Dark Pokémon cards are an interesting sub-category of the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s cards, with their age contributing to some impressive market prices. Not to be confused with Darkness-type Pokémon cards, Dark cards represent some truly dangerous individuals and their unique presentation allows them to easily stand out in any collection.
Dark Pokémon first appeared in the 2000s Team Rocket set, the fifth expansion of the Pokémon TCG. In keeping with the set’s theme, these cards depict actively malicious Pokémon trained by Team Rocket. They generally have stronger attacks and lower HP scores than their regular counterparts of the time, and come in both holographic and non-holographic varieties (although the holographic versions are naturally more valuable). Dark Pokémon cards also appeared in 2002’s Neo Destiny set, and then again during the Pokémon TCG’s EX series. This has created a large number of Dark Pokémon cards, with some, in particular, being especially valuable.
10 Dark Espeon (Neo Destiny 4/105)
With a market price of $165 on TCGplayer, Dark Espeon may seem weak at first, but it grows in power as the opponent’s Pokémon do. While its Gouge attack can only deal 20 damage at most, Dark Espeon’s true danger is in its Psysplash attack, which damages each of an opponent’s Pokémon with a damage counter for every energy card they have attached. Matching the deceptive damage numbers on its card is the artwork, which depicts an adorable floating Espeon betraying none of its villainous nature.
9 Dark Ampharos (Neo Destiny 1/105)
Dark Ampharos is just slightly more valuable than Dark Espeon, with TCGplayer placing its value at $166.99. Like Dark Espeon, Dark Ampharos also threatens Pokémon based on their attached energy, but this time as a passive effect; its Conductivity Pokémon Power means that an opponent will essentially be damaging their own Pokémon with every Energy card they attach. As a Pokémon Ability can be used from the bench, this is perhaps where Dark Ampharos shines best, weakening Pokémon with no risk to itself, including insulating itself from the status conditions which would disable Conductivity.
8 Dark Dragonite (Team Rocket 5/82)
Dark Dragonite looks oddly fearsome for what is usually a far more jolly Pokémon. The scowl on its face as it flies through the air makes it clear that this Pokémon means business. Presently valued by TCGplayer at $174.20, Dark Dragonite is also a remarkably risky Pokémon to play, with its sole attack dependent on a successful coin flip. But on the other hand, the Summon Minions Pokémon Power means that Dark Dragonite will always have allies to back it up in battle, forces which will no doubt include other members of Team Rocket.
7 Dark Blastoise (Team Rocket 3/82)
Dark Blastoise has a current market value of $199.99 according to TCGplayer, bringing it tantalizingly close to the $200 mark for any collectors who possess it. As a card, Dark Blastoise offers its own spin on the aggressive Dark Pokémon aesthetic. Hydrocannon gains strength the more Water Energy it has attached, although this is capped at 70 damage. Meanwhile, in keeping with the Dark Pokémon theme of aggressive attacks, Rocket Tackle damages its user while providing a chance to avoid all damage dealt to it on the opponent’s next turn.
6 Dark Houndoom (Neo Destiny 7/105)
Dark Houndoom, valued on TCGplayer at $222.60, is a Fire-type Pokémon card, something notable due to the introduction of Darkness-type cards the year prior in the Neo Discovery expansion, which included a Darkness-type Houndoom itself. Interestingly, Dark Houndoom still takes advantage of Darkness Energy by allowing it to discard Darkness Energy (then a Special Energy type card that both increased attack damage and passively damaged the Pokémon it was attached to) in order to power up its Dark Fire attack.
5 Dark Feraligatr (Neo Destiny 5/105)
Dark Feraligatr’s value currently stands at an even $250 on TCGplayer, a clear indicator of the starter evolution’s popularity. This Pokémon card boasts yet another interesting Pokémon Power, named Scare. Scare prevents an opponent’s Baby Pokémon from attacking, as well as disabling any of their own Pokémon Powers. Baby Pokémon are technically a category distinct from Basic Pokémon, although they fulfill much the same role as Basic Pokémon by being the beginning of an evolutionary chain; the ‘Baby Pokémon’ title is one given to pre-evolutions that were introduced after their evolved forms, such as Pichu.
4 Dark Tyranitar (Neo Destiny 11/105)
With a value of $263.40 on TCGplayer, Dark Tyrannitar boasts attacks that were quite heavy-hitting for the Pokémon TCG at the time; something which perfectly suits the towering pseudo-legendary. Fling Away allows Dark Tyranitar to either bear down on a solitary opponent or spread the damage to the bench if it is inhabited. Mountain Smasher, meanwhile, has no hard limit on the number of coins that can be flipped beyond the number of Fighting Energy cards attached, making it a potentially devastating attack that also strips away the opponent’s deck.
3 Dark Scizor (Neo Destiny 9/105)
Compared to some of the other Dark Pokémon cards, Dark Scizor is surprisingly mundane, although this hasn’t stopped it from reaching a value of $299.99 according to TCGplayer. There are no caveats to its 30-damage slash attack which would give it a power boost, unlike other Dark Pokémon. Instead, most of Dark Scizor’s utility comes from its other attack, Threaten. While reliant on a coin flip, Threaten allows a player to see an opponent’s hand; something just as valuable to strategizing as the ability to have them shuffle a Trainer card back into their deck.
2 Dark Gengar (Neo Destiny 6/105)
Dark Gengar has a notably stylized appearance, appearing more like a cloud of ghostly energy than a solid presence; a perfect fit for a malevolent Ghost-type. Worth $399.97 according to TCGplayer, Dark Gengar’s attack and Pokémon Power synergize extremely well. Pull In guarantees that the Defending Pokémon is now asleep regardless of whether the player wins the coin toss to switch it, and Deep Sleep makes it much harder for these Pokémon to awaken. This can keep all of an opponent’s Pokémon trapped in a never-ending nightmare as Dark Gengar slowly chips away at their HP.
1 Dark Charizard (Team Rocket 4/82)
It will come as little surprise that a Charizard card is also the most valuable Dark Pokémon card at present, with a current market value of $428.11 according to TCGplayer. With the famous Holographic Charizard being one of the most coveted Pokémon TCG cards in the game’s history, rare Charizard cards have been consistently valuable ever since. But Dark Charizard is more than just a Pokémon card with beautiful art; its Continuous Fireball attack also makes for the perfect finishing move to any match, burning away Fire Energy to deal potentially hundreds of points of damage.
Dark Pokémon have risen to be worth some incredible prices, although this isn’t entirely out of the ordinary for the oldest and rarest of Pokémon cards. Of course, it should be noted that such values are far from static; they can and will fluctuate with the market just like any other form of collectible. But regardless, assuming that said market remains stable, it is clear that these Pokémon Trading Card Game cards are very valuable, and will remain so for a long time to come.
Sources: TCGplayer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10),
