2025 172 cards

Black Bolt Strikes

A 172-card Scarlet & Violet Era expansion released in 2025, featuring cards like Zekrom ex, Genesect ex, Excadrill ex.

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sv10.5b

Difficulty

2/5 to complete

Avg Card Value

Varies

Market average

Top Card

Zekrom ex

See market

Rarity Tier

Moderate

Overview

Black Bolt is a 172-card expansion from the Scarlet & Violet series, released on July 17, 2025. The set features Pokemon ex and Special Art Rares alongside the standard mix of Pokemon, Trainer, and Energy cards. Notable cards include Zekrom ex, Genesect ex, Excadrill ex, Meloetta ex.

Best for

Collectors living in current SV product and learning IR/SAR tiers
collectors pricing Black Bolt (2025, 172 cards) as SV ex / IR / SAR cardboard — not as generic “old cards”
people building around Zekrom ex / Genesect ex without pretending bulk pays the same

Skip this path if

you lock long-term value opinions in the first two weeks of release
you expect every card in Black Bolt to carry similar resale (bulk is bulk)

Common mistakes

If you only remember one thing about Black Bolt: Zekrom ex / Genesect ex is not interchangeable with every other print of those Pokemon. People still get burned by using old “secret rare” vocabulary for Illustration Rare and Special Art Rare, then argue condition after they already overpaid. Confirm sv10.5b / the set symbol before comps — “SV ex / IR / SAR lot” language is how wrong products get mixed.

What to check first

Verify set membership (sv10.5b) and whether you are pricing a playable ex or a full-art chase. Condition pass on Zekrom ex / Genesect ex before negotiation. Finish with a checklist gap list so you are not “completing” only the bulk.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

The top chase cards from Black Bolt include Zekrom ex, Genesect ex, Excadrill ex. Full art, secret rare, and alternate art variants carry the highest premiums. Other collectible cards include Meloetta ex, Kyurem ex, Serperior ex. Condition matters — near-mint copies command significantly higher prices than played cards.

Meloetta ex

Excadrill ex

Genesect ex

N's Plan

Victini

Zekrom ex

Full Collection

Cards from Black Bolt

Tap any card to see price history and details.

28 of 172

Browse all 172 cards

Tips to finish the set

Black Bolt contains 172 cards. Start with the common and uncommon base, which is typically affordable. Focus singles purchases on the holo rares and ultra rares that are hardest to pull from packs. Set a budget before chasing secret rares.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

01

Identify Black Bolt cards by set code sv10.5b / symbol — do not sort by art alone
02

Split bulk commons/uncommons from holos and special rarities before pricing
03

Track Zekrom ex and Genesect ex as priority singles, not pack EV fantasies
04

Scan or checklist-gap the rest after the chase budget is honest

Scan with the app

Modern Black Bolt cards come in many variants — regular, holo, full art, special art rare, and secret rare. The Pokex scanner distinguishes between these variants instantly and pulls current market values. Track your collection progress and identify which chase cards you still need.

FAQ

Common questions

01 How many cards are in Black Bolt?

Black Bolt has 86 officially numbered cards, with 86 additional secret rares bringing the total to 172.

02 When was Black Bolt released?

Black Bolt was released on July 17, 2025 as part of the Scarlet & Violet series.

03 What are the best cards in Black Bolt?

Some of the most notable cards in Black Bolt include Zekrom ex, Genesect ex, Excadrill ex. The highest-value cards are typically the full art, secret rare, and alternate art variants.

04 Is Black Bolt worth collecting?

Black Bolt features 172 cards with Special Art Rares and other premium variants that hold collector value. Modern Scarlet & Violet sets are still in print and accessible at retail, making it a good time to collect.