Black Bolt & White Flare were the final sets to release from the Scarlet & Violet block, and while their hype was short-lived due to the excitement around the incoming Mega Evolution block, both of these sets carry a number of heavy hitter cards, including some with extreme rarities.
Today we are taking a look at Black Bolt specifically, which as indicated by higher secondary market prices, is more of a fan-favorite than the White Flare counterpart. Here are the top 10 cards from Black Bolt, plus some runner-ups that almost made the list.
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View full set price guide Or browse the visual set list.#10. Genesect ex Special Illustration Rare #169/086
Special Illustration Rare
#10. Genesect ex Special Illustration Rare #169/086
Special Illustration RareGenesect ex (Special Illustration Rare) #169/086 kicks off the main top 10 at #10, priced at $42.38. Genesect is one of the various Mythical Pokémon across the franchise, and this rarity has carried over to its presence in the Black Bolt set, with three different ex cards available to pull: a regular ex, a full art ex, and the special illustration rare ex. The background holds plenty of interesting details as Genesect emerges from a factory like room, though Genesect's lukewarm popularity will probably hold this card back from reaching even greater heights.
#9. Krookodile Illustration Rare #137/086
Illustration Rare
#9. Krookodile Illustration Rare #137/086
Illustration Rare#9 on the list of the most expensive cards from Black Bolt is the Krookodile Illustration Rare #137/086, sitting at $47.12. The Regular print features artwork by Gapao, while the Full Art illustration rare print features artwork by Uninori. Krookodile is a Dark and Ground type and the final evolution of Sandile, known in the lore for its short temper and the powerful jaws it uses to crush prey, and the illustration rare artwork reflects that intimidating energy in a way that has clearly resonated with collectors looking for a top pull from the set's darker Pokémon lineup.
#8. Serperior ex Special Illustration Rare #164/086
Special Illustration Rare
#8. Serperior ex Special Illustration Rare #164/086
Special Illustration RareThe special illustration rare print of Serperior ex features artwork by Ryota Murayama, and it shows in the lush, detailed forest setting that made this card a standout early on in Black Bolt's release cycle. At #8 with a price of $47.65, the Serperior ex Special Illustration Rare #164/086 represents one of the best cards in Black Bolt for Grass type fans and collectors who followed Unova's first partner line. Fans of Grass type Pokémon have been eager to chase this SIR, which features a beautiful scene of the snake Pokémon captured in a forest flowerbed, complete with rays of light illuminating the monster in all its elegance.
#7. N's Plan Special Illustration Rare #170/086
Special Illustration Rare
#7. N's Plan Special Illustration Rare #170/086
Special Illustration RareFew Trainer cards in the Scarlet and Violet era have pulled the collector numbers that N's Plan Special Illustration Rare #170/086 has, and it lands at #7 on this list with a price of $62.07. N's Plan features a bright, attention grabbing background of a Ferris wheel, which is where you first meet N in the Black and White games, and N's popularity as one of the most beloved trainers of all time makes this card a great bet to remain among the most expensive Black Bolt SIRs. Trainer SIRs of beloved characters tend to hold value well over time, and N's fanbase is large enough that this card should remain a chase card long after Black Bolt stops being widely available in packs.
#6. Haxorus Illustration Rare #147/086
Illustration Rare
#6. Haxorus Illustration Rare #147/086
Illustration RareAt #6 with a price of $65.16, the Haxorus Illustration Rare #147/086 is one of the more surprising success stories among the best cards in Black Bolt's Illustration Rare lineup. Haxorus is a Dragon type and the final evolution of the Axew line, known in the games for its extremely powerful Atk stat and as a Dragon used by Iris, the Unova Champion, making it one of the more recognizable non-Legendary Dragons from Generation V. Haxorus has held a strong value position among the Illustration Rares, and given the strength of its design and its connection to one of Unova's most prominent characters, the collector interest here is well earned.
#5. Kyurem ex Special Illustration Rare #165/086
Special Illustration Rare
#5. Kyurem ex Special Illustration Rare #165/086
Special Illustration RareThe special illustration rare print of Kyurem ex features artwork by chibi, an artist who has contributed to the Pokémon TCG and whose work here puts Kyurem in a frozen cavern setting that suits the Pokémon perfectly. At #5 with a price of $71.60, the Kyurem ex Special Illustration Rare #165/086 is one of the top pulls from Black Bolt and benefits from Kyurem's status as the third member of Unova's Tao trio. The icy setting echoes Kyurem's role as the boundary between Zekrom and Reshiram, while there is an underlying loneliness to the scene, a nod to the legendary Pokémon's mythic status as the empty dragon of the Tao trio.
#4. Seismitoad Illustration Rare #105/086
Illustration Rare
#4. Seismitoad Illustration Rare #105/086
Illustration RareNot many people would have predicted a Seismitoad card as a top pull from a Scarlet and Violet era set, but the Seismitoad Illustration Rare #105/086 has earned its spot at #4 with a price of $172.01. The strength of Shinji Kanda's art got it off to a great start, and the artist is well known for a psychedelic style that has the power to raise a card's stock. Part of the ongoing buzz around this card comes from speculation that it could be banned or edited in future prints, as in the upper right hand side of the card, three vines appear to form the number 666, with some collectors believing this could result in the card being pulled from print and becoming a collector's item.
#3. Zekrom ex Special Illustration Rare #166/086
Special Illustration Rare
#3. Zekrom ex Special Illustration Rare #166/086
Special Illustration RareThe striking illustration on the Zekrom ex Special Illustration Rare comes from Danciao, a rising artist who began contributing to the Pokemon TCG around the time of Twilight Masquerade. Landing at #3 with a current market price of $241.07, the Zekrom ex Special Illustration Rare #166/086 is comfortably one of the best cards in Black Bolt and the highest value SIR in the entire set. The top cards from Black Bolt stand well above the rest as the major chase cards of the set, and leading the SIR charge is Zekrom, the face of Black Bolt, whose artwork is absolutely stunning and might just be the coolest from both Black Bolt and White Flare combined.
#2. Zekrom ex Black White Rare #172/086
Black White Rare
#2. Zekrom ex Black White Rare #172/086
Black White RareAt #2 with a price of $472.68, the Zekrom ex Black White Rare #172/086 is one of the two most expensive cards in Black Bolt and one of the hardest to pull in the entire Scarlet and Violet era. The Regular, ultra rare, and Black White rare prints feature artwork by takuyoa, whose work here renders Zekrom in a monochromatic treatment that channels the original Black and White game aesthetic in a way that collectors have absolutely embraced. Black Bolt introduces the BWR rarity tier with Zekrom ex as its flagship, and these monochrome foil cards reference the original Black and White games and sit at the rarest end of modern SV era collecting.
#1. Victini Black White Rare #171/086
Black White Rare
#1. Victini Black White Rare #171/086
Black White RareVictini #171 from Black Bolt is illustrated by 5ban Graphics, who handles this card with that signature monochromatic treatment that renders this Mythical Pokémon in a striking all red design. At $517.39, Victini is the single most expensive card in Black Bolt and the chase card that every collector and pack opener is hunting, sitting above even the Zekrom ex BWR in current market value. Victini is described as the Mythical Pokémon said to create infinite energy that it can share with its friends, and the combination of that beloved lore, the unique BWR rarity, and the eye catching red foil treatment make this card the undisputed #1 top pull from the entire set.
Want to see more? Here are the runner-ups that just missed the top 10:
#11. Volcarona Illustration Rare #100/086
Illustration Rare
#11. Volcarona Illustration Rare #100/086
Illustration RareRunner-up #11 goes to the Volcarona Illustration Rare #100/086, priced at $39.65 and one of the more visually striking non-ex pulls in Black Bolt. Volcarona is a beloved Bug and Fire type from Generation V that serves as a pseudo-Legendary in the games, found deep in Relic Castle and known for the lore that it filled the role of the sun during an ancient volcanic winter. Volcarona has held a price above $37 in tracking going back to at least November 2025, which shows that collector demand for this card has been consistent rather than a quick spike and drop.
#12. Lilligant Illustration Rare #092/086
Illustration Rare
#12. Lilligant Illustration Rare #092/086
Illustration RareComing in at runner-up #12, the Lilligant Illustration Rare #092/086 is currently valued at $39.38 and has been one of the steadier cards in the set since launch. Victini and Lilligant Illustration Rares are getting real collector attention for their artwork, with the community putting both in the top five IRs across both paired sets. Lilligant is a Grass type known for its graceful appearance and its connection to pollen and dance, which lends itself perfectly to the kind of soft, detailed illustration style that tends to perform well in this rarity class.
#13. Meloetta ex Special Illustration Rare #167/086
Special Illustration Rare
#13. Meloetta ex Special Illustration Rare #167/086
Special Illustration RarePulling in at runner-up #13 is the Meloetta ex Special Illustration Rare #167/086, priced at $38.51. Meloetta is a Mythical Pokémon from Generation V with a musical theme, having two Formes tied to singing and dancing, and the SIR artwork captures that elegant, whimsical energy with a lush full art scene. Meloetta is the recipient of one of the rarest cards within the Black Bolt expansion, with this special illustration rare featuring a lovely full art scene of Meloetta striking an elegant and whimsical pose that showcases the musical inspired monster's personality.
#14. Amoonguss Illustration Rare #096/086
Illustration Rare
#14. Amoonguss Illustration Rare #096/086
Illustration RareRunner-up #14 on the list is the Amoonguss Illustration Rare #096/086, currently sitting at $35.83. The Full Art illustration rare print features artwork by OKUBO, whose style suits the mushroom Pokémon well and gives the card a warm, organic feel that collectors have responded to. Amoonguss has a strong competitive legacy from the Black and White format era, where it was a staple for its Spore and Rage Powder combo, and that nostalgia factor keeps interest high on this card.
#15. Dwebble Illustration Rare #129/086
Illustration Rare
#15. Dwebble Illustration Rare #129/086
Illustration RareAt runner-up #15, the Dwebble Illustration Rare #129/086 sits at $35.09 and rounds out the list of the best cards in Black Bolt worth tracking. Dwebble is a Rock and Bug type introduced in Generation V, known for carrying a rock it carves itself into a shell, and the artwork leans into that quirky, tactile quality well. It is genuinely impressive that a common stage one like Dwebble can command this kind of price, but that is the reality of Black Bolt where every Unova Pokémon received Illustration Rare treatment and even the smaller names have a real floor.
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