Team Rocket shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited prints, with the value sitting in its Dark holos and one famous secret card. Two things make the set stand apart from the Base trilogy. It was the first English release built around a story, the Team Rocket takeover, and it hid the first Secret Rare ever printed, Dark Raichu at number 83, outside the standard 82-card count. The ranking below runs by PSA 10, 1st Edition value, with the Secret Rare in its own category.
The second-most-discussed Charizard in the Wizards era, behind only the Base Set card. Dark Charizard captures the Pokémon mid-arc, blackened under Team Rocket, and it is the only Wizards Charizard outside Base Set that clears four figures in PSA 10 1st Edition. It leans on the dedicated vintage collector market more than the broad investor crowd, which makes it steadier in both directions than its Base Set sibling.
A card with a place in history no other holo can claim. Dark Raichu sits at number 83 in an 82-card set, the first Secret Rare ever printed and an unannounced pull from the early Team Rocket runs. Collectors chase it for the milestone as much as the art, and a 1st Edition copy in top grade trades alongside Dark Charizard. If you only learn one Team Rocket card, learn this one.
The strongest of the secondary Dark holos, and it earns the spot on Dragonite alone. Dragonite carries cross-generation appeal that the rest of the Team Rocket roster cannot match, so demand for this card runs hotter than its place in the set would suggest. A reliable hold for collectors who want a four-figure Team Rocket holo that is not Charizard.
Two strong mid-tier Dark holos that anchor the next rung. Dark Blastoise rides the same starter nostalgia that lifts the Base Set water cards, while Dark Gyarados pairs a striking holo with a Pokémon that has its own loyal following. Both are accessible entries into high-grade Team Rocket without paying Charizard or Dragonite money.
The value end of the Dark holo run. Both were competitive cards in 2000, so a high share of the print saw play and few survived in top condition, which keeps PSA 10 populations honest. For a collector assembling the full Team Rocket holo set, these are the affordable slots that still deliver a genuine vintage ten.
Why Dark Charizard is not Base Set Charizard
The Base Set Charizard trades at 20x to 50x the Dark Charizard in equal grade, and chronology only explains part of it. Base Set Charizard reached the first cartoon arc, the first movie, and every magazine cover, which built demand from outside the collector world. Dark Charizard is beloved within the hobby but never crossed into that broader culture. The practical effect is that Dark Charizard tracks the vintage collector market, rising less in booms and falling less in busts.
If you are buying Team Rocket
Confirm the print first, since 1st Edition and Unlimited are separate markets here as everywhere in the Wizards era. On the Dark holos, surface is the usual grade limiter, so check the holo window at an angle before paying a high-grade premium. For Dark Raichu specifically, watch for counterfeits and verify the card against a graded reference, because its fame makes it a frequent fake. Price every card against recent sales for that exact print and grade.
Common questions
- What is the most valuable Team Rocket card?
- Dark Charizard and Dark Raichu lead the set in PSA 10, 1st Edition, both trading in the four to five figures. Dark Charizard is the marquee holo, while Dark Raichu is prized as the first Secret Rare ever printed.
- Why is Dark Raichu so important?
- Dark Raichu, card 83 in an 82-card set, was the first Secret Rare in Pokémon history. It was an unannounced pull from the early Team Rocket print runs, and that milestone status drives much of its value on top of the card itself.
- Is Dark Charizard the same as Base Set Charizard?
- No. Dark Charizard is a different card from the 2000 Team Rocket set, showing Charizard under Team Rocket control. It trades for a fraction of the Base Set Charizard, though it is still the most valuable Wizards Charizard outside Base Set.
- Does Team Rocket have a Shadowless variant?
- No. Team Rocket shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited prints only, with no Shadowless treatment. The prints to know are 1st Edition, marked by the Edition 1 stamp, and Unlimited.
- Team Rocket Dark Charizard in depthA full breakdown of the set’s marquee card and its ceiling.
- 1st Edition vs Shadowless vs UnlimitedThe variant check for every Wizards-era card.
- Most valuable Charizard cardsWhere Dark Charizard ranks among all Charizards.
- Most valuable Base Set cardsThe trilogy that came before Team Rocket.
- Every card in Team RocketBrowse the full set with prices and variants.