What was the first secret rare Pokémon card?
Dark Raichu, from Team Rocket. A secret rare is a card numbered higher than the set total printed on the cards, so it does not show up on the set list. Team Rocket has 82 cards on its list, and Dark Raichu is card 83/82.
Every English set before it, from Base Set to Base Set 2, ends exactly at its printed total. Japanese cards of that time had no collector numbers at all, so there was nothing to go past. Dark Raichu is also not in the Japanese Rocket Gang set that Team Rocket was built on.
Dark Raichu, Team Rocket 83/82
What does Dark Raichu do?
Dark Raichu is a 70 HP Stage 1 holo that evolves from Pikachu, drawn by Mitsuhiro Arita. Its one attack, Surprise Thunder, costs three Lightning Energy and does 30 damage. Then you flip a coin: on heads, flip again, and the second flip decides whether each of your opponent's Benched Pokémon takes 20 damage or 10.
The flavour text fits the surprise: "Stores up electricity in its body, then suddenly releases it to surprise and shock everyone."
Is there a 1st Edition Dark Raichu?
Yes. Team Rocket was printed in 1st Edition and Unlimited, like the other Wizards of the Coast sets of the time. The 1st Edition card has the black Edition 1 stamp at the bottom left of the artwork, and it usually sells for more than the Unlimited version.
How much is Dark Raichu worth?
In late September 2026, the Cardmarket price Pooka tracks for Dark Raichu was about €190, and eBay sales averaged about €78. The price depends heavily on condition and on whether the card is 1st Edition, so compare like with like.
The secret rares that followed
The next secret rares came in Neo Revelation in September 2001: Shining Gyarados 65/64 and Shining Magikarp 66/64. Neo Destiny followed in February 2002 with eight Shining Pokémon numbered 106 to 113 of 105, including Shining Charizard.
Today almost every set has secret rares. Burning Shadows (2017), for example, lists 147 cards but goes on to 177, with rainbow rares like Charizard-GX at 150/147.
Later secret rares
All cards in this guide
| Card | Set | Rarity | Released | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dark Raichu #83 | Team Rocket | Rare Secret | 2000 |
 | Shining Gyarados #65 | Neo Revelation | Rare Shining | 2001 |
 | Shining Charizard #107 | Neo Destiny | Rare Shining | 2002 |
 | Charizard-GX #150 | Burning Shadows | Rare Rainbow | 2017 |
