Dark Pokémon (TCG)

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

Dark Pokémon (card text: Pokémon with "Dark" in their names) (Japanese: わるいポケモン Bad Pokémon) are a type of Pokémon found in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and often considered a corrupted version of their normal species. Their counterparts are Light Pokémon.

An example of a Dark Pokémon

The first appearance of Dark Pokémon was in the Team Rocket Expansion, in which all evolved Pokémon are Dark Pokémon. This is because Team Rocket itself is a corrupt organization, and therefore the Pokémon they train become corrupt also.

Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge touched on the theme with the appearance of Rocket's Pokémon, similar in many respects to Dark Pokémon from the previous Expansion.

With the inclusion of Dark-type Pokémon in Generation II, it was thought that the corrupt counterparts would not surface again to avoid confusion. However, with the release of Neo Destiny, which as the title suggests, revolves around the potential path or "destiny" a Pokémon can follow depending on how it is brought up by their Trainer, Dark Pokémon made another appearance. The set also illustrated that Pokémon with Dark in their names and Pokémon whose representative energy was the Darkness-type differed, with Dark Houndoom released as a Fire Pokémon.

In terms of card design, Dark Pokémon have a brown/black character window, evolution box and Pokédex box, as opposed to the regular gold. In terms of gameplay, Dark Pokémon tend to have higher attack damage and lower HPs compared to those of normal Pokémon, likely due to the highly offensive nature of the Trainer. Also, most evolved Generation I Pokémon feature alternate pictures of their previous stage in their evolution box.

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 evolved and legendary Pokémon displayed a Darkness dual type to further emphasise their allegiance with a villainous team. This also essentially rejected the difference between Dark Pokémon and Darkness-type Pokémon as displayed in Neo Destiny. This would remain for subsequent releases.

Dark Celebi, featured in EX Hidden Legends was the first card in the EX Series to include "Dark" in its name, and was included in the set likely due to its close ties with Celebi: Voice of the Forest, in which Team Rocket member Iron-Masked Marauder captures a Celebi using a Dark Ball and uses it to create chaos.

The latest appearance of Dark Pokémon was in the EX Team Rocket Returns expansion, in which all Dark Pokémon are dual Darkness types (with the exception of those that are normally Colorless) and all Pokémon belonging to Team Rocket are purely Darkness types.

Pokémon that have appeared as Dark Pokémon

Dark Pokémon Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green 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
		Team Rocket		19/82	Rocket Gang
Dark Blastoise		Team Rocket		3/82
		Team Rocket		20/82	Rocket Gang
					Pokémon Web		044/048
		Legendary Collection		4/110
Dark Charizard		Team Rocket		4/82
		Team Rocket		21/82	Rocket Gang
					Pokémon Web		042/048
Dark Dragonite		Team Rocket		5/82
		Team Rocket		22/82	Rocket Gang
		Legendary Collection		5/110
Dark Dugtrio		Team Rocket		6/82
		Team Rocket		23/82	Rocket Gang
Dark Golbat		Team Rocket		7/82
		Team Rocket		24/82	Rocket Gang
Dark Gyarados		Team Rocket		8/82
		Team Rocket		25/82	Rocket Gang
Dark Hypno		Team Rocket		9/82
		Team Rocket		26/82	Rocket Gang
Dark Machamp		Team Rocket		10/82
		Team Rocket		27/82	Rocket Gang
Dark Magneton		Team Rocket		11/82
		Team Rocket		28/82	Rocket Gang
Dark Slowbro		Team Rocket		12/82
		Team Rocket		29/82	Rocket Gang
					Pokémon Web		028/048
		Legendary Collection		8/110
Dark Vileplume		Team Rocket		13/82
		Team Rocket		30/82	Rocket Gang
Dark Weezing		Team Rocket		14/82
		Team Rocket		31/82	Rocket Gang
					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 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 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 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 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

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