Dark Sandslash
Team Rocket Returns · 18/109 · Rare
Current Prices
Number
18/109
Rarity
Rare
Variant
Reverse_Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Jun 9, 2026
Dark Sandslash: Rarity & Collectibility
Dark Sandslash in its sought-after Reverse_Holofoil variant is a genuine Rare that print runs hold back, so collectors have to hunt for clean copies. Cataloged as Rare #18/109 of the Team Rocket Returns set, it is the kind of card RarePokemonCard tracks for scarcity and collector demand rather than raw price alone. The harder a card is to pull in top condition, the more weight serious collectors place on it.
How Rare & Valuable Is Dark Sandslash?
In 2026, a Near Mint Dark Sandslash (Rare, Team Rocket Returns #18/109) changes hands at roughly $69.69, and desirability among set-builders keeps that number firm. Because demand concentrates on clean copies, surface wear is punished hard: a Near Mint example commands about $69.69, whereas a Damaged one slides to around $14.01. Across the wear scale that reads Near Mint $69.69, Lightly Played $74.99, Moderately Played $45.00, Heavily Played $29.22, Damaged $14.01 — proof that for a collectible like this, presentation is inseparable from value. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Dark Sandslash is valued near $1,240 — about 18x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Dark Sandslash: Gem Mint & Population
Even for a card at this rarity, the top of the market belongs to certified gem-mint copies. A PSA 10 (or CGC 10 / BGS Black Label equivalent) Dark Sandslash sits around $1,240 — roughly 18x a raw copy. That gap exists because relatively few examples ever earn a perfect grade, so gem-mint population is the real scarcity collectors chase. Step down a notch and demand spreads across PSA 9 $220.00, CGC 9.5 $125.00, PSA 8 $91.00 — each tier a smaller, scarcer pool than the one below it. The rule of thumb for collectors: the rarer the card, the more a certified high grade matters to its standing.
Detailed Price Breakdown
| Source | Condition / Grade | Average | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ebay | DAMAGED | $18.99 | $18.99 | $18.99 | 1 |
| ebay | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $40.00 | $40.00 | $40.00 | 1 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $79.05 | $79.05 | $79.05 | 5 |
| ebay | BGS 9 | $100.25 | $100.25 | $100.25 | 1 |
| ebay | CGC 8 | $82.77 | $82.77 | $82.77 | 1 |
| ebay | CGC 8 5 | $59.99 | $59.99 | $59.99 | 1 |
| ebay | CGC 9 | $49.99 | $49.99 | $49.99 | 1 |
| ebay | CGC 9 5 | $125.00 | $125.00 | $125.00 | 3 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $1,240 | $1,240 | $1,240 | 7 |
| ebay | PSA 2 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 7 | $45.00 | $45.00 | $45.00 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 8 | $91.00 | $91.00 | $91.00 | 8 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $220.00 | $220.00 | $220.00 | 32 |
| tcgplayer | DAMAGED | $14.01 | $14.01 | $14.01 | 5 |
| tcgplayer | HEAVILY PLAYED | $29.22 | $29.22 | $29.22 | 5 |
| tcgplayer | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $74.99 | $79.99 | $79.99 | 6 |
| tcgplayer | MODERATELY PLAYED | $45.00 | $45.00 | $45.00 | 8 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $69.69 | $69.69 | $69.69 | 32 |
Collector Outlook for Dark Sandslash
Dark Sandslash holds steady chase appeal: a Rare that completists actively track down in top condition. Cards in this band from beloved sets tend to keep a loyal collector base over time. Whether you are chasing it for a set or as a centerpiece, revisit Dark Sandslash on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
