Updated

Updated · ScreenCrush · Jul 14

Pokémon Pitch Black Set Debuts Goldeen’s First Full-Art Card Ahead of July 17 Launch

Updated

Updated · ScreenCrush · Jul 14

Pokémon Pitch Black Set Debuts Goldeen’s First Full-Art Card Ahead of July 17 Launch

Q: Is Mega Darkrai's new ability worth the risk of losing three prize cards in a single knockout?

It cannot be judged definitively from the available information. The reporting around *Pitch Black* confirms the core trade-off: Mega Darkrai ex is part of the Mega Evolution era, where a knockout can hand the opponent three Prize cards, a major liability in competitive play. That means any Mega Darkrai deck must get exceptional value from the card before it is removed. What is missing is the key detail needed to answer the question directly: the text of Mega Darkrai’s new Ability. The provided coverage identifies Mega Darkrai ex as the set’s marquee card and a likely chase card, but it does not describe what the Ability actually does, how often it can be used, or how it fits into current Dark-type strategies. That context matters because three-Prize Pokémon are only usually worth the risk if they either accelerate the game immediately, create a strong board advantage, or force the opponent into awkward responses. Existing Darkrai strategies already show the general standard: Darkrai decks can be powerful when they establish Sleep-based pressure and damage synergy, but they can also be inconsistent and vulnerable if support pieces are missing or if the main attacker is exposed too early. So the best evidence-based answer is that Mega Darkrai’s Ability may be worth the risk only if it produces immediate, game-swinging value. Until the full card text and early tournament results are available, any stronger verdict would be speculation.

Q: Why did Goldeen's first full-art card take almost 30 years, and which original Pokémon is still waiting?

Goldeen’s first full-art card took nearly 30 years largely because it was never prioritized for the Pokémon TCG’s premium art treatments, despite being one of the original 151. The news report and supporting material make clear that Goldeen had appeared on regular cards across many eras, but the new *Pitch Black* Illustration Rare (087/084) is the first time it has been given a true full-art showcase. In other words, the delay reflects long-term card-design choices rather than any special in-universe reason: Goldeen was simply overlooked while more commercially prominent or battle-relevant Pokémon received full-art, Illustration Rare, or Special Illustration Rare slots. That is why collectors treated the pull as historically notable. The collector in the report, active since 1999, described it as a long-overdue addition to the TCG’s art catalog, especially because full-art cards have become one of the hobby’s most prized formats. As for which original Pokémon is still waiting, the material provided does not identify one with certainty. It confirms Goldeen had been among the remaining notable Gen 1 holdouts until *Pitch Black*, but it does not supply a verified, complete list of original 151 Pokémon that still lack a full-art card. So the safest answer is that Goldeen’s delay was due to decades of omission in card selection, and the available sources do not conclusively name the next original Pokémon still waiting.

3 articles · Updated · ScreenCrush · Jul 14

Goldeen Illustration Rare 087/084 emerged as the standout pull from an early unboxing of Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black, marking the first full-art Goldeen card in nearly 30 years of the game.
The July set centers on Mega Darkrai and dark-themed artwork, with the author also highlighting chase cards such as Mega Darkrai ex Special Illustration Rare 116/084, Morpeko ex 117/084 and Dhelmise Illustration Rare 091/084.
Pitch Black arrives July 17 as part of the Mega Evolution era introduced in September 2025 alongside Pokémon Legends: Z-A, continuing a fast expansion cadence of roughly every other month.
The release lands amid strong collector demand and persistent scalping, a supply problem the author says The Pokémon Company and Nintendo are trying to address.