Dark Dragonair

Numbered 33 of 83 in Team Rocket, released in April 2000, Dark Dragonair is an Uncommon, a Stage 1 Colorless-type carrying 60 HP.

It evolves from Dratini, so Dark Dragonair is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.

Team Rocket darkened Dragonair under its control for the set's villain arc, a grittier repaint of the familiar Pokémon with an altered attack profile.

Illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno. Himeno is one of the most-recognized vintage illustrators, with a softer, more textured style that shows up across the Jungle and Neo runs.

Printed on the card, the Dragonair Pokédex entry reads: "As is fitting for a legendary Pokémon, it has many strange powers, including the ability to make rain or snow fall."

The middle Dratini stage. Long serpentine body with crystal orbs. Base Set Uncommon. Quietly beautiful art makes it a fan favorite.

Dark Dragonair is an Uncommon, so raw copies are inexpensive and easy to find. The value is in condition: a genuine PSA 10, especially 1st Edition, can still reach a surprising figure for an otherwise common card. The live price above breaks it down by grade.

Team Rocket shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited, with no Shadowless print. The 1st Edition Dark Dragonair carries the Edition 1 stamp under the artwork and trades above the Unlimited copy in matching grade. The set is also home to Dark Raichu, the first Secret Rare ever printed.

Dark Dragonair grades forgivingly, but the same centering and edge standards apply. Pack-fresh raw copies are easy to find, which makes a clean PSA 10 submission a low-cost way to learn how the cardstock behaves under grading.

Raw copies of Dark Dragonair are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Dark Dragonair is the practical move.