“Black Bolt” and “White Flare” Sets Now Confirmed to Release in June, Hinting at “Black & White” Game Remakes?

We can now confirm the Black Bolt and White Flare sets will release on June 6th in Japan.

The dual sets will feature cards of all 156 Unova Pokemon! As previously speculated, the sets will be headlined by Reshiram and Zekrom. The deck boxes and card sleeves will feature them as well.

Both sets will be “Enhanced Expansion Pack” sets like Pokemon Card 151. They will have mirror holofoil cards, which we call reverse holos in English. It’s currently unclear if these sets will be in the same vein as 151 but for Generation V.

A “Black Bolt & White Flare Card File Set” will also release alongside the set on June 5th. It will contain a binder, a Victini promo, and packs of the sets.

We first discovered the set’s trademarks in September and speculated they would release in June based on the timing of past trademark reveals.


It’s unclear why the TCG will be advertising Unova when Legends: Z-A is on the horizon. There are no indications of any sets advertising Kalos, Zygarde, or Z-A in the first half of 2025.

It’s also strange to focus specifically on Unova when no other set in 2025 has any kind of generational theme.

Perhaps Gamefreak will release Black & White remakes in the summer and follow-up with Legends: Z-A in the fall? This is of course speculation.

See my article here on why the TCG was hinting at a later release for Legends: Z-A.


Here’s the upcoming Japanese TCG schedule. Click the links for more information.

  • December 6th: Terastal Festival featuring Eevee and its Evolutions as Tera Pokemon ex. This will be Japan’s annual “High Class Pack” set.
  • January 24th: Battle Partners featuring the return of the Owner’s Pokemon mechanic. Releasing alongside the set will also be a “Collection File N” and “Collection File Lillie.”
  • February 21st: Two decks named “Starter Set ex Steven’s Beldum & Metagross ex” and “Starter Set ex Marnie’s Morpeko & Grimmsnarl ex.”
  • March 14th: Heat Wave Arena featuring Cynthia’s Garchomp ex.
  • April 18th: The Glory of Team Rocket featuring Rocket’s Mewtwo ex.
  • May: There were no May sets in 2023, 2024, and now 2025.
  • June 6th: Black Bolt and White Flare featuring all 156 Unova Pokemon.
I don't mind "Black 3 & White 3" games but why does Legends: Z-A keep getting delayed??

And, Is this what they are doing to celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary? Seems very odd to focus on gen 5.
 
I'm actually very surprised it's a 151 style special set. Kind of excited to see what they're cooking for ex's.
 
Pokemon Go’s next season is also focused on black & white. Possible announcement soon?
 
Casual reminder that the idea of BW remakes is speculation and to measure your expectations. We might not get them. We might get them but they'll be bad. Who knows?

They don't always do obvious things - we didn't get more Kanto remakes for 151, and Unova was the only region they skipped during the middle Gen 7 year that had a subset focusing on Johto (a component of Lost Thunder), Hoenn (Celestial Storm), Sinnoh (Ultra Prism) and Kalos (Forbidden Light).

Go is also indicative of nothing. The next season is loosely Unova-based because of the Unova Tour, with the tours being an annual region-centric event for five years now.
 
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Excited for this.

However, with a set like Astral Radiance which was released in May 2022, and Legends Arceus being released prior January 2022, you would think they would have the same process as far as release goes with Legends ZA.
 
I really doubt this hints towards a remake. Isnt just like 15th anniversary or something they can make so many excuses. Getting all unova pokemon is really exciting tho imagine finally Haxorus ex or reg Samurott, the awaited Unfezant, Sawsbuck, Mienshao so many possibilities (or more Hydreigon, Zororark and legendaries :( )
 
I don't mind "Black 3 & White 3" games but why does Legends: Z-A keep getting delayed??

And, Is this what they are doing to celebrate Pokémon's 30th anniversary? Seems very odd to focus on gen 5.
It's not that it "keeps getting delayed", we never had any information about a release date other than 2025. Everyone just speculated it would be early 2025 because of PLA, but PLA was also advertised as an early year release from the very first announcement. PLZA was not.