There is no Dark Slowbro card in the EX Team Rocket Returns set. This is a critical point for collectors searching for pricing information on what they believe they own. The EX Team Rocket Returns expansion, released in November 2004, includes Dark Slowking (9/109) as its Slowpoke family Pokémon ex card, not Dark Slowbro. The confusion arises because Dark Slowbro does exist in the Pokémon Trading Card Game—specifically in the original Team Rocket set from 2000, where it appears as card 29/82 in non-holo rare form.
If you’re looking up pricing for a card called “Dark Slowbro,” you almost certainly have the Team Rocket version, not an EX Team Rocket Returns card. Understanding this distinction matters significantly for valuation. The original Team Rocket Dark Slowbro and the EX Team Rocket Returns Dark Slowking are from entirely different eras, have different supply levels, and command vastly different market prices. Misidentifying which card you own can lead to severe miscalculation of its worth—potentially listing a $15 card for $80 or vice versa.
Table of Contents
- Which Dark Slowbro Card Are You Actually Looking For?
- The EX Team Rocket Returns Alternative—Dark Slowking
- Pricing Factors for Original Team Rocket Dark Slowbro
- How to Identify Your Card’s Set and Version
- Set Rarity and Market Supply Impact
- Grading and Condition Assessment
- Context Within the Team Rocket and EX Team Rocket Returns Sets
Which Dark Slowbro Card Are You Actually Looking For?
The Dark Slowbro that exists in the Pokémon TCG is card 29/82 from the original Team Rocket set, released in April 2000. This card features a non-holo rare version (the standard rare print) and a holo rare version. The non-holo version was printed in far greater quantities than the holo version, which affects current market pricing.
Collectors often confuse this card with Dark Slowking because both are Team Rocket-era dark-type Pokémon and both Slowbro and Slowking occupy similar positions in the Pokédex. If you’re searching “Price charting for EX Team Rocket Returns Dark Slowbro Non-Holo,” the title itself contains a set mismatch. EX Team Rocket Returns was a 2004 set featuring Pokémon ex mechanics (higher HP, better attacks, worth two prize cards when knocked out), while the original Team Rocket set from 2000 used standard non-ex formatting. No Dark Slowbro appears in EX Team Rocket Returns because that Pokémon evolution line was not featured as a primary card in that particular expansion’s roster.
The EX Team Rocket Returns Alternative—Dark Slowking
If you have a card from EX Team Rocket Returns and are looking for a Slowpoke family representative, you likely own Dark Slowking (9/109), not Dark Slowbro. Dark Slowking is a pokémon ex card, meaning it displays the “ex” designation in its name and has higher HP and attack power compared to standard non-ex cards. This card was printed only in the EX Team Rocket Returns set and appeared in both holo and non-holo versions during regular set distribution, though the holo version is considered more valuable by collectors. Dark Slowking has a distinctly different card design, attack set, and power text compared to any Dark Slowbro card.
It features the distinctive Team Rocket dark-type styling of the 2004 era, with a purple-tinted card border and Team Rocket logo. A common mistake when searching online is to misread card names or assume all dark-type Slowpoke evolutions are the same card—they are not. If the card in your collection says “Dark Slowking ex” anywhere on it, you have an EX Team Rocket Returns card. If it says only “Dark Slowbro,” it’s from the original 2000 Team Rocket set.
Pricing Factors for Original Team Rocket Dark Slowbro
The non-holo rare version of Dark Slowbro (Team Rocket 29/82) typically sells between $8 and $18 on secondary markets like TCGPlayer and eBay, depending on condition and whether it’s an unlimited, first edition, or shadowless print. Condition grading is the primary price driver: a near-mint example can fetch $20–$35, while a played condition copy might sell for $5–$10. The holo version of the same card commands significantly higher prices, often ranging from $40 to $150 in near-mint condition, because holos were printed in much lower quantities and are more visually appealing to collectors.
Edition markings matter substantially for Team Rocket cards. First edition copies (marked “1st Edition” on the left side of the card) are rarer than unlimited printings and typically sell for 30–50% premiums. Shadowless copies (the earliest print run with no edition marking and no shadow around the Pokémon image) are the rarest and most valuable, though Dark Slowbro shadowless copies are uncommon enough that asking prices vary widely. When researching pricing, always verify the edition and print version of the specific copy you’re examining, as these details dramatically affect comparability.
How to Identify Your Card’s Set and Version
To determine whether you have a Dark Slowbro or Dark Slowking, look at the card’s name line directly below the image. The name will read either “Dark Slowbro” or “Dark Slowking.” Next, check the small set symbol and number in the bottom right corner of the card. Team Rocket cards show “29/82” for Dark Slowbro. EX Team Rocket Returns cards show different numbers entirely—Dark Slowking appears as “9/109.” The set symbol (a small icon) also differs: Team Rocket uses a capital “R” in a circle, while EX Team Rocket Returns uses an “R” with a different design. Another reliable identifier is the card’s border and text styling.
Team Rocket cards from 2000 have a distinctive thick yellow text box at the bottom with attacks listed in that format. EX Team Rocket Returns cards from 2004 use a different layout with thinner fonts and different attack formatting. If the card says “ex” after the Pokémon name (like “Dark Slowking ex”), it’s definitely from EX Team Rocket Returns. The original Team Rocket Dark Slowbro has no “ex” designation. Once you’ve confirmed which card you own, you can research pricing for that specific card rather than searching for a card that doesn’t exist in a particular set.
Set Rarity and Market Supply Impact
The original Team Rocket set had two print runs: first edition and unlimited. First edition copies were produced for a shorter window before the unlimited run began, making them scarcer and more collectible. However, even unlimited Team Rocket products were printed decades ago and have experienced significant attrition from play and storage damage, meaning even common cards in mint condition can hold value.
Dark Slowbro is not one of the rarest cards in Team Rocket—it’s a non-holo rare, a middle-tier rarity that was opened in reasonable quantities. EX Team Rocket Returns had a much smaller print run overall compared to the original Team Rocket set, but Dark Slowking specifically is not an exceptionally rare card within that set either. The practical implication is that both Dark Slowbro (Team Rocket 29/82) and Dark Slowking (EX Team Rocket Returns 9/109) have moderate supply on the secondary market, meaning you can usually find listings if you search for the correct card. However, finding one in near-mint condition becomes significantly more difficult, as most copies in circulation show visible wear and handling damage from being played or stored improperly for over 20 years.
Grading and Condition Assessment
Condition determines the majority of price variation for non-holo commons and uncommons. A near-mint Dark Slowbro (Team Rocket 29/82) graded PSA 8 or higher might sell for $30–$50, while the same card ungraded and lightly played might fetch $6–$12. Professional grading services like PSA, BGS, and CGC assess cards on a 1–10 scale, with 7 (near-mint-minus) being the threshold where prices jump noticeably.
For Team Rocket era cards, even light wear—small creases, light edge whitening, or minor corner touches—drops cards from PSA 8 to PSA 6 or below, reducing value by 50% or more. When examining a card’s condition yourself, look for creasing (the most damaging defect), edge whitening (wear along the card’s perimeter), corner rounding (dulled or rounded corners instead of sharp edges), and surface wear (scratches or scuffs visible under light). Non-holo rares like Dark Slowbro are particularly vulnerable to surface scratches because the matte finish shows damage more obviously than holo cards. If you own an older copy that you’re considering selling, having it graded by a reputable service often increases buyer confidence and can justify higher pricing, though grading fees ($15–$50 per card depending on the service) eat into profit on lower-value cards.
Context Within the Team Rocket and EX Team Rocket Returns Sets
Dark Slowbro’s role within the Team Rocket set was minor—it was a stage 2 Pokémon (requiring Slowpoke and Slowbro in evolution) with decent but not exceptional stats for the era. The card saw some casual play but was never competitively dominant, which is why it was never reprinted with the same name and remains in the original set only. In contrast, Dark Slowking in EX Team Rocket Returns was positioned as a primary set feature because it was an ex Pokémon, making it more powerful and strategically relevant. This explains why newer collectors sometimes expect Dark Slowbro to appear in EX Team Rocket Returns—higher-rarity Pokémon lines often do get featured, but Dark Slowbro was simply not chosen for that particular set four years after its original printing.
The Team Rocket set itself is significant in Pokémon TCG history as the first set to feature dark-type Pokémon and introduced the “Team Rocket” mechanic, where these cards were stolen or corrupted Pokémon with Team Rocket branding. This thematic element makes Team Rocket cards collectible beyond just gameplay value. Dark Slowbro carries that historical weight, and collectors who focus on Team Rocket nostalgia or completing the original set often seek out copies even at modest price points. Understanding this context helps explain why the card retains market value despite being neither rare nor competitively relevant by modern standards.
