🕐 Reading time: 3 min
As of 17 October 2026. China releases its versions of Black Bolt and White Flare on 6 November 2026, with two new special illustrations: N's Plot and Hilda. These two artworks don't exist in any other language.
Black Bolt and White Flare in Chinese
Both sets release in Simplified Chinese as 黑雷奔流 (Black Bolt, Zekrom on the pack) and 白焰迸涌 (White Flare, Reshiram on the pack). As in English, the two sets together cover all 156 Unova Pokémon.
The contents follow the English and French versions, with Zekrom ex and Reshiram ex at BWR rarity, the highest in the set: a single BWR card per set.
Two special illustrations only China gets
The Supporters N's Plot and Hilda already have a special illustration in English. China prints two new ones with different artwork:
- N's Plot (Black Bolt), by Iwamoto05: N leaning on a railing in a city at night, turning back toward the viewer.
- Hilda (White Flare), by Ligton: a close-up of a determined Hilda in front of a backdrop of flames.
Since 2022, China has regularly received artworks other languages don't get, most recently Misty's Psyduck in Gem Pack Vol. 7. Nothing suggests for now that these two cards will release elsewhere.
Rarities
Each set has 8 SR, 7 SAR (special illustrations) and 1 BWR. Together, these three rarities make up 0.73% of production in 5-card packs. The packs also come in a 20-card format, where they rise to 1%.
What about outside China?
Black Bolt and White Flare released in English and French in July 2025. These two illustrations remain exclusive to the Chinese version, only available as imports.