Pokémon TCG · Series Guide
The Black & White Series
Every Pokémon TCG set in the Black & White series, from Black & White to Legendary Treasures: Pokémon-EX, the first ACE SPEC cards, the Team Plasma block, and a guide to every set.
The sets in the series
Black & White ran from April 25, 2011 to November 6, 2013: twelve English sets, eleven main expansions and one special set, holding 1,336 cards. Every one has a full guide.
| Set | Code | Type | Released | Cards | Complete set as singles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black & White | BLW | Main expansion | April 25, 2011 | 115 (114 + 1) | $536.96 on Oct 22 |
| Emerging Powers | EPO | Main expansion | August 31, 2011 | 98 | $111.51 on Oct 22 |
| Noble Victories | NVI | Main expansion | November 16, 2011 | 102 (101 + 1) | $875.20 on Oct 22 |
| Next Destinies | NXD | Main expansion | February 8, 2012 | 103 (99 + 4) | $2,685.44 on Oct 22 |
| Dark Explorers | DEX | Main expansion | May 9, 2012 | 111 (108 + 3) | $4,076.90 on Oct 22 |
| Dragons Exalted | DRX | Main expansion | August 15, 2012 | 128 (124 + 4) | $3,795.24 on Oct 22 |
| Dragon Vault | DRV | Special set | October 5, 2012 | 21 (20 + 1) | $313.42 on Oct 22 |
| Boundaries Crossed | BCR | Main expansion | November 7, 2012 | 153 (149 + 4) | $3,285.27 on Oct 22 |
| Plasma Storm | PLS | Main expansion | February 6, 2013 | 138 (135 + 3) | $4,671.64 on Oct 22 |
| Plasma Freeze | PLF | Main expansion | May 8, 2013 | 122 (116 + 6) | $5,283.49 on Oct 22 |
| Plasma Blast | PLB | Main expansion | August 14, 2013 | 105 (101 + 4) | $2,601.79 on Oct 22 |
| Legendary Treasures | LTR | Main expansion | November 6, 2013 | 140 (113 + 27) | $2,466.10 on Oct 22 |
The Cards column gives the numbered cards and, after the plus, the cards above the printed total. The last column is what one copy of every card cost as singles, each at its cheapest variant and TCGplayer market price, on the date beside it. It shows how much value a set packs in, not what opening it returns.
What Black & White changed
Black & White is where today's Expanded format begins, and where the Pokémon-EX arrived. Starting in Next Destinies, a Pokémon-EX is a Basic Pokémon with a rule box and high HP that gives up two Prize cards when it is Knocked Out. Most sets from then on print six or more, and most of those come again as full arts.
Later sets added more. Dragons Exalted introduced the Dragon type, Boundaries Crossed the ACE SPEC Trainer (one per deck), and Plasma Storm, Plasma Freeze and Plasma Blast tagged a block of cards Team Plasma, many of them powered by Plasma Energy. Legendary Treasures closed the series with reprints and a 25-card Radiant Collection.
Each set's face card
One headline Pokémon from each set's guide.
Reshiram
Black & White #26
Black & White
Tornadus
Emerging Powers #89
Emerging Powers
Victini
Noble Victories #14
Noble Victories
Mewtwo-EX
Next Destinies #54
Next Destinies
Darkrai-EX
Dark Explorers #63
Dark Explorers
Mew-EX
Dragons Exalted #46
Dragons Exalted
Rayquaza
Dragon Vault #11
Dragon Vault
Black Kyurem-EX
Boundaries Crossed #101
Boundaries Crossed
Lugia-EX
Plasma Storm #108
Plasma Storm
Deoxys-EX
Plasma Freeze #53
Plasma Freeze
Genesect-EX
Plasma Blast #11
Plasma Blast
Darkrai-EX
Legendary Treasures #88
Legendary Treasures
Rarities across the series
Rare Holo EX is where a set prints its regular Pokémon-EX; Rare Ultra holds the full arts, of Pokémon-EX and of Supporters; and Rare Secret the cards above the printed total.
| Set | Rare Holo EX | Rare ACE | Rare Ultra | Rare Secret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black & White | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Emerging Powers | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Noble Victories | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Next Destinies | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| Dark Explorers | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Dragons Exalted | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| Dragon Vault | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boundaries Crossed | 6 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
| Plasma Storm | 8 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Plasma Freeze | 6 | 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Plasma Blast | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Legendary Treasures | 12 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
The first three sets have no Pokémon-EX, and only the four sets from Boundaries Crossed to Plasma Blast have ACE SPEC cards. Legendary Treasures' Rare Ultra cards are all in its Radiant Collection. Counts come from the Pokémon catalog and leave out companion lists.
The chase card in each set
Every set has one card its collectors open packs for. In Black & White it is usually a full-art Pokémon-EX or a secret rare. Across the series, Plasma Storm's Lugia-EX was the most valuable card the guides list, at $2,219.24 on Oct 22.
| Set | Chase card | Rarity | Market price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black & White | Pikachu | Rare Secret | $177.08 on Oct 22 |
| Emerging Powers | Tornadus | Rare Ultra | $23.32 on Oct 22 |
| Noble Victories | N | Rare Ultra | $233.81 on Oct 22 |
| Next Destinies | Reshiram-EX | Rare Ultra | $443.65 on Oct 22 |
| Dark Explorers | Gardevoir | Rare Secret | $946.33 on Oct 22 |
| Dragons Exalted | Rayquaza | Rare Secret | $1,250.00 on Oct 21 |
| Dragon Vault | Kyurem | No rarity listed | $94.18 on Oct 22 |
| Boundaries Crossed | Black Kyurem-EX | Rare Ultra | $650.48 on Oct 22 |
| Plasma Storm | Lugia-EX | Rare Ultra | $2,219.24 on Oct 22 |
| Plasma Freeze | Ultra Ball | Rare Secret | $1,199.51 on Oct 22 |
| Plasma Blast | Palkia-EX | Rare Ultra | $526.50 on Oct 22 |
| Legendary Treasures | Zekrom | Rare Secret | $519.49 on Oct 22 |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices and move daily, so each carries its date. Each set guide has the chase card's other versions and the rest of its chase list. How much are my Pokémon cards worth? →
The set guides
Black & White (April 25, 2011). The first set of the Black & White series, and the oldest set legal in Expanded. It has no Pokémon-EX yet; its value sits in three cards above the regular holos: full-art Reshiram and Zekrom and the secret-rare Pikachu.
Emerging Powers (August 31, 2011). The second Black & White set and one of the cheapest to complete. All 98 cards are numbered within the printed total, and the full-art Tornadus and Thundurus are the only cards above a few dollars.
Noble Victories (November 16, 2011). The set that introduced N, the Supporter that resets both players' hands to their remaining Prize cards. Its full-art N is also its most valuable card, just ahead of the full-art Victini.
Next Destinies (February 8, 2012). The first set with Pokémon-EX, Basic Pokémon with big HP that give up two Prize cards when Knocked Out. All six are printed twice, as a regular card and a full art, and the full-art Reshiram-EX leads the set.
Dark Explorers (May 9, 2012). A set built around Darkness Pokémon, with Darkrai-EX and Dark Patch. Its most valuable card is the secret-rare Gardevoir, just ahead of the full-art Darkrai-EX.
Dragons Exalted (August 15, 2012). The set that brought the Dragon type to the card game, with 18 Dragon Pokémon among its 128 cards. A secret-rare Rayquaza leads it, ahead of the full-art Giratina-EX and Mew-EX.
Dragon Vault (October 5, 2012). A small special set of 21 cards: 17 Dragon Pokémon, all holofoil, three Trainers and a Kyurem numbered above the printed total of 20.
Boundaries Crossed (November 7, 2012). The set that introduced ACE SPEC Trainers, limited to one per deck, Computer Search among them. Full-art Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX lead its value.
Plasma Storm (February 6, 2013). The first of three Team Plasma sets, with Pokémon and Trainers tagged Team Plasma and Plasma Energy to power them. Its full-art Lugia-EX was the most valuable Black & White series card on October 22, 2026.
Plasma Freeze (May 8, 2013). The second Team Plasma set, with an unusual card at the top: a Trainer, the secret-rare Ultra Ball, ahead of a secret Garchomp and the full-art Deoxys-EX.
Plasma Blast (August 14, 2013). The third and last Team Plasma set. Full-art Palkia-EX and Dialga-EX lead it, and Genesect-EX comes with two ACE SPEC Tools made for it, G Booster and G Scope.
Legendary Treasures (November 6, 2013). The last Black & White set, much of it reprints from the series, with a 25-card Radiant Collection inside. Secret-rare Zekrom and Reshiram lead it.
Black & White in Standard and Expanded
No Black & White card is Standard-legal as printed, apart from basic Energy: the series predates regulation marks, and Standard has allowed only H, I and J since April 10, 2026. Expanded takes every set from Black & White on, so the series is the oldest part of the format. A few printings are on the Expanded banned list, among them Archeops (Noble Victories and Dark Explorers), Sableye (Dark Explorers) and Ghetsis (Plasma Freeze); each guide names its own. Banned and legal Pokémon cards →
Before and after
XY followed in November 2013 with the Kalos Starter Set. It kept Pokémon-EX and added Mega Evolution and, later, Pokémon BREAK.The XY series →
Frequently Asked Questions
What sets are in the Pokémon TCG Black & White series?
12 English sets: Black & White (April 25, 2011), Emerging Powers (August 31, 2011), Noble Victories (November 16, 2011), Next Destinies (February 8, 2012), Dark Explorers (May 9, 2012), Dragons Exalted (August 15, 2012), Dragon Vault (October 5, 2012), Boundaries Crossed (November 7, 2012), Plasma Storm (February 6, 2013), Plasma Freeze (May 8, 2013), Plasma Blast (August 14, 2013) and Legendary Treasures (November 6, 2013). That leaves out the Black Star Promos.
When did the Black & White series start and end?
It started with the Black & White set on April 25, 2011 and ended with Legendary Treasures on November 6, 2013. The XY series followed.
Which Black & White set is the biggest?
Boundaries Crossed, with 153 cards. Dragon Vault is the smallest at 21.
What is the most valuable card in the Black & White series?
Among the chase cards the set guides list, the Rare Ultra Lugia-EX from Plasma Storm, at $2,219.24 on October 22, 2026. The Rare Secret Rayquaza from Dragons Exalted was next at $1,250.00. Prices move daily.
Are Black & White cards legal in Standard?
No, apart from basic Energy. They were printed before regulation marks, and Standard has allowed only the H, I and J marks since April 10, 2026. Expanded starts with the Black & White set, so the whole series is legal there except for the cards on the Expanded banned list.
Track the whole series.
See how much of each Black & White set you own, scan cards in by the set code and number, and value every copy from daily TCGplayer prices. Free to start.
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