"Dark Crystal Blaze" Everything You Need To Know

Everything you need to know about “Dark Crystal Blaze”

At the end of the 2025 Pokémon Hangzhou Masters event, Pokémon China revealed their latest upcoming set, featuring Charizard ex.

Fun fact: Charizard is a fire/flying-type and not a dragon-type. Looking at him you’d think dragon, but you’d be wrong. 😉 However, later in the series this all changes with Mega Evolution and Mega Charizard X gains the dragon-type. Also keep an eye on the flame at the tip of Charizard’s tail – it’s a life force symbol, and should it go out Charizard would be no more. Always an iconic favourite, Charizard’s legacy is an integral part of Pokémon culture.

Dark Crystal Blaze will release in Mainland China on: 12 September 2025.

Release Details:

1. Name: “Dark Crystal Blaze” 黑晶炽诚 (CSV5)
2. Release date of set: 12 September 2025
3. Location: Mainland China
4. Language of cards: Simplified Chinese
5. Print quality: Printed in Japan
6. Total cards: 167 cards
7. Jumbo product:
  1. Booster pack: 20 x cards
  2. Booster box: 6 x Jumbo booster packs
8. Slim product:
  1. Booster pack: 5 x cards
  2. Booster box: 15 x Slim booster packs

Booster Pack Designs & Pull Rates

Based on Pokémon’s release history in China, this release will be available in two variants: a jumbo version and a slim version.

: Slim Booster Pack

: Jumbo Booster Pack

What is the difference between them?

Number of cards
Hit difference!

The Jumbo Pack contains 20 cards in a pack – seen on the pack’s top left corner in red.

The Slim Pack contains 5 cards in a pack – seen on the pack’s top left corner in black.

And now for the important hit rates. See below…

: Slim Booster Pack Pull Rate

: Jumbo Booster Pack Pull Rate

Collectors Tip: Unlike Sword & Shield era, Jumbo packs have decreased the amount of cards from 25 cards to 20 cards. They also no longer guarantee a minimum of an “EX” card. Boo!

Box Designs

For those familiar with Simplified Chinese products, you will know the irony (or incongruity to be more precise) of a Slim Booster Box design vs. a Jumbo Booster Box design. Previously, Slim Booster Boxes were the chunkier boxes of the two, and the Jumbo Box, was well… the slimmer box (it was a case of the old switcheroo).

Pokémon China have finally moved away from that design concept, and both boxes will be the size of the standard Jumbo Booster box design. What does this mean exactly for Slim Box contents though? There is now a decrease in packs, from 24 packs down to only 15 packs per box. What have we learnt from all this? Well, we don’t know exactly – except that it always pays to visit the Pokipair site for the very freshest information.

: Previous Slim Booster Box Size

: Current & Previous Jumbo Booster Box Size

Guarantees Per Box

This information will become available once the set is launched. Keep an eye out for when this information gets updated 👀

More Exclusive Cards

At this point it just feels like we’re going to have exclusive cards every set release (no, we’re not complaining)!

This year alone (2025) we’re now up to 20 Simplified Chinese exclusive cards! Dark Crystal Blaze is no different and is spoiling us with two new exclusive cards. The “Defiance Band” has upgraded its status to the Golden UR, which is great for all the actual TCG players to blind out their deck.

Larry, who is a fan favourite trainer has (finally) gotten his own Special Art Rare (SAR). If you want to summon this rare pull, just serve up the following menu item: Grilled rice balls with extra crispy texture, medium serving of fire blast, lemon on the side, and normal seasoning. This little concoction is Larry’s favourite meal*, so while we can’t guarantee you’ll pull him, at least you’ll have something tasty to munch on. 😊

* From Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Card, Cards & More Cards

As you well know by now, Simplified Chinese are playing catch up to the rest of the languages. Thanks to this, they end up combining various sets together. In this set the magical mixture is a combination of Obsidian Flames (if the Tera Charizard wasn’t the biggest giveaway), Paradox Rift, Scarlet & Violet Base. Happy hunting and make sure you keep that flame lit.