Dark Rapidash

Dark Rapidash is card 44 of 83 in Team Rocket, released in April 2000, an Uncommon. It is a Stage 1 Fire-type with 60 HP.

As a Stage 1, it evolves from Ponyta, which places Dark Rapidash deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.

Team Rocket darkened Rapidash 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.

The card's flavor text gives Rapidash a line of lore: "A wild, uncontrollable Pokémon. When running, it looks like a comet streaking through the sky."

The fully evolved Ponyta. Larger, more elaborate flame mane. Base Set Uncommon with steady raw demand.

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