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Dark Pokémon (TCG)

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For the TCG type that represents Dark-type Pokémon, see Darkness (TCG).
An example of an Original Series Dark Pokémon card

Dark Pokémon (Japanese: わるいポケモン Bad Pokémon) are a variant of Pokémon found in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. They are considered a corrupted version of their normal species, and the result of having been raised improperly. They are the counterpart of Light Pokémon.

Introduced in the Team Rocket expansion, Dark Pokémon are associated with the Team Rocket organization. They are said to have evolved differently due to Team Rocket raising their unevolved forms without proper love and attention. Gym Heroes touched on the theme with the introduction of Rocket's Pokémon, similar in many respects to Dark Pokémon from the previous expansion. While Dark Pokémon are nearly always evolved Pokémon, Rocket's Pokémon are instead nearly always Basic Pokémon. They tend to have higher attack damage and lower HP values compared to those of normal Pokémon, likely due to the highly offensive nature of their Trainer. As the word "Dark" is part of the card's name, one can include up to 4 of each the regular and Dark versions of the same species in the same deck.

Dark Pokémon reappeared in the Neo Destiny expansion, which as the title suggests, revolves around the potential path or "destiny" a Pokémon can follow depending on how it is brought up by its Trainer. The expansion showcased the difference between Pokémon with Dark in their names and Darkness-type Pokémon, with Dark Houndoom and Dark Tyranitar released as Fire-type and Fighting-type Pokémon, respectively.

Though Dark Pokémon did not appear in the EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua expansion, Pokémon belonging to Team Aqua or Team Magma utilized the new game mechanic of dual-types, in which many Pokémon acquired a Darkness dual type to further emphasize their allegiance to a villainous team. Dark Pokémon would properly return in the EX Hidden Legends and EX Team Rocket Returns expansions. In line with the precedent set by Team Magma's and Team Aqua's Pokémon, all Dark Pokémon in the EX Series are dual Darkness-type, with the exception of those that are normally Colorless. This essentially rejected the difference between Dark Pokémon and Darkness-type Pokémon displayed in Neo Destiny. Unlike their earlier counterparts, HP and damage values on Dark Pokémon in the EX Series are roughly in line with other cards from the era. Dark Celebi from EX Hidden Legends is notably the only Dark Pokémon that is an unevolved species; however, this card is instead printed as a Rocket's Pokémon in Japan.

After a long absence of the mechanic, Dark SylveonVwas printed as one of the SWSH Black Star Promos to celebrate the Pokémon 25th Anniversary.

Aesthetically, the artwork on Dark Pokémon cards feature dark colors and harsh shadows. In the Original and Neo Series, Dark Pokémon have a brown and black artwork window, Evolution box, and Pokédex box, as opposed to the regular gold. Also, most Generation I Pokémon feature Ken Sugimori's Pokémon Red and Blue artwork of their previous Stage in the Evolution box, instead of the usual Pokémon Red and Green artwork. In EX Team Rocket Returns, the dual-type template on Dark Pokémon is modified to emphasize the Darkness type, rather than having an even split of both types as seen on other dual-type cards.

Pokémon that have appeared as Dark Pokémon

An example of a Neo Series Dark Pokémon card
An example of an EX Series Dark Pokémon card
Dark Pokémon
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a silver background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion 		Rarity # Japanese
Expansion 		Rarity #
Dark Alakazam Psychic Team Rocket Rare Holo 1/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 18/82      
      Pokémon Web Rare 037/048
Dark Arbok Grass Team Rocket Rare Holo 2/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 19/82      
Dark Blastoise Water Team Rocket Rare Holo 3/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 20/82      
      Pokémon Web Rare Holo 044/048
Legendary Collection Rare Holo 4/110      
Dark Charizard Fire Team Rocket Rare Holo 4/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 21/82      
      Pokémon Web Rare Holo 042/048
Dark Dragonite Colorless Team Rocket Rare Holo 5/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 22/82      
Legendary Collection Rare Holo 5/110      
Dark Dugtrio Fighting Team Rocket Rare Holo 6/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 23/82      
Dark Golbat Grass Team Rocket Rare Holo 7/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 24/82      
Dark Gyarados Water Team Rocket Rare Holo 8/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 25/82      
Celebrations Rare Classic 8/82 Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition   005/025
Dark Hypno Psychic Team Rocket Rare Holo 9/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 26/82      
Dark Machamp Fighting Team Rocket Rare Holo 10/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 27/82      
Dark Magneton Lightning Team Rocket Rare Holo 11/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 28/82      
Dark Slowbro Psychic Team Rocket Rare Holo 12/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 29/82      
      Pokémon Web Uncommon 028/048
Legendary Collection Rare Holo 8/110      
Dark Vileplume Grass Team Rocket Rare Holo 13/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 30/82      
Dark Weezing Grass Team Rocket Rare Holo 14/82 Rocket Gang Rare Holo  
Team Rocket Rare 31/82      
      Pokémon Web Uncommon 021/048
Dark Charmeleon Fire Team Rocket Uncommon 32/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
      Pokémon Web Uncommon 022/048
Dark Dragonair Colorless Team Rocket Uncommon 33/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Legendary Collection Uncommon 38/110      
Dark Electrode Lightning Team Rocket Uncommon 34/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Dark Flareon Fire Team Rocket Uncommon 35/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Dark Gloom Grass Team Rocket Uncommon 36/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Dark Golduck Water Team Rocket Uncommon 37/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Dark Jolteon Lightning Team Rocket Uncommon 38/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Dark Kadabra Psychic Team Rocket Uncommon 39/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
      Pokémon Web Uncommon 027/048
Dark Machoke Fighting Team Rocket Uncommon 40/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Dark Muk Grass Team Rocket Uncommon 41/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Dark Persian Colorless Team Rocket Uncommon 42/82 Rocket Gang Common  
Wizards Black Star Promos   17 Unnumbered Promotional cards    
Legendary Collection Rare Holo 6/110      
Dark Primeape Fighting Team Rocket Uncommon 43/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Dark Rapidash Fire Team Rocket Uncommon 44/82 Rocket Gang Common  
Dark Vaporeon Water Team Rocket Uncommon 45/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Legendary Collection Rare Holo 9/110      
Dark Wartortle Water Team Rocket Uncommon 46/82 Rocket Gang Uncommon  
Legendary Collection Uncommon 39/110      
      Pokémon Web Uncommon 024/048
Dark Raticate Colorless Team Rocket Common 51/82 Rocket Gang Common  
Dark Raichu Lightning Team Rocket Rare Holo 83/82 Crossing the Ruins... SuperRare Holo  
Legendary Collection Rare Holo 7/110      
Dark Ivysaur Grass       Unnumbered Promotional cards    
Best of Game   6 Pokémon Web Uncommon 017/048
Dark Venusaur Grass       Unnumbered Promotional cards    
Best of Game   7 Pokémon Web Rare Holo 041/048
Dark Ninetales Fire       Team Rocket's Ambition Rare H12
Dark Starmie Water       Team Rocket's Ambition Uncommon H17
Dark Marowak Fighting       Team Rocket's Ambition Uncommon H22
Dark Haunter Psychic       Team Rocket's Ambition Uncommon H25
Dark Gengar Psychic       Team Rocket's Ambition Rare H26
Dark Clefable Colorless       Team Rocket's Ambition Rare H30
Dark Fearow Colorless       Unnumbered Promotional cards    
Dark Ampharos Lightning Neo Destiny Rare Holo 1/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Crobat Grass Neo Destiny Rare Holo 2/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Donphan Fighting Neo Destiny Rare Holo 3/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Espeon Psychic Neo Destiny Rare Holo 4/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Feraligatr Water Neo Destiny Rare Holo 5/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Gengar Psychic Neo Destiny Rare Holo 6/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Houndoom Fire Neo Destiny Rare Holo 7/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Porygon2 Colorless Neo Destiny Rare Holo 8/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Scizor Metal Neo Destiny Rare Holo 9/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Typhlosion Fire Neo Destiny Rare Holo 10/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Tyranitar Fighting Neo Destiny Rare Holo 11/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare Holo  
Dark Ariados Grass Neo Destiny Rare 17/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare  
Dark Magcargo Fire Neo Destiny Rare 18/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare  
Dark Omastar Water Neo Destiny Rare 19/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare  
Dark Slowking Psychic Neo Destiny Rare 20/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare  
Dark Ursaring Colorless Neo Destiny Rare 21/105 Darkness, and to Light... Rare  
Dark Croconaw Water Neo Destiny Uncommon 32/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Exeggutor Psychic Neo Destiny Uncommon 33/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Flaaffy Lightning Neo Destiny Uncommon 34/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Forretress Grass Neo Destiny Uncommon 35/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Haunter Psychic Neo Destiny Uncommon 36/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Omanyte Water Neo Destiny Uncommon 37/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Pupitar Fighting Neo Destiny Uncommon 38/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Quilava Fire Neo Destiny Uncommon 39/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Wigglytuff Colorless Neo Destiny Uncommon 40/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Octillery Water Neo Destiny Common 62/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Dark Celebi GrassDarkness EX Hidden Legends Rare Holo 4/101 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 071/084
Dark Ampharos LightningDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 2/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 039/084
Dark Crobat GrassDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 3/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 016/084
Dark Electrode LightningDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 4/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 037/084
Dark Houndoom FireDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 5/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 021/084
Dark Hypno PsychicDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 6/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 043/084
Dark Marowak FightingDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 7/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 052/084
Dark Octillery WaterDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 8/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 034/084
Dark Slowking PsychicDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 9/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 044/084
Dark Steelix DarknessMetal EX Team Rocket Returns Rare Holo 10/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 072/084
Dark Dragonite Darkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare 15/109 Silver Deck Kit   013/020
      Silver Deck Kit   014/020
Dark Muk GrassDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare 16/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare 014/084
Dark Raticate Darkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare 17/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare 058/084
Dark Sandslash FightingDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare 18/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare 051/084
Dark Tyranitar Darkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare 19/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 070/084
Dark Tyranitar FightingDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Rare 20/109 Black Deck Kit   011/020
      Black Deck Kit   012/020
Dark Arbok DarknessGrass EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 29/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare 012/084
Dark Ariados GrassDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 30/109 Black Deck Kit   002/020
Dark Dragonair Darkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 31/109 Silver Deck Kit   011/020
Dark Dragonair Darkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 32/109 Silver Deck Kit   012/020
Dark Flaaffy LightningDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 33/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare 038/084
Dark Golbat GrassDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 34/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare 013/084
Dark Golduck WaterDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 35/109 Silver Deck Kit   003/020
Dark Gyarados WaterDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 36/109 Silver Deck Kit   004/020
Dark Houndoom FireDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 37/109 Black Deck Kit   006/020
Dark Magcargo FireDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 38/109 Black Deck Kit   005/020
Dark Magneton LightningDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 39/109 Silver Deck Kit   006/020
Dark Pupitar FightingDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 40/109 Black Deck Kit   009/020
Dark Pupitar FightingDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 41/109 Black Deck Kit   010/020
Dark Weezing GrassDarkness EX Team Rocket Returns Uncommon 42/109 Rocket Gang Strikes Back Rare Holo 015/084
Dark PokémonV
Card Type English
Expansion 		Rarity # Japanese
Expansion 		Rarity #
Dark SylveonV Psychic SWSH Black Star Promos   SWSH134      
 


See also


Project TCG logo.png This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
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