Pokémon TCG: Black Bolt & White Flare - All You Need to Know & Card Review

The new Pokémon TCG set, Black Bolt & White Flare, was released in the east on June 6th, 2025, and will be released in the west on July 18th, 2025. This set is unique, as it features two different groups of cards to represent the conflict between "black and white", that is, between Zekrom and Reshiram.

Furthermore, this is the last special set in the Scarlet & Violet block, so it will only bring us a few truly competitive cards. Still, some of them are quite strong. We'll go over them at the end of the article!

This special set centers around Unova and Gen 5, which came out in 2011 in the VGC. In that same year, another set was released for the TCG... Now, this new special set will bring back the old spirit from this time!

Logos

Products

Most products in this set will come out on July 18th, 2025, but some will only come out on August 22nd, 2025.

Please note that, in the west, there are no Black Bolt & White Flare booster boxes or prerelease kits!

Booster Design

Card Design: Energies and Holo Effects

In this set, you'll find holo basic energies with horizontal stripes and checkered details once again, just like the classic energies from 2011.

Like Prismatic Evolutions, this western set will have 3 types of "Reverse Foils". This means you'll be able to find the standard western card, the "Poké-Ball" version, and the "Master Ball" version, so there are over 800 cards to collect if you want to complete your "Master Set".

Elite Trainer Box

This product includes:

- A promo Pokémon card in each ETB. The Black Bolt version features an Illustration Rare Thundurus, and the White Flare version features an Illustration Rare Tornadus.

- A set of 7 dice. One is a coinflip die, and the other six are damage counter dice.

- 65 Sleeves featuring the box theme and Pokémon to protect your cards.

- 2 Plastic condition markers.

- A collector’s box to hold everything, with 4 dividers to keep it organized.

- A "Player's Guide" for this set.

- A TCG Live code card for this Elite Trainer Box.

- Nine boosters from this set. Each booster has 11 cards (10 are Pokémon or Trainers, and 1 is a basic energy), and a code card for TCG Live.

Price: US$49.99.

Release date: July 18th, 2025.

Elite Trainer Box - Pokémon Center

The only differences between this product and the one above are that, instead of 9 boosters, this one includes 11 boosters, and the promo cards (Thundurus for Black Bolt and Tornados for White Flare) are stamped with the "Pokémon Center" logo. They also include the standard version of these cards without the logo.

Price: US$59.99.

Release date: July 18th, 2025.

Black Bolt & White Flare - Binder

This product includes 5 boosters from this special set (according to their legendary Pokémon, Zekrom or Reshiram) and a Zekrom or Reshiram binder.

Price: US$29.99.

Release date: July 18th, 2025.

Black Bolt & White Flare - Unova Poster Collection

This product includes 2 Black Bolt boosters, 2 White Flare boosters, 3 promo cards centered around the Unova starters, and a poster.

Price: US$18.99.

Release date: July 18th, 2025.

Black Bolt & White Flare - Unova Mini Tin

This product includes 1 Black Bolt booster, 1 White Flare booster, and 1 poster featuring the Pokémon in the tin.

Price: US$9.99.

Release date: July 18th, 2025.

Black Bolt & White Flare - Triple Pack / Tech Sticker

This product includes 3 boosters from this special set, a promo card for Reuniclus or Gothitelle, and a collectible stamp.

Price: US$15.99.

Release date: August 1st, 2025.

Black Bolt & White Flare - Victini Illustration Collection Box

This product includes 2 Black Bolt boosters, 2 White Flare boosters, 1 "regular" "Reverse Foil Poké-Ball" Victini, 1 "Illustration Rare" Victini, and one Jumbo Sized "Illustration Rare" Victini.

Price: US$21.99.

Release date: August 1st, 2025.

Black Bolt & White Flare - Booster Bundle

This product includes 6 boosters from their respective sides: "Black Bolt" for Zekrom and "White Flare" for Reshiram.

Price: US$26.94.

Release date: August 22nd, 2025.

Special sets don't really bring many competitive Pokémon, Trainers, or special energies, but they do bring some. Today, we'll discuss the best competitive cards from this set!

Unova Dragons

Reshiram & Zekrom & Kyurem

All three dragons have the same effect (more specifically, their second attack): "if your opponent has more Prize cards than you, they deal more damage". They all cost one colorless energy and two energies of that particular Pokémon type.

- Reshiram - Blaze Burst: this attack deals 130 base damage plus 50 extra damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken, but you'll have to discard an energy from it after you attack.

Reshiram is in the "White Flare" part of the set.

- Zekrom - Voltage Burst: this attack deals 130 base damage plus 50 extra damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken, but it also deals 30 damage to itself.

Zekrom is in the "Black Bolt" part of the set.

- Kyurem - Blizzard Bust: this attack deals 130 base damage plus 10 extra damage to Pokémon on your opponent's bench for each Prize card they have taken. It is the only "sniper" effect that deals more damage if you meet a certain condition.

Kyurem is in the "Black Bolt" part of the set.

Pokémon ex

Serperior ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Servine.

- Ability - Royal Cheer: your Pokémon deal 20 extra damage to the opponent's active Pokémon through attacks (before applying weakness and resistance).

- Attack - Grass Order (G)(C)(C)(C): deals 150 damage and lets you look for any 3 cards you want from your deck. You'll add them to your hand, then shuffle your deck again.

Genesect ex

Basic Pokémon.

- Ability - Metallic Signal: during your turn, you may look in your deck for two evolution Metal Pokémon, reveal them, and then add them to your hand. Afterward, shuffle your deck.

- Attack - Protect Charge (M)(M)(C): deals 150 damage and, on the next turn, your opponent's active Pokémon will deal 30 less damage to Genesect ex through attacks (after applying weakness or resistance).

"Baby" Pokémon

Carracosta

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Tirtouga.

- Ability - Mighty Shell: prevent all damage from and effects of attacks done to this Pokémon by your opponent's Pokémon that have any Special Energy attached.

- Attack - Big Bite (C)(C)(W): deals 150 damage, and, during your opponent's next turn, your active Pokémon can't retreat.

Eelektrik

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Tynamo.

- Ability - Dynamotor: during your turn, you may attach 1 Basic Lightning Energy sv1 257 from your discard pile to one of your benched Pokémon.

- Attack - Electric Ball (L)(L)(C): deals 50 damage.

Reuniclus

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Duosion.

- Attack - Cellular Ascension (C): for each Pokémon on your bench, look for their respective evolution Pokémon in your deck, draw them, and evolve them. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack - Evo-Lariat (C): deals 40 damage plus 40 extra damage for each evolution Pokémon on your board.

Conkeldurr

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Gurdurr.

- Ability - Craftsmanship: this Pokémon gets +40 HP for each energy attached to it.

- Attack - Swing Around (F)(C)(C)(C): deals 100 damage and flips two coins. For each head, deals an extra 50 damage.

Haxorus

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Fraxure.

- Attack - Cross-Cut (C)(C): deals 80 damage, and, if the opponent's active Pokémon is an evolution Pokémon, deals an extra 80 damage.

- Attack - Axe Bomber (F)(M)(C): if the opponent's active Pokémon is a basic Pokémon, this attack automatically Knocks it Out.

Pokémon ex

Whimsicott ex

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Cottonee.

- Attack - Energy Gift (G): look in your deck for 3 Basic Grass Energy sv2 278 and attach them to your Pokémon however you like. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack - Wonder Cotton (G): your opponent reveals the cards in their hand. For each trainer they reveal, this attack deals 50 damage.

Jellicent ex

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Frillish.

- Ability - Oceanic Curse: while this is your active Pokémon, your opponent can't use Items or Tools.

- Attack - Power Press (P)(C): deals 80 damage and if this Pokémon has at least 2 extra energies attached (besides the original attack cost), it will deal an extra 80 damage.

Hydreigon ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Zweilous.

- Ability - Greed Eater: if Hydreigon ex Knocks Out any basic enemy Pokémon with an attack, draw an extra Prize card.

- Attack - Dark Bite (D)(D)(D)(C)(C): deals 200 damage, and the opponent's active Pokémon won't be able to retreat on the following turn.

"Baby" Pokémon

Emboar

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Pignite.

- Ability - Inferno Fandango: on your turn, you may move as many Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 from your to your Pokémon however you like.

- Attack - Heat Crash (F)(F)(F)(C): deals 120 damage.

Samurott

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Dewott.

- Ability - Torrential Whirlpool: on your turn, you may move your active Pokémon to your bench. If you do, your opponent will also move their active Pokémon and swap it with a benched Pokémon of their choice.

- Attack - Energized Slash (W): deals 30 base damage plus 50 extra damage for each energy attached to this Pokémon.

Galvantula

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Joltik.

- Attack - Discharge (L): discard all energies attached to this Pokémon. For each energy discarded this way, this attack deals 50 damage.

Gothitelle

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Gothorita.

- Ability - Distorted Future: on your turn, if this Pokémon is in your active spot, you may shuffle your opponent's hand back into their deck. They'll only draw three cards afterward.

- Attack - Synchro Shot (P)(C): deals 90 damage. If you and your opponent have the same number of cards in hand, this attack will deal 90 extra damage.

Archeops

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Archen.

- Ability - Ancient Wing: on your turn, if this Pokémon is in your active spot, you may pick an enemy Pokémon and devolve it. That Pokémon will then return to your opponent's hand.

- Attack - Rock Throw (F)(C): deals 100 damage.

Zoroark

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Zorua.

- Attack - Mind Jack (D): deals 30 damage for each Pokémon on your opponent's bench.

- Attack - Foul Play (C)(C)(C): copy an enemy attack.

Supporters

From left to right:

- Professor's Research: Juniper (from Black Bolt): discard your hand and draw 7 new cards. It is a reprint that now carries the I letter.

- N's Plan (from Black Bolt): move 2 energies from one of your benched Pokémon to your active Pokémon.

- Fennel (from Black Bolt): heal each of your Pokémon by 40 HP.

- Hilda (from White Flare): look in your deck for an energy and an evolution Pokémon, reveal them, and put them in your hand. After that, shuffle your deck.

- Harlequin (from White Flare): each player shuffles their hand back into their deck, and then you'll flip a coin. If it's heads, you'll draw 5 new cards and your opponent will only draw 3 new cards. If it's tails, you'll draw only 3 new cards, an your opponent will draw 5 new cards.

- Cheren (from White Flare): draw 3 cards. It's a reprint.

Items

From left to right:

- Energy Coin (from Black Bolt): flip two coins. If both are heads, look for a basic energy in your deck and attach them to any of your Pokémon.

- PokéGear 3.0 (from Black Bolt): look at the top 7 cards in your deck for any Supporters, reveal one of them, and add it to your hand. Afterwards, shuffle your deck. It is a reprint as well and now carries the I letter.

- Tool Scrapper (from Black Bolt): pick two Tools attached to any Pokémon in play (yours or your opponent's) and discard them. It is a reprint.

- Energy Retrieval (from White Flare): recycle two basic energies from the discard pile and add them to your hand. It is a reprint that now has the I letter.

- Antique Plume Fossil (from White Flare): this is considered a colorless Pokémon with 60 HP that can't be affected by any special conditions and can't retreat.

Ability - Wing Protection: if this card is on your bench, it can't take damage from enemy attacks.

- Antique Cover Fossil (from Black Bolt): this is considered a colorless Pokémon with 60 HP that can't be affected by any special conditions and can't retreat.

Ability - Protective Cover: prevent all enemy attack effects (damage isn't the same as an effect).

Tools

From left to right:

- Air Balloon (from Black Bolt): the Pokémon that has this tool equipped can retreat for two colorless energies less.

- Brave Bangle (from White Flare): the Pokémon that has this tool equipped (except for Rule Box Pokémon) will deal 30 extra damage against the opponent's active Pokémon ex.

Special Energies

From left to right:

- Prism Energy (from Black Bolt): you can only attach this energy to basic Pokémon. It provides an energy of any kind, but only once.

It is a "reprint" of the card originally released in Black & White: Next Destinies.

- Ignition Energy (from White Flare): if you attach this energy to one of your Pokémon, discard it at the end of your turn. This energy only provides 1 colorless energy if it is attached to a basic Pokémon, but if it is attached to an evolved Pokémon, it provides 3 colorless energies.

What do you think? Will you buy this new set? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!