Dark Quilava · Neo Destiny, what to know.
About the Dark Quilava card
Dark Quilava is card 39 of 113 in Neo Destiny, released in February 2002, an Uncommon. It is a Stage 1 Fire-type with 60 HP.
As a Stage 1, it evolves from Cyndaquil, which places Dark Quilava deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Team Rocket darkened Quilava under its control for the set's villain arc, a grittier repaint of the familiar Pokémon with an altered attack profile.
Illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita. Arita painted the Base Set Charizard and much of the early holo run, and his work has a painterly weight that set the visual tone of the Wizards era.
The card's flavor text gives Quilava a line of lore: "If it turns its back to an opponent, it is a sign that it is getting ready to attack."
About Quilava in the Pokémon world
The middle Cyndaquil stage. Mid-stage card; bought as part of the line.
What is Dark Quilava worth?
Dark Quilava 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.
Print variants and how to spot them
Neo Destiny produced 1st Edition, Unlimited, Shining prints. For Dark Quilava, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Dark Quilava 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.
If you are collecting Dark Quilava
Raw copies of Dark Quilava are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Dark Quilava is the practical move.
