Set guides
How many cards are in Black Bolt?
Checked
Black Bolt has 86 cards in its base numbering and 172 numbered cards when you include secret rares. That total doesn’t count every foil variant or associated promo. The English set launched on 18 July 2025 alongside White Flare.
Why do some cards say 172/086?
The number before the slash identifies the card. The 086 after it is the base set total, so a card such as Zekrom ex 172/086 sits beyond that base numbering. Stopping your checklist at 86 would leave out the numbered secret rares.
Does 172 include every reverse holo?
No. Different foil patterns can share a collector number. Black Bolt includes reverse holo, Poké Ball and Master Ball variants on eligible cards. If you’re building a master set, decide which finishes and promos you want before choosing a binder.
How many binder pages do you need?
For one copy of each of the 172 numbered cards, you need 20 nine-pocket page faces: 19 full faces hold 171 cards, with one card on the next. If each physical sheet has nine pockets on both sides, that’s 10 sheets. Check how your binder describes its capacity.
Leave more room if you want parallel foils, promos or duplicate cards. A 172-card checklist and a master set need different amounts of room.
Plan a master set printing by printing
Which Zekrom ex are you after?
Black Bolt and White Flare have separate card lists. Together they feature the 156 Pokémon originally discovered in Unova. Check the set as well as the Pokémon’s name when you’re adding a card to your wants.
Two Zekrom ex cards worth a look are 166/086, a special illustration rare by danciao, and 172/086, a Black White Rare by takuyoa. Pick the artwork you like. These are different printings, so keep their prices and want-list entries separate.
Products and availability
The English set launched on 18 July 2025 with products including Elite Trainer Boxes and Binder Collections. Six-pack Booster Bundles followed on 22 August. We use Pokémon’s announced schedule here; the TCGdex catalog lists 17 July.
These are release dates, not live stock updates. Check the exact box, the packs and promos it includes, and the shop’s dispatch date before buying.
Build a collection around it
Open Holo Folder, browse Sets and search for Black Bolt. Inspect the exact card, number, language and finish before adding it to your wants. Keep a set project in a named binder so it stays separate from your National Dex or trade cards.
At a show, use your wants to find the printing you meant to buy. Compare available price evidence, inspect condition and choose your own spending limit. Saved prices are last-known evidence when offline.
Sources and updates
Release details and card counts checked on 12 November 2026. Pokémon’s announcement covers the product schedule, and TCGplayer’s breakdown separates numbered cards from foil variants.
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