If you were opening packs during the Black & White era of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, you probably remember the sheer weight of the "ex" era returning. It was a big deal. But among the Mewtwos and Darkrais that dominated the competitive scene, there’s this one specific card that always sparks a weird bit of nostalgia and confusion: the Zekrom ex Black Bolt promo.
It’s not the best card ever printed. Not even close.
But for collectors and players who lived through the 2012 era, this card represents a very specific moment in the TCG’s transition into high-HP power creep. This wasn't just another shiny piece of cardboard; it was a BW38 promotional release that came out of the Next Destinies era, specifically tucked into the Zekrom-EX Battle Strength Deck in Japan before making its way over here in the Zekrom-EX Tin.
People often get mixed up about what "Black Bolt" actually refers to. It’s not the name of the card itself—the card is just Zekrom ex—but rather its signature, high-cost attack that defined its playstyle.
The Mechanics of Black Bolt: High Risk, Low Reward?
Let’s look at the math. In 2012, 180 HP was the ceiling. If you had 180 HP, you were a titan. Zekrom ex hit that mark perfectly. But its attacks were, honestly, a bit of a nightmare to manage.
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The first move, Strong Volt, did 50 damage for two energy. That’s fine. It’s whatever. But the main attraction, the reason people actually sleeved this thing up, was Black Bolt. For the cost of two Lightning energy and two Colorless energy, you dealt 150 damage.
150 was a magic number.
It knocked out almost any non-EX Pokémon in one hit. It put a massive dent in other EX cards. But the catch was brutal: you had to discard two Energy attached to Zekrom. In a format where energy acceleration wasn't as ubiquitous as it is in the modern "V" or "ex" Scarlet & Violet era, discarding two energy felt like pulling teeth.
You’ve basically got a glass cannon that isn't actually made of glass, but it runs out of ammo after one shot.
Why This Card Failed the Competitive Test
If you look at the tournament results from the 2012-2013 season, you won't see a lot of Zekrom ex. Why? Because the "regular" Zekrom from the base Black & White set was actually better.
Seriously.
The non-ex Zekrom had the "Bolt Strike" attack which did 120 damage for three energy. While that's 30 less than Zekrom ex Black Bolt, it only gave up one prize card when knocked out. The EX version gave up two. In the math of the Pokémon TCG, trading two prizes for a 150-damage attack that slows you down by discarding energy is a losing strategy.
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Professional players like Jason Klaczynski or the guys over at SixPrizes were focusing on speed and efficiency. Zekrom ex was just too slow. It was the "cool" card you gave your younger brother while you ran Eelektrik (Dynamotor) with the baby Zekroms and Rayquaza-EX.
The Visual Appeal of BW38
Despite its flaws in the meta, the card is beautiful. This was the era of the "Full Art" explosion, but the promo version of Zekrom ex used the standard EX framing—silver borders, 3D-style CGI art by 5ban Graphics, and that distinct, moody lighting.
5ban Graphics gets a lot of flak today for being "sterile," but back then, the way they rendered the electricity crackling around Zekrom’s turbine tail was peak 2012 aesthetic. It looked powerful. It felt like it should break the game.
Collectors take note of these specific identifiers:
- The Set Symbol: A black star with the word "PROMO" written across it.
- The Number: BW38.
- The Holo Pattern: Vertical tinsel-like foil that was characteristic of the Black & White promos.
If you find one of these in a binder today, the condition is usually the biggest hurdle. Because these were tin promos, thousands of kids carried them around in their pockets or tossed them into unsleeved decks. Finding a PSA 10 or CGC Pristine 10 of the Zekrom ex Black Bolt promo is significantly harder than finding the pack-pulled versions from Next Destinies.
The Legacy of the Lightning Strike
We talk a lot about "power creep" in gaming. If you compare this Zekrom to a modern Miraidon ex or Iron Hands ex, it looks like a joke. Modern cards hit for 160 or 220 damage with almost no drawback.
But context matters.
In the 2012 environment, playing a Zekrom ex was a statement. It was about the "Big Basic" strategy. You didn't want to wait to evolve a Tynamo into an Eelektrik. You wanted to slap a Zekrom on the bench, attach a Double Colorless Energy, and pray your opponent didn't have a Fighting-type attacker like Terrakion (Retaliate) ready to one-shot you for your Weakness.
The weakness to Fighting was the final nail in the coffin for this card's competitive viability. Landorus-EX was everywhere. One "Hammerhead" attack and Zekrom was halfway to the discard pile before it even got the energy to use Black Bolt.
How to Value and Identify Your Card
If you're digging through old boxes and find this card, don't retire just yet. While it's a piece of history, it's not the "Pikachu Illustrator."
Most "Lightly Played" copies of the BW38 promo hover between $5 and $15. If you have the Japanese version from the Battle Strength Deck, the value fluctuates based on the Japanese market's obsession with "Classic EX" cards.
The real value is in the nostalgia. It represents the transition from the slow, methodical Diamond & Pearl era into the high-octane, "I'm going to knock you out on turn two" gameplay that defines the modern era. It was one of the first cards that made us realize that high HP doesn't save a bad attack cost.
Moving Forward With Your Collection
If you own the Zekrom ex Black Bolt card or are looking to buy one, focus on the "back of the card." The Black & White era promos are notorious for "whitening"—those little white chips on the blue borders of the back. Because the card stock was slightly different for promo boxes compared to booster packs, they tend to degrade faster if not kept in a top-loader.
For those building a "Historical Cube" or a "Retro Format" deck for 2012, consider pairing Zekrom ex with Eelektrik (NV 40). It’s the only way to make that 150-damage attack remotely usable. You use Dynamotor to attach discarded Lightning energy from the discard pile back to Zekrom, mitigating the "Black Bolt" discard cost.
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It’s a fun, clunky, heavy-hitting way to play a format that was much simpler—and arguably more punishing—than what we have today.
Keep your eyes on the edges. Check for the BW38 stamp. And remember that in the world of Pokémon, sometimes the "coolest" card in the tin isn't the one that wins the World Championship, but it's the one you remember most vividly twenty years later.
Check your local listings for "Zekrom EX Tin Promo" rather than just "Black Bolt," as many sellers don't actually know the name of the attack and will list it under the promotional set number. This is often where you can find a bargain from a casual seller who just thinks they have a "shiny dragon."