Dark Gyarados

Numbered 8 of 25 in Celebrations Classic Collection, released in October 2021, Dark Gyarados is a Classic Collection, a Stage 1 Water-type carrying 70 HP.

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

Team Rocket darkened Gyarados 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.

Dark Gyarados carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Normally found only in the deep ocean, it has recently been seen in shallow waters as well."

The fully evolved Magikarp. A massive serpentine water-flying dragon. Famous for the disproportionate evolution arc. Base Set holo Gyarados is one of the most aesthetically beloved holos in the set. Steady graded demand and appreciation.

Dark Gyarados is a Common, so raw copies trade for very little and most of the print run survives. The only real value is in pristine, high-grade copies, where even a Common can reach low triple digits in 1st Edition PSA 10. See the live price above for the current figure by grade.

Confirm the print and finish on Dark Gyarados before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.

Dark Gyarados is the most forgiving tier to grade in the set. Centering on the framed border is the usual cap, and the soft cardstock picks up edge whitening easily, but high print runs keep clean copies affordable.

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