Some Target stores in the US failed to stock Pokémon's new Pitch Black trading card set on its scheduled release day, despite the retailer's usual close coordination with The Pokémon Company for launch events. This is unusual for Target, which typically clears old stock and sets up dedicated displays and queuing areas ahead of a new set's release, making the blank shelves and apology signs at some branches a notable disruption for waiting fans, some of whom had queued overnight.

Reports of empty shelves came from multiple Target locations in Minnesota and Pennsylvania, with customers describing some stores receiving no stock at all while nearby branches had dozens of Elite Trainer Boxes. Even stores that did receive stock were often missing other recently released products and displayed the new cards on smaller-than-usual fixtures. Target, which sources its Pokémon stock from third-party vendors such as MJ Holdings, did not immediately comment, and Polygon suggests fans try alternative retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy or Barnes & Noble, though stock there may also sell out quickly.