Black Bolt and White Flare: why the Unova sets matter (and their chase cards)
Black Bolt and White Flare are a pair of Pokémon TCG sets released together on 18 July 2025, built around all 156 Pokémon first found in Unova, with Zekrom leading Black Bolt and Reshiram leading White Flare. They matter for three reasons: a rarity unique to them, the Black White Rare; a full-art card for nearly every Unova Pokémon; and their place as the last main release of the Scarlet & Violet era. Their top chase cards cost £330–£420 at our prices.
Key facts
- Released together on 18 July 2025, worldwide; Japan had them on 6 June 2025
- Black Bolt: 86 main cards, 172 with secret rares; White Flare: 86 main, 173 with secret rares
- Black White Rares: Victini and Zekrom ex (Black Bolt), Victini and Reshiram ex (White Flare)
- Every Unova Pokémon except Victini has an Illustration Rare or Special Illustration Rare
- Extra reverse holo patterns: Poké Ball on cards up to Rare, Master Ball on Pokémon up to Rare
- No English booster box; packs came in ETBs, bundles, tins and collections
Prices are Iconic Trading Cards' own, checked 8 October 2026.
What are Black Bolt and White Flare?
A split expansion. Instead of one set, Pokémon released two side by side, each with its own cards, so that between them they could cover the entire Unova Pokédex from Pokémon Black and White. Black Bolt's Pokémon ex include Zekrom, Kyurem, Serperior, Meloetta, Excadrill and Genesect; White Flare's include Reshiram, Keldeo, Hydreigon, Whimsicott, Jellicent and Bouffalant. Supporters include N's Plan in Black Bolt and Hilda in White Flare.
They were the Scarlet & Violet era's final main release; the Mega Evolution series began in September 2025. Our Pokémon TCG eras guide explains where they sit.
Why were they so popular?
Unova nostalgia was part of it, but the card design did most of the work. Every Unova Pokémon except Victini got a full-art Illustration Rare or Special Illustration Rare — 69 Illustration Rares in Black Bolt and 70 in White Flare — so collectors could build a full-art Unova Pokédex across the two sets. The Poké Ball and Master Ball reverse holo patterns, which collectors had loved in Prismatic Evolutions, gave the common cards a second life as binder pieces. And the Black White Rare gave each set a clear top chase card.
What are the chase cards?
| Card | Set | Rarity | Iconic price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victini 171/086 | Black Bolt | Black White Rare | £417 |
| Victini 172/086 | White Flare | Black White Rare | £371 |
| Reshiram ex 173/086 | White Flare | Black White Rare | £368 |
| Zekrom ex 172/086 | Black Bolt | Black White Rare | £334 |
| Zekrom ex 166/086 | Black Bolt | Special Illustration Rare | £160 |
| Seismitoad 105/086 | Black Bolt | Illustration Rare | £135 |
| Reshiram ex 166/086 | White Flare | Special Illustration Rare | £115 |
| Hydreigon ex 169/086 | White Flare | Special Illustration Rare | £60 |
| Oshawott 105/086 | White Flare | Illustration Rare | £50 |
The two Victini Black White Rares share the same artwork and differ only in set and number, yet the Black Bolt one costs more at our prices — a reminder that two near-identical cards can still settle at different prices. The Seismitoad Illustration Rare at £135 is the standout surprise: an Illustration Rare of a non-legendary Pokémon outpricing most Special Illustration Rares, purely on the strength of its art.
On the same Pokémon, the ladder is steep. Reshiram ex is £2.20 as a regular double rare, £5 as a full-art Ultra Rare, £115 as a Special Illustration Rare and £368 as a Black White Rare. Our guide to what makes a Pokémon card valuable explains why.
Are the reverse holos worth collecting?
For binder collectors, yes. Cards up to Rare come as a normal print and a standard reverse holo, plus a Poké Ball pattern; Pokémon cards also get a Master Ball pattern. That makes up to four versions of the same common card, and the Master Ball pattern is the pricier one: Black Bolt's Snivy (001/086) is £1.20 as a normal card, £4 in Poké Ball and £9 in Master Ball at our prices. They are an affordable way to make the set feel special without chasing secret rares. Browse every card and finish in Black Bolt singles and White Flare singles.
What sealed Black Bolt and White Flare is still around?
Less than there was, and prices have moved. On 8 October 2026 we had single booster packs of both in stock — Black Bolt booster packs and White Flare booster packs at £14.00 each — plus the Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Boxes at £200 (Zekrom) and £195 (Reshiram), and sealed booster bundle displays. The standard ETBs and six-pack booster bundles were out of stock. Everything we hold is on the Black Bolt and White Flare pages.
No English booster box was ever announced for the pair, so sealed product came only in boxes and collections. If you are weighing a Pokémon Center box against a standard one, our Pokémon Center ETB guide explains the difference.
Packs or singles?
For the Black White Rares, singles. With only two per set and no official pull rates published, opening packs for a specific one is a long shot. For the Unova full-art Pokédex, singles make sense too: most Illustration Rares from the pair cost a fraction of the chase cards. Packs are for the fun of the opening. Iconic Trading Cards ships orders of singles only for a flat £2.45 in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Black Bolt and White Flare?
They are two halves of one release. Black Bolt is led by Zekrom and White Flare by Reshiram, and between them they cover all 156 Pokémon first found in the Unova region, with different cards in each. Both have 86 cards in the main set; Black Bolt runs to 172 with secret rares and White Flare to 173.
What is a Black White Rare?
A rarity found only in Black Bolt and White Flare, with a monochrome foil design. Each set has two: Victini and Zekrom ex in Black Bolt (171 and 172), and Victini and Reshiram ex in White Flare (172 and 173). They are the rarest cards in the sets.
Did Black Bolt and White Flare have booster boxes?
No English booster box was announced. The sets were sold in Elite Trainer Boxes (standard and Pokémon Center), booster bundles, binder collections, mini tins, a poster collection, tech sticker collections and the Victini Illustration Collection.
What are the most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare cards?
At our prices on 8 October 2026, the Black Bolt Victini Black White Rare (171/086) at £417, the White Flare Victini (172/086) at £371, the Reshiram ex Black White Rare (173/086) at £368 and the Zekrom ex Black White Rare (172/086) at £334.
When were Black Bolt and White Flare released?
Together on 18 July 2025, worldwide. They were the last main release of the Scarlet & Violet era before the Mega Evolution series began in September 2025. Japan had them first, on 6 June 2025.