ME05 - Mega Evolution - Darkest Night

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Darkest Hour: the fifth expansion in the Mega Evolution series
Darkest Night is the fifth main expansion in the Mega Evolution series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, released on July 17, 2026 by The Pokémon Company. The set continues the Mega Evolution arc that began with ME01 and narratively complements the world of Pokémon Legends: ZA , placing Mega Evolutions in an urban darkness setting where, at night, Dark-type and Ghost-type Pokémon take center stage. Mega-Darkrai-ex bears the visual identity of the expansion and embodies this tonal shift towards shadows.

The six Mega Evolution Pokémon-ex in the set
Darkest Night introduces six new Mega Evolution Pokémon-ex cards, the most powerful and sought-after cards in the set. Mega Darkrai-ex is the cover card and the undisputed star of the expansion: the Mythical Dark Pokémon of Sinnoh, already iconic since Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, unleashes its Mega Evolution for the first time in the TCG. Mega Zeraora-ex , the Electric Mega Evolution of the Mythical Pokémon of Alola, Mega Chandelure-ex (Ghost/Fire Mega Evolution of the Litwick line), and Mega Excadrill-ex (Ground/Steel Mega Evolution) round out the main lineup alongside two other Mega Evolutions. To open these Pokémon-ex cards directly, individual booster packs remain the most straightforward entry format to the set.

A rich rarity structure: 11 AR, 18 UR, 6 SAR
Darkest Night features an enhanced rarity structure that extends the Mega Evolution series' established formula. The set includes 11 Art Rare (AR) Pokémon cards , 18 Ultra Rare (UR) Pokémon and Trainer cards , and 6 Special Art Rare (SAR) Pokémon and Supporter cards, which serve as the set's primary chase cards. This structure follows the style of previous expansions in the series, with a particular emphasis on nighttime artwork and dark themes that define the set's visual identity.

The Nightfall Elite Trainer Box with Zarude promo card
The Darkest Night Elite Trainer Box is the deluxe edition of the set and the centerpiece of the line for collectors. The box includes a full-art foil Zarude promo card, exclusive to this product: Zarude is the Mythical Grass/Dark-type Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield, and this full-art version is consistent with the set's nighttime theme. The box also includes 9 Darkest Night booster packs, 65 themed card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player's guide, 6 damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector's box with 6 dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

The artwork for Booster illustrations
Nightfall offers several different booster box illustrations, each featuring an iconic Mega Evolution from the set. The Nightfall booster art set includes a copy of each variant for collectors who want to complete the set's visual series in an original sealed format.

The Tripack 3 boosters and the Bundle 6 boosters
For an affordable entry-level option, the Nightfall 3-Booster Tripack offers a random blister pack containing 3 boosters and a promo card, ideal for discovering the expansion without investing in a larger format. The Nightfall 6-Booster Bundle is the intermediate format for opening 60 cards in total without needing a full display box, with a 6x chance of opening one of the set's Mega Evolutions ex or Special Art Rare chase cards.

Play! Pokémon Previews
Before its official release on July 17, 2026, Darkest Hour is available as a preview at Play! Pokémon tournaments held in select independent stores starting July 4, 2026 —nearly two weeks before the official release. These previews allow players to test the new cards in Sealed Deck format with a pre-constructed deck and several booster packs from the expansion, and to receive exclusive event promotions.

The display format aims for extensive coverage of the set
The 36-booster Darkest Nights display box is the go-to format for achieving extensive set coverage and hosting group opening sessions. With 360 cards drawn from the main set, the display significantly increases the chances of completing all six ex Mega Evolutions from the expansion and drawing multiple Special Art Rare cards. It's also the preferred format for collectors who want to preserve the original sealed display box as a long-term collectible.

See also
• Parent category: all Pokémon products
• Previous/Next Expansion: Chaos Ascendant (ME04)
• All formats: Pokémon displays of 36 boosters , Pokémon Elite Trainer Boxes (ETB) , Pokémon bundles of 6 boosters , Pokémon blisters, duopacks and tripacks , individual Pokémon boosters , Pokémon booster art sets
• Accessories: Pokémon accessories

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Nuit Noire released in French?
July 17, 2026.

How many cards are in the expansion?
120: 84 numbered cards and 36 secret cards.

Which card is the most sought after?
Mega-Darkrai-ex, especially in Special Illustration Rare (116/084) and in Mega Hyper Rare (120/084).

How many boosters are in the display?
36 booster packs of 10 cards each.