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Pokémon TCG “Black Bolt” and “White Flare” Launch in the Philippines – July 18, 2025

June 10, 2025 | | Articles

Manila, PH — July 18, 2025 – The Pokémon TCG’s highly anticipated dual expansion—Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt and White Flare—launches today at retailers across the Philippines.

These two companion sets spotlight 156 Unova-region Pokémon, each appearing as an Illustration Rare or Special Illustration Rare, evoking the nostalgia of the original Unova-era cards youtube.com+5press.pokemon.com+5pokebeach.com+5. Each set is centered on one of the iconic Unova legendaries:

Credit: The Pokémon Company International (TPCi)
The all-new B-W Rarity to be released in this expansion.

  • Black Bolt features Zekrom ex
  • White Flare features Reshiram ex

Alongside these, look for legendary highlight cards like Meloetta ex (in Black Bolt) and Keldeo ex (in White Flare), plus six Pokémon ex and eight ultra-rare Pokémon and Supporter cards per set tcgrocks.com+9pokebeach.com+9pokebeach.com+9.

Both sets bring back the beloved Black & White-style card designs—foil patterns, Basic Energy art, and the new monochromatic “Black White rare” cards with striking black‑or‑white-only illustrations reddit.com+5press.pokemon.com+5pokebeach.com+5.

Must-Have Products

These are the standouts PH collectors and players will definitely want to pick up:

Key Collectibles to Watch

Here are the essential cards to chase:

  • Zekrom ex & Reshiram ex – The headliners of each split set, powerful energy-based attackers.
  • Meloetta ex (Black Bolt) & Keldeo ex (White Flare) – Other strong Pokémon ex worth pulling pokemon.com+5pokebeach.com+5pokebeach.com+5.
  • Illustration Rares – All 156 Unova Pokémon receive their premium art cards.
  • Black White rare series – Bold monochrome art variants, stylish and unique pokebeach.com+2press.pokemon.com+2pokebeach.com+2.
  • Full‑art promos – Thundurus and Tornadus featured in ETBs add extra value.

Final Thoughts

When July 18 arrives in the Philippines, collectors and players alike will have plenty to look forward to:

  • A historic first in the English TCG—a coordinated split set of two expansions released simultaneously, mirroring Japan’s approach. bulbagarden.net+10pokebeach.com+10pokebeach.com+10
  • Packed with nostalgia from the original Black & White era, this release revives classic designs like foil patterns and Basic Energy artwork. press.pokemon.com+1pokeguardian.com+1
  • The sets feature high-value chase cards: Zekrom ex and Reshiram ex, alongside Meloetta ex, Keldeo ex, the full 156 Unova Pokedex in Illustration and Special Illustration Rare forms, new “Black White rare” monochrome art styles, plus exclusive full-art promos in themed Elite Trainer Boxes. facebook.com+12press.pokemon.com+12pokebeach.com+12

Why This Matters

By launching on July 18, Black Bolt and White Flare mark a milestone for collectors and players:

  • It’s the first English release to exactly mirror Japan’s split-set format.
  • It delivers huge nostalgia in both design and card selection.
  • It offers a treasure trove of experience for fans—whether you’re after competitive staples or long-sought collector pieces.

So, rest easy—the sets aren’t out yet, but when they launch on July 18, it’ll be a big day for the Pokémon TCG community in the Philippines!

This article was adapted and rephrased from the original “Pokémon TCG Announces Black Bolt and White Flare” article on TCGRocks.com, with references to official Pokémon press releases and retailer updates.

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