Black Bolt and White Flare are out in Japan, and prices are already settling on the most sought-after cards. I've been following the early market closely on TCGPlayer and eBay, and it's clear which cards are leading the packs… get it?
Zekrom and Reshiram are pulling in the highest numbers, while full-art Trainers and EX cards are also climbing fast. For now, here's a look at the most expensive cards from both sets right now, based on what I've found.
Black Bolt: Japan's Most Expensive Cards
I’ve been tracking Black Bolt and White Flare since their Japanese launch, and the early market has already picked its favorites. No surprise, Zekrom ex 174/086 leads the Black Bolt pack at $343.12, and it’s not even close.
The alternate Secret Rare version, Zekrom ex 169/086, is holding strong too at $171.29. Both are big pulls with bold art and high early demand. But it's not just dragons making waves.
N’s Plot 173/086 is already climbing to $97.51, making it the priciest Trainer card in either set. Mid-tier cards like Kyurem ex 168/086 and Serperior ex 167/086 sit in the $50 to $60 range, while Meloetta ex and Genesect ex are slightly lower but still fetching healthy prices for new EXs.
Even the cheaper cards, like Kyurem ex 160/086 at $10.93, or Snivy and Pansage, both hovering around $20, are drawing in early collectors looking to complete those secret rare numbers before the English release.
White Flare: Japan's Most Expensive Cards
Over in White Flare, things look just as competitive. Reshiram ex 174/086 has taken the top spot here, priced at $347.76, basically mirroring Zekrom’s dominance.
The second Reshiram ex, 168/086, isn’t far behind, fluctuating between $159.95 and $181.85.
Then there’s Hilda 173/086, which is shaping up to be the Trainer pull from this set. It’s listed at $110, but already hitting $121.36 on eBay.
Beyond that, we’ve got Hydreigon ex at a solid $57.50, and a few mid-range hitters like Keldeo ex, Jellicent ex, and Whimsicott ex, all sitting around $25 to $30.
Even cards like Oshawott 102/086, Zoroark, and the alternate Hilda 166/086 are seeing interest around the $16 to $24 range.
These sets are just getting started, and the market’s already showing clear lines between casual rares and serious collector targets.
Where to Buy Sealed Boosters (JP)
Japanese Cards are more popular than ever. The challenge is getting hold of them, which is where TCGPlayer comes in. Instead of paying for importers and stores' fees from getting this stuff for retail in Japan to get into your hands, you're paying market value for sealed products.
There's plenty of chase cards in a booster box for Black Bolt and White Flare, specifically one secret rare, full art, hyper rare or alt art alongside 3 art rares. I'm not saying you'll get your money back in card values, but it's fun ripping boosters open. It's the next best option if you're not just buying cards standalone for display.
Black Bolt White Flare Preorders
There's been recent preorder restocks for big box retailers such as Walmart, so we'd recomend keeping an eye on these listings to secure your day one sealed product.
Black Bolt and White Flare sealed products are also on TCGPlayer, although they're all over MSRP which is to be expected on the secondary collectors market right now. My advice? Wait until after release on July 18 to see where to market setles before making any big moves.
This Week's Pokémon TCG Crashers and Climbers
With Black Bolt and White Flare wrapping up the Scarlet & Violet era, all eyes are now on what’s next —and Mega Evolution is officially back.
The Japanese Championships 2025 confirmed MEGA Symphonia and MEGA Brave as the first entries in the new Mega Expansion Packs, launching August 1 in Japan. These sets reintroduce Mega Evolution ex cards in a powerful new form, now Stage 2 Pokémon worth 3 Prize Cards when knocked out.
Cards like Mega Gardevoir ex, Mega Venusaur ex, and Mega Lucario ex are leading the charge, and collectors are already snapping up classic Mega cards in anticipation of their return to the spotlight.
Looking for more TCG discussion and market watch? Check out the full MTG release schedule for 2025, this week's MTG price movers and shakers, and the Pokemon side of things, the most expensive 151 cards going right now for Pokemon trainers, and the latest price rises and drops for the biggest cards right now.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
