わるいヤドラン (Dark Slowbro)

Market outlook

Rising Outlook 8/10

Japanese Old Back cards, especially from Team Rocket, are seeing sustained price growth due to global collector demand, limited supply of pristine copies, and increasing graded 10 valuations. The 2026 market shows ¥55,000+ for graded 8, indicating upward momentum [3][4][10].

Next months. Next 3–6 months: Prices expected to rise 5–10% for graded 8–9 and 10–15% for graded 10 copies as auction activity increases.

Long term. 1–3 years: Continued appreciation of 10–25% annually for high-grade Old Back Team Rocket holos, with graded 10 copies potentially reaching $1,500+ USD.

History

Dark Slowbro (わるいヤドラン) is the corrupted, Team Rocket-controlled version of the Pokémon Slowbro (ヤドラン). In the Team Rocket set lore, it represents Slowbro after being turned by the villainous organization, gaining a 'Dark' attribute and a sinister appearance. It evolves from Dark Shellder (わるいシェルダー) or regular Shellder under Team Rocket's influence, retaining its Psychic type but with altered abilities reflecting its evil nature [5].

First released in Japan in April 2000 as part of the 4th Expansion Pack 'Team Rocket' (ロケット団), designated as No. 080 with 'Old Back' (旧裏) printing [1][2][5]. The card is from the Japanese Pokémon Card Game (PMCG4) era, though the set year is sometimes mislisted as 1997 due to the original Pokémon Game Boy release; the actual Team Rocket set release was 2000 [4][8].

• It is a holographic Rare card (★) in the Team Rocket set, featuring the 'Old Back' (pre-2001 revised back) print, making it highly sought by collectors [1][3][6].
• The card has Level 27, 60 HP, evolves from Shellder, and is Psychic-type with the special ability 'つりあげる' (Lift Up) [5].
• graded 10 graded copies have been auctioned, confirming its viability as a high-end collectible [4][8].

Rarity and print run

Tier

Rare

Print run

Medium

First printed in

Team Rocket (ロケット団) / PMCG4

Demand

High

Supply

Low

• Old Back printing (pre-2001) is finite and no longer reprinted
• Holographic foil degrades over time, reducing high-grade copies
• Team Rocket set is one of the most iconic early Japanese sets, driving collector interest

Collector notes

Condition. Check for centering, especially critical for holographic cards; inspect the holographic foil for scratches, clouding, or 'whitening' (common on old Holo cards). Edge wear and corner dents are frequent flaws. The 'Old Back' version must have the pre-2001 back design (no copyright year or '©' symbol) to be authentic [1][3][7].

Storage. Store in a rigid top-loader sleeve, kept in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight. For high-value copies (graded 8+), maintain in original tamper-proof cases. Avoid humidity to prevent foil warping [3][7].

Authenticity. Authentic Old Back cards have the original Japanese back without the 2001 copyright update. Fakes often show incorrect holographic patterns, off-center printing, or use the revised back. Verify graded grading authenticity via graded's database for graded copies. Ungraded cards should be compared to known authentic examples for font, color saturation, and foil texture [4][6][8].