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If you're weighing Abyss Eye vs Pitch Black, you're really choosing between two boxes built around the same set: the Japanese original and the bigger English release that followed it. Here's what's the same, what's different, what each box and its best cards cost, and how to get the Japanese box if that's the one you want.
What is Pitch Black, and why does it match Abyss Eye?
Mega Evolution: Pitch Black is the English expansion The Pokémon Company released on July 17, 2026. The official announcement lists over 115 cards, led by Mega Darkrai ex, with Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex and Mega Excadrill ex alongside it.
Japan got those cards first. MEGA Expansion Pack "Abyss Eye" (アビスアイ), set code M5, released on May 22, 2026, with Mega Darkrai ex on the box. The two sets even share a name in a sense: Mega Darkrai ex's finishing attack is called Abyss Eye in both languages.
If you've read our Storm Emeralda vs Delta Reign comparison, this is the same pattern one set earlier.
Abyss Eye at a glance
M5Abyss EyeアビスアイReleased May 22, 2026 · 118 cards¥8,500–¥10,700 PACTCG board, 8 Japan-direct asks · Oct 15, 2026TCGplayer market (US resale) $72.73 · Oct 14, 2026See prices
| Abyss Eye (Japanese) | Pitch Black (English) | |
|---|---|---|
| Set code | M5 | ME05 (PBL) |
| Release date | Fri, May 22, 2026 | Fri, Jul 17, 2026 |
| Headliner | Mega Darkrai ex | Mega Darkrai ex |
| Set size | 81-card main set, secret rares numbered above 081 | Over 115 cards (official) |
| Pack | 5 cards, ¥200 suggested retail (tax included) | Sold in booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes and collections |
| Sealed box, TCGplayer market price | $71.87 | $184.11 |
Box prices are TCGplayer market prices (US resale, USD), as of Oct 13, 2026. A Japanese Abyss Eye box holds 30 packs of 5 cards.
Japanese vs English: what's actually different
Release timing
Abyss Eye came out 56 days before Pitch Black. That head start is long over now, so today the choice is mostly about price, language and how you use your cards.
Set size
Abyss Eye's main set is 81 cards. Pitch Black has over 115, so English packs spread their pulls across more cards. The Japanese box is the more focused set, built around the same headliners.
Card quality and packs
Japanese packs hold 5 cards. Many collectors like Japanese cards for their consistent cutting and centering, which matters if you plan to grade. The card names and rarity labels differ too: Japan's Mega Ultra Rare and Special Art Rare line up with English Mega Hyper Rare and Special Illustration Rare.
Playability
Japanese cards aren't legal in most English-language tournaments. If you play competitively in English, Pitch Black is your set.
What's guaranteed in a Japanese box (and not in an English one)
Sealed Japanese boxes follow a strong pattern: 1 Super Rare or better, 1 Item, Tool or Stadium Super Rare, 3 Art Rares and 4 Double Rares. It applies to factory-sealed full boxes only. Loose packs and resealed boxes don't follow it, and it isn't an official promise: The Pokémon Company prints only the box setup and that cards are inserted randomly. The pattern doesn't say which hit you get. English Pitch Black boxes have no box guarantee. Every English pack is random, so even a full English box isn't certain to hold a Special Illustration Rare.
Chase cards side by side
Top singles by TCGplayer market price (US resale, USD), as of Oct 13, 2026.
Abyss Eye (Japanese)
Pitch Black (English)
| Mega Darkrai ex | Mega Darkrai ex | Morpeko ex |
| 116/084 · Special Illustration Rare · $141.29 | 120/084 · Mega Hyper Rare · $137.13 | 117/084 · Special Illustration Rare · $61.64 |
The Japanese gold Mega Darkrai ex is the single most valuable card across both sets, and the Japanese Special Art Rare Darkrai sells for more than either English Darkrai. Outside the top two, though, Japanese singles drop off quickly, while English Morpeko ex holds up better than its Japanese twin. Prices move daily, and none of this is a promise of what you'll pull.
What each box costs
The English box costs more than twice as much as the Japanese one on TCGplayer (see the table above). Abyss Eye is still on our board. The live board below shows what Japanese sellers are asking for it today, next to the TCGplayer price.
Live price board
Abyss Eye (M5) booster box, Japan-direct
| Seller | JPY ask | ≈ USD | Delivered (US) | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 TTTCGJAPANNo reviews yetBest price | ¥8,500 | $53.64 | $77.27 | Oct 15, 2026 12:20 AM PT |
 DAISUKE HOSOGI5.0 (7) | ¥9,300 | $58.68 | $83.30 | Oct 15, 2026 12:21 AM PT |
 Tsuyoshi モノウリ5.0 (6) | ¥9,600 | $60.58 | $85.72 | Oct 15, 2026 12:21 AM PT |
 TCGEXNo reviews yet | ¥10,000 | $63.10 | $89.34 | Oct 15, 2026 12:21 AM PT |
 TCG shop5.0 (2) | ¥10,000 | $63.10 | $89.34 | Oct 15, 2026 12:21 AM PT |
- TTTCGJAPANNo reviews yetBest price¥8,500≈ $53.64
- DAISUKE HOSOGI5.0 (7)¥9,300≈ $58.68
- Tsuyoshi モノウリ5.0 (6)¥9,600≈ $60.58
- TCGEXNo reviews yet¥10,000≈ $63.10
- TCG shop5.0 (2)¥10,000≈ $63.10
Reference, not a sellerTCGplayer market price (US resale): $72.73View on TCGplayer
Board prices are seller asks in yen for the box itself.
You can compare every seller on the Abyss Eye price board or browse the top Abyss Eye cards.
Which box should you buy?
Price gap
Abyss Eye (M5) booster box
Japan-direct, lowest ask
$53.99
≈ ￥8,500
TCGplayer market (US resale)
$72.99
≈ ￥11,500
Market price on TCGplayer, not a seller ask
Save $19.00 · before fees & shipping
Request an orderBuy Abyss Eye (Japanese) if…
- You want the Mega Darkrai ex cards, especially the Japanese gold print, 118/081.
- You open boxes for fun or for content and want a cheaper box.
- You collect or grade and like Japanese print quality.
Buy Pitch Black (English) if…
- You play English-language tournaments.
- You only collect English cards.
- You want the extra cards in the bigger English set.
Plenty of collectors do both: Japanese for the art, English for play.
How to buy the Japanese box
- Compare sellers on the Abyss Eye price board, with each seller's public reviews.
- Request your order (5-box minimum) on Request Order. It's free, and nothing is charged yet.
- Approval: the seller checks stock and confirms the price.
- Pay with a secure link, then your boxes ship from Japan with tracking.
Looking at newer Japanese sets too? Our 30th CELEBRATION booster box guide and 30th CELEBRATION Card Sets explainer cover what's just come out.
Get The Pacific Pull
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Frequently asked questions
Is Abyss Eye the Japanese version of Pitch Black?
In practice, yes. Both are headlined by Mega Darkrai ex and share the same featured Megas, and Pitch Black cards first appeared in Abyss Eye. Pitch Black is bigger (over 115 cards vs Abyss Eye's 81-card main set), so it adds cards.
When did Abyss Eye come out in Japan?
Friday, May 22, 2026. Pitch Black followed in English on July 17, 2026.
How much is an Abyss Eye booster box in USD?
As of Oct 13, 2026, the TCGplayer market price (US resale) was $71.87. Check today's Japan-direct seller prices on our Abyss Eye price board.
How much is an English Pitch Black booster box?
As of Oct 13, 2026, the TCGplayer market price was $184.11.
What is the best card in Pitch Black and Abyss Eye?
Mega Darkrai ex in both. The Japanese Mega Ultra Rare 118/081 was $421.11 and the English Special Illustration Rare 116/084 was $141.29 (TCGplayer market prices, as of Oct 13, 2026).
Show all 7 questions
How many cards are in an Abyss Eye pack?
Five. The official suggested retail price in Japan is ¥200 per pack, tax included.
Can I play Japanese cards in English tournaments?
Generally no. Japanese cards aren't legal in most English-language sanctioned play. They're best for collecting, grading and opening.
All Pokémon images © The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, Creatures and GAME FREAK.
About the author: Bryce Watson is the founder of Pacific Card Exchange (PACTCG), a marketplace for buying sealed Japanese Pokémon booster boxes Japan-direct from Japanese sellers. Read his Osaka supply-chain story.
Pacific Card Exchange is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, Creatures, or GAME FREAK. Prices are snapshots and change frequently.
Sources
- Official Japanese Pokémon Card Game site: Abyss Eye (May 22, 2026 release, ¥200 per 5-card pack) (as of 2026-10-12)
- Pokemon.com: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black (Jul 17, 2026, over 115 cards) (as of 2026-10-12)
- TCGplayer market prices via tcgcsv.com, M5 Abyss Eye (Japanese), last updated 2026-10-12 20:05 UTC (as of 2026-10-12)
- TCGplayer market prices via tcgcsv.com, ME05 Pitch Black (English), last updated 2026-10-12 20:05 UTC (as of 2026-10-12)
- PACTCG M5 seller price board (as of 2026-10-12)
Written by
Bryce Watson
Bryce runs Pacific Card Exchange and tracks Japanese sealed Pokémon prices every day for international buyers.
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