Dark Espeon · Neo Destiny, what to know.
About the Dark Espeon card
Numbered 4 of 113 in Neo Destiny, released in February 2002, Dark Espeon is a Rare Holo, a Stage 1 Psychic-type carrying 60 HP.
It evolves from Eevee, so Dark Espeon is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Team Rocket darkened Espeon under its control for the set's villain arc, a grittier repaint of the familiar Pokémon with an altered attack profile.
Illustrated by Atsuko Nishida. Nishida is the original designer of Pikachu and many Gen 1 Pokémon, and her card work has a soft, rounded warmth that suits the friendlier creatures.
Dark Espeon carries this Pokédex flavor text: "The tips of its split tail quiver whenever it uses its psychic abilities to read its opponent's next move."
About Espeon in the Pokémon world
The Psychic Eeveelution. Sleek lavender silhouette. One of the most beloved Eeveelution designs. Neo Discovery holo Espeon is one of the most-collected Generation 2 holos. Modern reprints (Evolving Skies VMAX, Prismatic Evolutions ex) drive sustained collector interest.
What is Dark Espeon worth?
Dark Espeon is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Neo Destiny's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Neo Destiny holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to Shining Charizard at the top; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Neo Destiny produced 1st Edition, Unlimited, Shining prints. For Dark Espeon, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window on Dark Espeon is where most points are won or lost. Surface scratches and foil misregistration are common on Wizards-era cards, and centering was inconsistent enough that clean PSA 10s stay scarce. Read the psychic foil at a 45-degree angle under strong light before committing.
If you are collecting Dark Espeon
When you go to buy Dark Espeon, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Dark Espeon, so price the specific copy in front of you.
