Full Set Breakdown: Black Bolt & White Flare – Pull Rates, Cut Cards, Products & More!
- Stew @ PokéPortal
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
The Pokémon TCG’s long-awaited Black Bolt and White Flare special sets are just around the corner — and we now have the complete English set lists, along with product details, pull rate data, and notable card changes.
These dual sets feature all 156 Unova Pokémon, and mark the first time Western releases have mirrored the Japanese dual-set structure. Here’s your ultimate guide to everything you need to know about Black Bolt and White Flare.
About the Sets
Black Bolt and White Flare are based on their Japanese counterparts, but The Pokémon Company International (TPCi) has made several notable adjustments to card placements, promo selections, and rarity distribution.
These are special sets, which means there are no booster boxes or standalone booster packs. All packs are exclusive to bundled products like Elite Trainer Boxes, Mini Tins, and Collection Boxes.
Each Unova Pokémon receives either an Illustration Rare or Special Illustration Rare treatment — a massive expansion in the premium art category for collectors.
New “BWR” Rarity Cards
Exclusive to this release are special monochrome-styled cards featuring Reshiram ex, Zekrom ex, and Victini. These cards introduce a new rarity classification dubbed "BWR" — likely shorthand for Black-White-Red, the core Unova trio colors.
The Victini “BWR” promo from Japan — previously distributed via BWR tournaments (15,000 copies) and lottery (2,000 copies) — has been included in the English release:
Cut Cards & Promos
While most content made the transition from Japan, some cards were reshuffled or repurposed:
The Cheren tournament promo did not make it into the English release. It was never part of the Japanese sets, so technically it’s not a cut card.
The Illustration Rares for Victini, Reuniclus, and Thundurus were originally part of Black Bolt in Japan, but have been moved to promos in the English product line.
Likewise, Gothitelle and Tornadus’ Illustration Rares were cut from White Flare and moved to promo slots.
Card Reassignments
TPCi also made structural changes to the set lists:
The Chandelure and Mandibuzz evolution lines were moved from Black Bolt to White Flare.
The Klinklang and Braviary lines went the opposite way, moving from White Flare to Black Bolt.
Reverse Holos & Master Sets
English collectors will need serious commitment to complete master sets.
Our versions include:
Standard Reverse Holos
Poke Ball Pattern Reverse Holos
Master Ball Pattern Reverse Holos
Japan’s sets only included the latter two, but the English additions push the total card count across both sets to over 800 cards!
Also returning is the beloved horizontal holofoil paper — a nostalgic nod to the Black & White era — featured on all holo cards, including holo Basic Energy.
Pull Rate Estimates
Early data suggests the following pull rates for English booster packs:
Card Type | Estimated Pull Rate |
Pokémon ex (Double Rare) | 1 in every 5 packs |
Poke Ball Reverse Holo | 1 in every 3 packs |
Master Ball Reverse Holo | 1 in every 15 packs |
Full Art Ultra Rare | 1 in every 16 packs |
Illustration Rare | 1 in every 6 packs |
Special Illustration Rare | 1 in every 76 packs |
Product Lineup
These are the only ways to obtain Black Bolt and White Flare booster packs in English:
🔹 Releasing July 18, 2025
Elite Trainer Boxes (Black Bolt / White Flare)
9 booster packs
1 Illustration Rare promo: Thundurus (Black Bolt) or Tornadus (White Flare)
Gameplay accessories
Binder Collections
5 booster packs
9-pocket album featuring Zekrom (Black Bolt) or Reshiram (White Flare)
Unova Poster Collection
2 Black Bolt packs + 2 White Flare packs
3 promo cards: Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott
Double-sided Unova region poster
Unova Mini Tins
1 Black Bolt + 1 White Flare booster
1 art card and 1 matching sticker card
Releasing August 1, 2025
Tech Sticker Collection (Black Bolt / White Flare)
3 booster packs
1 Illustration Rare promo: Reuniclus (Black Bolt) or Gothitelle (White Flare)
1 themed tech sticker sheet
Victini Illustration Collection
2 Black Bolt + 2 White Flare booster packs
1 Illustration Rare promo: Victini
1 premium Poké Ball-style Victini card
1 oversized foil Illustration Rare of Victini
Releasing August 22, 2025
Booster Bundle (Black Bolt / White Flare)
6 booster packs
Final Thoughts
Black Bolt and White Flare aren’t just a celebration of Unova — they’re a collector’s paradise packed with new rarities, stunning art, and a massive checklist. With no individual packs or booster boxes available, securing these cards will require strategic product purchases.
Stay tuned as we update pull rate data and promo images closer to release!
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