Ns Zekrom 031
Quick take
- Full-art Black Star promo from the Mega Evolution era, illustrated by Bun Toujo
- Tied to N, the Black and White character whose signature Pokemon is Zekrom
- Basic Dragon, 130 HP, with the big-swing Rampaging Thunder attack for 250
- Exists as both a standard promo and a Pokemon Center Exclusive print
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Mega Evolution Promo
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 31/79 · $60.56 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyAn Owner's Pokemon promo that rides N's nostalgia
N's Zekrom 031 lands in the Mega Evolution Promo (MEP) lineup as a full-art Black Star promo, tied to the Ascended Heroes release. The card leans on the Owner's Pokemon theme that ran through the 2025-2026 Mega Evolution era, where cards carry a Trainer's name and connect to a specific character. Here that character is N, the conflicted antagonist from Black and White who battles you with Zekrom. The art is by Bun Toujo.
“Full-art Black Star promo from the Mega Evolution era, illustrated by Bun Toujo”
Mechanically it's a Basic Dragon with 130 HP. Shred deals 70 and ignores any effects on your opponent's Active Pokemon, while Rampaging Thunder hits for 250 but locks the attacker out of attacking the next turn. That's promo-tier power, not a tournament staple, so the appeal is the character and the artwork rather than the competitive table.
What keeps 031 interesting is the split distribution. The standard promo and a Pokemon Center Exclusive version both exist, and anyone building the master set or chasing N pieces needs to know which one they're buying.
By the numbersMarket analysis
This sits in the mid-pack of modern promos, not the top of the era. Most buyers trade singles in raw, ungraded form, and the Pokemon Center Exclusive version generally carries a premium over the standard promo. Live market numbers are shown elsewhere on this page.
As a recent release, pricing is still settling. Promos like this tend to soften once initial demand clears and supply spreads across the secondary market, then stabilize. The character-driven appeal should set a floor rather than drive a spike.
Treat this as a collector piece, not a flip. The N connection gives it staying power, but it's a promo with broad availability, so don't expect vintage-style appreciation. Buy the print you actually want for the binder.
Graded gem-mint copies command a premium over raw, as with most full-art promos, but the spread is modest at this stage given how recent and available the card is. Grading mainly makes sense on the Pokemon Center Exclusive or on copies you plan to hold long-term.
Promos like this aren't pulled from standard booster packs, so there's no per-pack pull rate to quote. Mega Evolution Promo cards are distributed through fixed channels such as product inserts, Elite Trainer Box releases, and Pokemon Center offerings. The standard 031 promo was packed into the Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box, while the Pokemon Center Exclusive version came through that store rather than general retail, which makes it the scarcer of the two. Availability, not pack odds, sets the difficulty here.
Compared to chase rarities you pull from packs, like Special Illustration Rares that can run hundreds of packs for a specific card, a promo is acquired directly. The collecting challenge is tracking down the right print and a clean copy, not beating long odds.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Bun Toujo is a Pokemon TCG illustrator whose work appears across modern sets. The credit on 031 is confirmed by the official Pokemon card database.
A full-art rendering of N's Zekrom, the Deep Black Pokemon. I'm keeping the scene description general here. The sources I checked confirm the full-art treatment and the artist but don't lay out the exact composition. What's clear is that this is a borderless, full-card illustration rather than a standard framed promo.
Full-art promo with a holographic finish. Numbered 031 in the Mega Evolution Promo (MEP) Black Star promo run.
Worth contrasting with the standard set version of N's Zekrom in Ascended Heroes (155), which is illustrated by Akira Egawa and features Dragonspiral Tower. The promo is a separate take by a different artist, so collectors who like the character often want both.
BackgroundAbout Ns Zekrom 031
Zekrom is the Deep Black Pokemon and one of the two legendary mascots of Pokemon Black and White, opposite Reshiram. In those games Zekrom is N's partner in the climactic battle, which is why it shows up here as N's Zekrom rather than a generic print. Its lore ties it to ideals, the counterpoint to Reshiram's truth.
- ›Legendary mascot status from a beloved generation
- ›Direct tie to N, a standout character in the series
- ›Dragon typing and a striking black, electric design
- ›Nostalgia for Black and White still running strong with collectors
- ›Box legendary of Pokemon Black, paired with Reshiram in White
- ›N's signature Pokemon in the Black and White storyline
Own it wellCollector guide
Full-art promos show edge wear and surface scratches easily because the print runs to the border. Check corners and the holo surface under angled light before buying raw.
Grade only if you have a clean copy you plan to hold, or if it's the Pokemon Center Exclusive version where the premium can justify the fee. For a standard binder copy, raw is fine. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve and toploader at minimum. For long-term holds, use a penny sleeve plus a rigid holder, and keep it out of direct light to protect the holo. See the storage guide →
Decide first which print you want, the standard promo or the Pokemon Center Exclusive, because they're listed separately and priced differently. Confirm the seller's photos match the version named in the listing before you commit. See the singles buying guide →
Modern promos are less counterfeited than vintage chase cards, but still buy from reputable sellers. Verify the 031 number, the Bun Toujo credit, and that the holo behavior matches a known-good reference image.
Protect your card
Low Chase Score — basic protection is plenty. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
N reliably draws collector interest, and the community treats the Owner's Pokemon cards as a fun, character-forward part of the Mega Evolution era. Reception for 031 skews positive on the character and art rather than on gameplay.
Most of the chatter around N's Zekrom has centered on the multiple versions across the era, including the standard Ascended Heroes print and the promo, and which one collectors should prioritize. I didn't find verified individual sale figures to cite, so I'm keeping this general.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
Keep collectingRelated cards
Plan your Mega Evolution Mega Evolution Promo master set
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