rares
   Minimalist, high-contrast designs that will stand out in any binder—sure to spike demand among aesthetic-forward collectors.

Final Thoughts

Pokémon has always been about choice—starter trios, version exclusives, and now split sets. With Black Bolt and White Flare, The Pokémon Company International proves it’s ready to give English collectors the same nuanced releases Japan has enjoyed for decades. Whether you’re team Black, team White, or (like most of us) both, Unova’s grand return promises a summer of unforgettable pulls.

Stay tuned here at OakLabs for pull galleries, deck techs, and our verdict on those sleek Black/White Rares once they’re in hand. Until then…

May your packs be full of fire—and flash with lightning!

—The OakLabs Team