Pokémon TCG Set Guide
Every Pokémon Black & White Set in Order
A complete guide to all 11 English Pokémon TCG Black & White expansions from 2011–2013, including release dates, card counts, Full Arts, Pokémon-EX, Dragon-type cards, ACE SPECs, Team Plasma and the Radiant Collection.
Last updated: August 13, 2026
What are all the Pokémon Black & White sets in order?
The 11 main English Black & White expansions are Black & White, Emerging Powers, Noble Victories, Next Destinies, Dark Explorers, Dragons Exalted, Boundaries Crossed, Plasma Storm, Plasma Freeze, Plasma Blast and Legendary Treasures. They were released from April 2011 through November 2013. Dragon Vault was also released during the era as a separate 21-card special expansion.
Complete Pokémon Black & White Set List
| # | Expansion | English release | Complete checklist | Set code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black & White | April 25, 2011 | 115 cards | BLW |
| 2 | Emerging Powers | August 31, 2011 | 98 cards | EPO |
| 3 | Noble Victories | November 16, 2011 | 102 cards | NVI |
| 4 | Next Destinies | February 8, 2012 | 103 cards | NXD |
| 5 | Dark Explorers | May 9, 2012 | 111 cards | DEX |
| 6 | Dragons Exalted | August 15, 2012 | 128 cards | DRX |
| 7 | Boundaries Crossed | November 7, 2012 | 153 cards | BCR |
| 8 | Plasma Storm | February 6, 2013 | 138 cards | PLS |
| 9 | Plasma Freeze | May 8, 2013 | 122 cards | PLF |
| 10 | Plasma Blast | August 14, 2013 | 105 cards | PLB |
| 11 | Legendary Treasures | November 6, 2013 | 140 cards | LTR |
Complete totals include cards numbered beyond the main checklist. Legendary Treasures contains 113 numbered main-set cards, two secrets numbered 114/113 and 115/113, plus 25 cards in the separately numbered Radiant Collection.
What Is the Pokémon Black & White TCG Era?
The Black & White Series brought the Unova region and fifth-generation Pokémon into the physical TCG. It followed HeartGold & SoulSilver and Call of Legends, redesigned portions of the card frame and replaced Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies with the unified Ability mechanic.
The era also introduced Full Art cards, brought back two-Prize Pokémon through uppercase Pokémon-EX, established Dragon as a printed Pokémon type, debuted ACE SPEC Trainer cards and created a three-expansion Team Plasma block.
Do not confuse this era with Black Bolt and White Flare
Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt and White Flare are modern expansions released years later. Search with the complete set name, year and collector number when identifying an original Black & White-era card.
The First Three Black & White Expansions
1. Black & White
The base set introduced Unova and initially used only fifth-generation Pokémon. Reshiram and Zekrom received both standard holographic and Full Art cards, helping launch the modern Full Art category. Pikachu 115/114 is the secret rare.
The expansion also replaced Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies with Abilities. The BLW code and black-and-white expansion symbol distinguish these cards from later Unova releases.
2. Emerging Powers
Emerging Powers added more Unova Pokémon and Full Art versions of Tornadus and Thundurus. Pokémon Catcher became one of the set’s historically significant Trainer cards because it could bring an opponent’s Benched Pokémon Active.
Unlike many neighbouring expansions, Emerging Powers has no cards numbered beyond its 98-card main checklist.
3. Noble Victories
Noble Victories completed most of the Unova Pokédex and focused on Victini plus the Swords of Justice. It introduced the first English Full Art Supporter, N, alongside Full Art Pokémon including Victini, Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion.
Meowth 102/101 is the secret card. N became important both competitively and as an early Full Art Trainer collectible.
Shop Pokémon Singles From Every Era
Browse Game 3’s current Pokémon inventory or search directly for Black & White-era cards.
Black & White Sets That Introduced Pokémon-EX and ACE SPEC
4. Next Destinies
Next Destinies introduced uppercase Pokémon-EX to the Black & White Series. Mewtwo-EX became the era’s defining early card, joined by Reshiram-EX, Zekrom-EX, Kyurem-EX, Regigigas-EX and Shaymin-EX.
These are different from lowercase Pokémon-ex from 2003–2007 and the modern Scarlet & Violet mechanic. Full Art Pokémon-EX also gave collectors premium alternate treatments of the same gameplay card.
5. Dark Explorers
Dark Explorers focuses on Darkness Pokémon and includes Darkrai-EX, which became important in competitive play. Entei-EX, Raikou-EX, Groudon-EX, Kyogre-EX, Tornadus-EX and Heatran-EX broaden the Legendary roster.
Secret Pokémon such as Gardevoir 109/108 use Shiny-inspired artwork and sit beyond the main checklist.
6. Dragons Exalted
Dragons Exalted introduced Dragon-type Pokémon cards to the English TCG. Rayquaza-EX, Giratina-EX, Ho-Oh-EX, Mew-EX, Registeel-EX and Terrakion-EX headline the expansion.
Rayquaza 128/124 is a major secret card. The Dragon Vault special set followed in October 2012 with 20 numbered cards and one secret Kyurem, but it remains separate from the 11 main expansions.
7. Boundaries Crossed
Boundaries Crossed is one of the era’s largest sets and introduced ACE SPEC Trainer cards. A deck could contain only one ACE SPEC card in total, giving cards such as Computer Search and Gold Potion a special deck-building restriction.
Keldeo-EX, Landorus-EX, Celebi-EX, Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX appear alongside Full Art Supporters Bianca and Skyla.
Every Team Plasma Pokémon Set in Order
The Team Plasma block uses blue-bordered Plasma cards and support designed around the villainous organization. The three main expansions are Plasma Storm, Plasma Freeze and Plasma Blast.
8. Plasma Storm
Plasma Storm introduced English Team Plasma cards. Lugia-EX became a major signature card, supported by Colress and Plasma-specific Trainers. Secret rare Charizard 136/135 and Blastoise 137/135 use gold-bordered Shiny treatments, while Random Receiver 138/135 is a secret Trainer.
9. Plasma Freeze
Plasma Freeze includes Deoxys-EX, Thundurus-EX and Tornadus-EX within the Plasma strategy. Full Art Professor Juniper is among the era’s recognizable Supporters.
Six secret cards create a deeper complete checklist, including gold-bordered Pokémon and enhanced Trainer cards.
10. Plasma Blast
Plasma Blast concluded the Team Plasma trilogy. Genesect-EX and Virizion-EX formed a well-known competitive pairing, while Jirachi-EX, Dialga-EX and Palkia-EX broadened the Legendary lineup.
Full Art Iris and secret rare Virizion, Dusknoir, Rare Candy and Ultra Ball give the set collector depth beyond its Pokémon-EX cards.
11. Legendary Treasures and the Radiant Collection
Legendary Treasures closed the Black & White Series on November 6, 2013. Its main checklist contains 113 cards and reprints many significant Pokémon-EX from the era, including Mewtwo-EX, Darkrai-EX and Keldeo-EX. Gold Reshiram 114/113 and Gold Zekrom 115/113 sit beyond that printed denominator.
Each booster also draws attention to the Radiant Collection, a separate 25-card subset numbered RC1 through RC25. It features decorative foil patterns, character-centred artwork and cards such as Mew-EX RC24 and Emolga RC23.
How many cards are in Legendary Treasures?
The normal set has 115 cards when its two gold secrets are included: 113 numbered main cards plus Reshiram 114/113 and Zekrom 115/113. Adding the 25-card Radiant Collection produces 140 physical checklist entries. Some databases report 138 by counting only the 113-card denominator plus 25 RC cards, so always check whether the two secrets are included.
Major Black & White-Era Card Types
Full Art cards
The base set introduced cards with artwork and foil extending across nearly the full card. Noble Victories added the first Full Art Supporter, creating a category that remains central to modern collecting.
Pokémon-EX
Uppercase Pokémon-EX debuted in Next Destinies. They were powerful Basic Pokémon that gave up two Prize cards when Knocked Out. Many exist in both regular and Full Art versions.
ACE SPEC Trainer cards
ACE SPEC cards debuted in Boundaries Crossed. A deck could include only one ACE SPEC card total, not one copy of each name. The category later returned in the Scarlet & Violet era.
Team Plasma cards
Plasma Pokémon and Trainers use distinctive blue styling and interact with Plasma-specific effects. A Pokémon can belong to Team Plasma regardless of its normal type.
Radiant Collection
Legendary Treasures’ RC subset uses its own numbering, rarity structure and decorative style. It is not the same as Radiant Pokémon introduced much later.
Notable Cards From Every Black & White Set
| Set | Notable cards | Why collectors recognize them |
|---|---|---|
| Black & White | Reshiram Full Art, Zekrom Full Art, Pikachu 115/114 | First English Full Arts |
| Emerging Powers | Thundurus Full Art, Tornadus Full Art, Pokémon Catcher | Early Full Arts and major Trainer |
| Noble Victories | N Full Art, Victini Full Art, Meowth secret | First Full Art Supporter |
| Next Destinies | Mewtwo-EX, Reshiram-EX, Zekrom-EX | First BW Pokémon-EX set |
| Dark Explorers | Darkrai-EX, Groudon-EX, Gardevoir secret | Darkness theme and competitive history |
| Dragons Exalted | Rayquaza-EX, Mew-EX, Rayquaza 128/124 | First Dragon-type expansion |
| Boundaries Crossed | Keldeo-EX, Skyla Full Art, Computer Search | ACE SPEC debut |
| Plasma Storm | Lugia-EX, Charizard 136/135, Blastoise 137/135 | Team Plasma and gold secrets |
| Plasma Freeze | Deoxys-EX, Professor Juniper Full Art | Major Plasma cards and six secrets |
| Plasma Blast | Genesect-EX, Virizion-EX, Jirachi-EX, Iris Full Art | Final Plasma expansion |
| Legendary Treasures | Gold Reshiram, Gold Zekrom, Mew-EX RC24 | Radiant Collection and gold cards |
How to Identify a Black & White-Era Pokémon Card
- Find the collector number near the bottom edge.
- Match the expansion symbol and code, such as NXD, DRX, PLS or LTR.
- Check the naming format: uppercase “-EX” identifies the Black & White and XY mechanic.
- Look for special styling, including Full Art, blue Team Plasma borders, ACE SPEC colouration or RC numbering.
- Confirm the exact finish and whether the card is a secret beyond the denominator.
For a complete process, use our guide on finding a Pokémon card’s set and number. Use the fake Pokémon card guide if text, colour, foil or card stock appears suspicious.
Which Black & White Pokémon Sets Are Most Valuable?
Individual card value matters more than the expansion label, but several sets have broad collector appeal. Next Destinies introduced Pokémon-EX and contains Mewtwo-EX. Dragons Exalted features Rayquaza and the first Dragon-type cards. Plasma Storm contains secret Charizard and Blastoise. Legendary Treasures combines gold cards with the Radiant Collection.
Condition, finish and exact collector number can create large price differences. Compare matching sold copies with our Pokémon price-checking guide, and apply consistent grades using the Pokémon card condition guide.
How to Collect the Black & White Era
Choose a coherent sub-collection
Possible projects include all Full Art Supporters, one copy of every Pokémon-EX, the three Plasma sets, gold-bordered secret Pokémon or the 25-card Radiant Collection.
Separate main-set and subset numbering
Legendary Treasures RC cards, Dragon Vault and Black Star Promos are separate checklists. Define whether they belong in your project before calling it complete.
Inspect Full Art surfaces
Foil scratching, edge whitening and print lines can materially change condition. Use Game 3’s condition standards.
Store premium cards carefully
Sleeve cards before placing them in a binder or rigid holder and avoid heat, humidity and sunlight. See the Pokémon storage guide.
Grade selectively
Not every Pokémon-EX or Full Art benefits from grading. Consider authenticity, condition, fees and comparable graded sales using our grading guide.
Find Pokémon Singles for Your Collection
Browse Game 3’s in-stock Pokémon singles for sets, decks and character collections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Black & White Pokémon sets are there?
There are 11 main English expansions, from Black & White through Legendary Treasures.
What was the first Black & White set?
Black & White was released in English on April 25, 2011.
What was the final Black & White set?
Legendary Treasures was released on November 6, 2013.
Which set introduced Pokémon-EX?
Next Destinies introduced uppercase Pokémon-EX to the Black & White Series.
Which set introduced Dragon-type cards?
Dragons Exalted introduced Dragon-type Pokémon cards in English.
Which set introduced ACE SPEC cards?
Boundaries Crossed introduced ACE SPEC Trainer cards.
What are the three Team Plasma sets?
Plasma Storm, Plasma Freeze and Plasma Blast form the main Team Plasma trilogy.
Is Dragon Vault a normal Black & White expansion?
No. Dragon Vault is a separate special expansion released during the era.
Sources and Editorial Method
Expansion order, release dates and checklist sizes were cross-checked using the historical expansion index, the official Pokémon expansion archive and the official Legendary Treasures archive. Main-set denominators, secrets and Radiant Collection cards are stated separately where totals vary by counting method.
