Black Bolt just hit the shelves on July 18, 2025, and trust us, it’s bringing the Unova region straight to your Pokémon TCG battles! This awesome expansion lets you dive back into a land of unity and legends. You can evolve your cute little Snivy all the way up to the majestic Serperior ex, and get inspired by super-powerful Legendary and Mythical Pokémon like Zekrom ex and Meloetta ex.
With over 170 cards to collect, you’ll be busy filling out your Pokédex. But as you rip open those packs, keep a special eye out for the stunning Special Illustration Rares – seriously, the art on these is next-level! And don’t forget the cool parallel cards with those classic Poké Ball patterns. While every card in Black Bolt is pretty sweet, some are just a cut above the rest, whether it’s because they’re super valuable, have jaw-dropping artwork, here are ten most valuable cards from Black Bolt Pokémon expansion.
10. Seismitoad – 105/086 (Illustration Rare)
This Illustration Rare Seismitoad features a beefy 170 HP and evolves from Palpitoad. It has two attacks: “Round” for three Colorless Energy, which does 70 damage for each of your Pokémon in play that also has the “Round” attack (imagine building a whole choir of these!), and “Hyper Voice” for one Water and three Colorless Energy, dealing a solid 160 damage. While its competitive play might depend on how many “Round” attackers you can get on your bench, the unique artwork by Shinji Kanda makes this card a cool visual addition to any collection.
9. Meloetta ex – 167/086 (Special Illustration Rare)
Meloetta ex might not be tearing up tournaments with its in-game power alone. Its Debut Live Ability lets it attack early, but its Echoing Voice attack isn’t going to sweep stadiums, even after it “echoes.” And let’s be real, a two-Prize Pokémon with only 200 HP isn’t exactly built for the front lines. But here’s the kicker: Meloetta ex doesn’t need to win battles to be a winner in your collection! Its unique design and the absolutely gorgeous art by LINNE are doing all the heavy lifting.
8. Serperior ex – 164/086 (Special Illustration Rare)
If you’re a fan of the Gen V starter evolutions, you have to get your hands on Serperior ex. While its strong Ability and awesome search attack are great, setting it up can be a bit tricky. But seriously, the dazzling art by Ryota Murayama makes this card a must-have all on its own. Murayama is a master at making Pokémon look like they’re just part of the natural world. You might even think Serperior just sprouted right out of the ground, just like the perfectly drawn flowers around it.
7. Excadrill ex – 168/086 (Special Illustration Rare)
This Special Illustration Rare Excadrill ex digs its way onto the list with 270 HP and as a Stage 1 Pokémon ex, evolving from Drilbur. It’s a Fighting-type powerhouse with two attacks. “Piercing Drill” (for two Fighting Energy) does 60 damage, plus an additional 60 damage to one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon that already has damage counters on it – super handy for finishing off weakened targets! Its second attack, “Rock Tumble”, hits for a hefty 200 damage and ignores any Resistance your opponent’s Pokémon might have. When this Pokémon ex gets Knocked Out, your opponent takes two Prize cards. Its incredible artwork and solid attacks make it a very attractive card for both players and collectors.
6. Genesect ex – 169/086 (Special Illustration Rare)
Genesect ex is one of those rare gems that both players and collectors are going crazy for. Its Metal Signal Ability is super helpful in games, letting you dig out Metal Evolution Pokémon like Gholdengo ex and Steven’s Metagross ex. For collectors, it’s another stunning Special Illustration Rare of a Mythic Pokémon, made even cooler by kantaro’s dark and mysterious art. The way Genesect ex is peeking out from behind a barely open doorway, putting you in the shadows, gives off this thrilling, dangerous vibe.
5. Kyurem ex – 165/086 (Special Illustration)
As one of the legendary Tao Trio, Kyurem is a huge deal in Unova’s mythology, right alongside Reshiram and Zekrom. You’d think it would have gotten super rare cards from the start, but honestly, this Special Illustration Rare Kyurem ex finally gives the Ice Dragon the epic treatment it deserves in its original form. This scene looks so chillingly cold, you’ll feel like you need mittens just to hold the card! The icicles are practically growing off Kyurem itself, and those clear crystals bursting from the ground really highlight how beautiful, dangerous, and otherworldly Kyurem truly is.
4. N’s Plan – 170/086 (Special Illustration Rare)
N’s charisma is legendary, and if you played Pokémon Black and White, you’ll never forget this guy. This Special Illustration Rare perfectly captures his vibe. With just a few shadows and a subtle facial expression, REND somehow nails both the idealism and the darkness in N’s heart. Plus, they even squeezed in the most dramatic Ferris Wheel ride in all of fiction! Among all the Pokémon antagonists, N totally stands alone. He’s always gotten fans talking, and this card is definitely going to keep that going.
3. Zekrom ex – 166/086 (Special Illustration Rare)
You can’t have Black Bolt without the Deep Black Pokémon itself! The whole set is named after Zekrom, so it’s no surprise that this Special Illustration Rare Zekrom ex is going to be high on almost every collector’s wishlist. On top of being the poster child for the set, Zekrom also brings the thunder in battle with its Voltage Burst attack. For just three Energy, you can dish out a massive 380 damage once your opponent is down to one Prize card. That’s enough to one-shot anything in the Pokémon TCG, even those huge three-Prize Mega Evolution Pokémon ex coming in future sets.
2. Victini – 171/086 (Black White Rare)
While we’re also getting BWR Reshiram and Zekrom, The Pokémon Company in Japan initially released a super limited number of BWR Victini as tournament prizes and lottery wins. Fans outside Japan were wondering if they’d ever get their hands on this elusive card. Good news! BWR Victini will be in both the international Black Bolt (collector number 171) and White Flare (collector number 172) sets. With two versions to hunt for, BWR Victini is shaping up to be one of the rarest cards you can pull in Black Bolt.
1. Zekrom ex – 172/086 (Black White Rare)
The absolute top card everyone’s hoping to pull from Black Bolt is the monochromatic “Black White Rare” Zekrom ex. This card is a deliberate throwback to the original Zekrom chase card from the very first Black and White set. Love the monochromatic style or not, you’ve gotta admit it’s eye-catching, and that uniqueness is going to keep BWR Zekrom firmly in collectors’ minds and hearts. The Japanese version of BWR Zekrom ex is already selling for hundreds of dollars, so if the international version follows suit, get ready for one seriously pricey dragon!
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