News about Pokémon TCG Unveils Dual Expansions: Black Bolt and White Flare

The Pokémon Company has exciting news for fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), announcing a new split expansion within the Scarlet & Violet series. Named Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet: White Flare, these expansions are set to launch on July 18, 2025, and will be available at participating retailers worldwide.

These expansions celebrate the 156 Pokémon from the Unova region, each of which will be featured as either an illustration rare or a special illustration rare card. Fans can look forward to different versions of these cards in the Black Bolt and White Flare products, adding a layer of variety and collectability to the sets.

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 highlight Reshiram. Both sets will introduce three types of parallel foil patterns, including two featuring either a rainbow Poké Ball or Master Ball design across the card. Additionally, these expansions will bring back elements from the Black & White series, such as nostalgic foil styles and Basic Energy cards with the original Black & White designs.

Pokémon TCG: Black Bolt and White Flare Preorders

While preorders for Black Bolt and White Flare have not been confirmed yet, they are expected to open around mid-May. This timeline aligns with the reveal-to-preorder window seen with the upcoming Pokémon TCG: Destined Rivals set, launching 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 each set in 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 containing nine booster packs, an illustration rare promo card featuring Thundurus or Tornadus, and gameplay accessories
Binder Collection, including five booster packs and a nine-pocket album featuring Zekrom or Reshiram
Unova Poster Collection, with two booster packs from each expansion, three promo cards featuring Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott, and a full-size double-sided poster
Unova Mini Tin, including one booster pack from each expansion, one art card, and one sticker card

Available August 1, 2025:

Tech Sticker Collection, with three booster packs, a promo card featuring Reuniclus or Gothitelle, and a themed sticker sheet
Unova Victini Illustration Collection, with 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, including 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, will also debut. These cards will feature full artwork in either black or white monochrome, depending on the expansion.

Players can also enjoy Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and White Flare digitally starting July 17, 2025, via 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.

Stay tuned for more details on the expansion, preorders, and card previews in the coming weeks.

Pokémon TCG: Today's Best Deals

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A diverse selection of Pokémon TCG products is currently available, featuring some excellent deals. The Infernape V set is a standout, offering 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 point below what you'd find on the secondary market.

For those interested in collectibles, the Prismatic Evolutions Eevee ex box is an attractive option. It comes with four boosters, a random Eeveelution promo card (some of which resell for between $15 and $60), and a storage box complete with dividers.

If you're looking for individual cards rather than sealed products, scroll down to discover our top picks among the week's most notable price drops.