Dark Sandslash #18
Dark Sandslash is card #18 from Team Rocket Returns, a Rare Pokémon card currently trading near $112.50 for its Reverse Holofoil printing.
Leave the email blank to keep this alert in your browser only. With an email we'll notify you once per crossing — no account needed.
Want a weekly summary instead? Get the market digest by email — no account needed.
By CardLedger Research · Market data updated · Prices from TCGplayer & Cardmarket
Net estimates use each marketplace's default seller tier and typical shipping — fees vary by category, account status and payment method, so confirm current rates before selling.
Dark Sandslash #18 is moving little either way. No rush to sell or to hold — decide on your own timeline.
Dark Sandslash at a glance
- Current TCGplayer market value $112.50 (Reverse Holofoil).
- Rarity: Rare.
- Short-term trend 3.3% (7d vs 30d).
- Cardmarket values it at €9.97 (EUR).
- Team Rocket Returns, EX series, 2004.
Dark Sandslash price by printing
Live TCGplayer and Cardmarket values for Dark Sandslash #18.
TCGplayer prices, updated 2026/10/26.
- Low
- $49.67
- Mid
- $50.17
- High
- —
- Low
- $9.99
- Mid
- $14.65
- High
- —
Cardmarket pricing (EUR)
Cardmarket data updated 2026/10/26.
Verify the card image and live listings on TCGplayer, Cardmarket or eBay.
Is this Dark Sandslash a good deal?
Put any asking price against today's live market value for Dark Sandslash #18.
Enter what a seller is asking for Dark Sandslash #18. We compare it to today's live market value.
About Dark Sandslash #18
Printed as #18 in Team Rocket Returns, Dark Sandslash belongs to the EX series and dates to 2004. A Fighting/Darkness-type (70 HP), this stage 1 copy appeals to both collectors and players.
Artwork is by Masakazu Fukuda; the Reverse Holofoil printing sits around $112.50, spanning $49.67–— between the cheapest and priciest listings.
Card facts
- Set
- Team Rocket Returns
- Series
- EX
- Number
- #18 / 109
- Rarity
- Rare
- Illustrator
- Masakazu Fukuda
- HP
- 70
- Type
- Fighting / Darkness
- Subtype
- Stage 1
- Evolves from
- Sandshrew
- Pokédex
- #28
- Released
- 2004/11/01
Dark Sandslash attacks, abilities & battle stats
Printed card text and battle statistics for Dark Sandslash #18 — the playability layer behind the price.
Poison Payback
If Dark Sandslash is your Active Pokémon and is damaged by an opponent's attack (even if Dark Sandslash is Knocked Out), the Attacking Pokémon is now Poisoned.
Swift
This attack's damage isn't affected by Weakness, Resistance, Poké-Powers, Poké-Bodies, or any other effects on the Defending Pokémon.
Battle stats
- Weakness
- Grass ×2
- Retreat cost
- —
- Ability
- Poison Payback
- Attacks
- 1
Dark Sandslash price analysis
What drives the current market value of Dark Sandslash #18.
TCGplayer tracks 2 print variants for this card: Reverse Holofoil ($112.50), Normal ($15.13).
$112.50 places Dark Sandslash in investment territory; watch auction records and variant rarity rather than day-to-day asks.
$112.50 places Dark Sandslash in investment territory; watch auction records and variant rarity rather than day-to-day asks.
In EUR, Dark Sandslash trends at €9.97 on Cardmarket (avg sold €7.82, lowest NM €1.99).
Dark Sandslash price history & movement
Momentum reads holding steady — a 7-day average of €7.24 against a 30-day average of €7.01 (+3.3%).
The most recent 24-hour average is €16.00, and Cardmarket's trend price sits at €9.97.
Our own daily snapshots now cover 5 days for Dark Sandslash, with a recorded low of $112.50 and high of $112.50; current value is at 100% of that band.
Day to day the price swings by roughly 0% (standard deviation); the deepest recorded drawdown is 0%.
Cardmarket averages
Price fingerprint
Built from CardLedger's own daily snapshots · 5 days tracked · latest
Real recorded values from our daily TCGplayer snapshots — not estimates or back-filled history. Methodology
How much would you net selling Dark Sandslash?
Model the real take-home on a [object Object] sale across eBay, TCGplayer, Cardmarket and direct — fees and shipping included.
On a $112.50 sale, the take-home differs by platform: about $97.29 via eBay's default tier, $97.86 on TCGplayer, $106.53 on Cardmarket, $99.94 on Whatnot and $112.50 selling directly — a $15.21 spread after fees and typical shipping.
As a rare card, Dark Sandslash sells differently by venue: marketplaces maximise reach, personal channels maximise margin. Use the calculator to weigh reach against take-home.
Your sale
Pre-filled with the current TCGplayer market for Dark Sandslash #18.
Modelled on each marketplace's default seller tier with your shipping input. Net payout = sale price − selling fees − outbound shipping. Fee figures are estimates (last reviewed October 15, 2026) and vary by category, account status and payment method — confirm current rates with the marketplace. Open the full seller fee calculator to model account tiers and buyer-paid shipping.
Should you grade Dark Sandslash?
Model the break-even and PSA 9 vs PSA 10 profit on grading Dark Sandslash #18 against today's raw market value.
Grading plan
Pre-filled with the live market value for Dark Sandslash #18.
Both-way postage plus declared-value insurance.
Estimated graded values below are a transparent starting point based on the raw price band — edit them with real graded comps before deciding.
At $112.50 raw and $40.00 all-in grading cost, a PSA 10 nets $302.56 versus selling raw, a PSA 9 nets $77.45. You need a graded sale of $158.48 to break even on grading.
At your stated grade odds the expected profit is $133.37 (87.5% return on cost basis).
Grading costs, turnaround and grade outcomes vary by service and card. The estimated PSA 9 and PSA 10 values are heuristics, not predictions — always sanity-check against recent graded sold listings before committing. This is a modelling tool, not financial advice.
Dark Sandslash within Team Rocket Returns
Within Team Rocket Returns it is the #38 most valuable of 106 tracked cards; the set median is $79.82.
That is 41% above the middle of the set — a top-65% position.
The set's top card is Rocket's Mewtwo ex (#99), valued at $1,499.99.
What makes Dark Sandslash valuable
- At $112.50 it is liquid enough to sell on major marketplaces, and its thin supply status means buyers compete for clean copies.
- Classic-era cards like Dark Sandslash (2004) are out of print, so condition drives differentiation.
- As a Fighting/Darkness-type Pokémon card, Dark Sandslash is sought by players and collectors alike.
- At Rare rarity, Dark Sandslash is widely available — its value comes from playability and condition.
- Artwork by Masakazu Fukuda is a factor for collectors who follow specific illustrators.
Buying & selling Dark Sandslash
- For Dark Sandslash, confirm the exact print variant before buying: Reverse Holofoil, Normal prices differ, and listings often mix them.
- Bulk lots of Dark Sandslash can hide condition issues; inspect edges and holo surfaces before paying near the — high.
- Check sold listings rather than asking prices — the Reverse Holofoil market of $112.50 reflects actual transactions on TCGplayer.
- Track the Cardmarket 7- and 30-day averages (€7.24 and €7.01) to time entries and exits.
- Team Rocket Returns was released in 2004; sealed product from this era is limited, so raw singles appreciate with collector demand.
Dark Sandslash value questions
What is the value of Dark Sandslash?
Dark Sandslash trades near $112.50 on TCGplayer (Reverse Holofoil), ranging $49.67–—; Cardmarket shows €9.97.
Is Dark Sandslash a good investment?
The card is steady on recent averages. Rare rarity and the classic-era EX set pedigree are the main long-term value anchors.
Is Dark Sandslash rare?
Dark Sandslash is a Rare card from Team Rocket Returns (EX series, 2004). It sits in a common-to-mid rarity tier, so condition and variant matter more than raw scarcity.
What print variants exist for Dark Sandslash?
TCGplayer tracks 2 printings: Reverse Holofoil ($112.50), Normal ($15.13). Prices differ between variants, so always confirm which one you own or are buying.
Where is Dark Sandslash sold?
The main marketplaces are TCGplayer (USD), Cardmarket (EUR) and eBay. Current TCGplayer market is $112.50. When selling, compare net proceeds after fees — eBay and TCGplayer typically charge 9–13%, while direct sales carry lower or no fees.
Why does Dark Sandslash cost what it does?
Four factors dominate: the Rare rarity tier, the classic-era EX set pedigree, playability (Pokémon, Fighting/Darkness), and condition. Artwork by Masakazu Fukuda also matters to collector demand.
More ways to browse Dark Sandslash
Similar value cards
Charmeleon
$114.74Team Rocket Returns
Dark Hypno
$121.66Team Rocket Returns
Furret
$97.49Team Rocket Returns
Dark Raticate
$97.33Team Rocket Returns
Dark Dragonite
$97.20Team Rocket Returns