Dark Pokémon (TCG)

For the TCG type that represents Dark-type Pokémon, see Darkness (TCG).

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.

An example of an Original Series Dark Pokémon card

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


See also


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