Black Bolt is on the edge.
It could go either way.
Unova Victini Illustration Collection returns 95% — close to breakeven.
All 10 Products
Unova Victini Illustration Collection
5 packs
94.9%
return on $23.02
$23.02 → EV: $21.85
You lose ~$1.17
See full breakdown →
Black Bolt Tech Sticker Collection
3 packs
86.5%
return on $14.64
$14.64 → EV: $12.66
You lose ~$1.98
See full breakdown →
Black Bolt ETB
9 packs
79.5%
return on $46.22
$46.22 → EV: $36.73
You lose ~$9.49
See full breakdown →
Unova Poster Collection
3 packs
75.7%
return on $17.04
$17.04 → EV: $12.91
You lose ~$4.13
See full breakdown →
Unova Heavy Hitters Premium Collection
8 packs
61.4%
return on $56.61
$56.61 → EV: $34.76
You lose ~$21.85
See full breakdown →
Black Bolt PC ETB
11 packs
50.4%
return on $90.62
$90.62 → EV: $45.67
You lose ~$44.95
See full breakdown →
Unova Mini Tin
2 packs
46.0%
return on $17.26
$17.26 → EV: $7.94
You lose ~$9.32
See full breakdown →
Black Bolt Booster Pack
1 pack
42.6%
return on $9.32
$9.32 → EV: $3.97
You lose ~$5.35
See full breakdown →
Black Bolt Binder Collection
4 packs
30.3%
return on $55.79
$55.79 → EV: $16.88
You lose ~$38.91
See full breakdown →
Black Bolt Booster Bundle
6 packs
5.0%
return on $475.80
$475.80 → EV: $23.82
You lose ~$451.98
See full breakdown →
Chase Cards — What could you pull?
Victini - 171/086
#171/086
Black White Rare$388.52
EV: $0.39
Zekrom ex - 166/086
#166/086
Special Illustration Rare$203.74
EV: $0.36
Zekrom ex - 172/086
#172/086
Black White Rare$356.26
EV: $0.36
Seismitoad - 105/086
#105/086
Illustration Rare$128.32
EV: $0.30
Kyurem ex - 165/086
#165/086
Special Illustration Rare$66.26
EV: $0.12
Haxorus - 147/086
#147/086
Illustration Rare$43.89
EV: $0.10
N's Plan - 170/086
#170/086
Special Illustration Rare$57.79
EV: $0.10
Krookodile - 137/086
#137/086
Illustration Rare$35.80
EV: $0.09
Genesect ex - 169/086
#169/086
Special Illustration Rare$41.87
EV: $0.07
Volcarona - 100/086
#100/086
Illustration Rare$30.23
EV: $0.07
The Math — EV Breakdown & Pull Rates
| Rarity | Cards | Avg Value | Pull Rate | EV/Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illustration Rare(IR) | 69 | $13.42 | 16.40% | $2.20 |
| Special Illustration Rare(SIR) | 7 | $66.66 | 1.25% | $0.83 |
| Black White Rare(BWR) | 2 | $372.39 | 0.20% | $0.74 |
| Double Rare(RR) | 6 | $0.49 | 21.10% | $0.10 |
| Ultra Rare(UR) | 8 | $1.67 | 5.80% | $0.10 |
| Total EV / Pack | $3.97 | |||
| Rarity | Pull Rate | Odds | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Rare(RR) | 21.10% | 1 in 5 | 700 |
| Illustration Rare(IR) | 16.40% | 1 in 6 | 700 |
| Ultra Rare(UR) | 5.80% | 1 in 17 | 700 |
| Special Illustration Rare(SIR) | 1.25% | 1 in 80 | 700 |
| Black White Rare(BWR) | 0.20% | 1 in 500 | 700 |
Sources: https://www.tcgplayer.com/content/article/Pokemon-TCG-Black-Bolt-and-White-Flare-Pull-Rates/bac92199-a2a7-4668-b4a4-2647a111776f/, https://gamerant.com/pokemon-tcg-black-bolt-white-flare-pull-rates-odds/, https://pokepatch.com/2025/07/20/black-bolt-white-flare-pull-rates-in-pokemon-tcg-sets/
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Black Bolt worth opening?
- Unova Victini Illustration Collection sits at 95% return — right on the edge. It could go either way depending on what you pull.
- What is the EV of a Black Bolt booster pack?
- The expected value of a single Black Bolt booster pack is $3.97 based on current TCGPlayer market prices and community pull rate data.
- What are the best cards to pull in Black Bolt?
- The most valuable cards in Black Bolt are Victini - 171/086 ($388.52), Zekrom ex - 166/086 ($203.74), Zekrom ex - 172/086 ($356.26).
- How often do you pull a chase card in Black Bolt?
- Pull rates are based on 700 pack openings from community sources. See the pull rate table below for exact odds per rarity tier.
As of February 2026, Black Bolt products return an average of 57% of their sealed price based on current TCGPlayer market prices and community-sourced pull rate data from 700+ pack openings.