Dark Gyarados – 25th Anniversary Promo 005/025 (s8a-P) | Full Art Holo | Japanese Pokémon TCG 2021

The legendary villain Pokémon from the original Team Rocket set — reborn in full-art holo for the 25th Anniversary. The Dark Gyarados 25th Anniversary Promo 005/025 is a full-art holographic promotional card from the Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition (S8a-P) — a special series of 25 promo cards released in Japan in October 2021 to celebrate 25 years of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, distributed at Pokémon Centers and participating retail shops to customers who purchased 5 booster packs from the 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a).

This card is a promotional reprint of the iconic Dark Gyarados from the original 2000 Team Rocket expansion — one of the most beloved "Dark Pokémon" cards of the vintage era, themed around Team Rocket's villainous corruption of ordinary Pokémon. Illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno, the dramatic illustration shows Gyarados rendered in moody dark blues against a sparkle-pattern confetti background — sinister, powerful, and instantly recognisable to anyone who collected cards at the turn of the millennium.

A Water-type Stage 1 at LV.31 with 70 HP, featuring the unique Final Beam Special Ability — usable only once, when this Pokémon is Knocked Out by an opponent's attack (and not while affected by Sleep, Paralysis, or Confusion): flip a coin, and on heads deal 20 damage per Water Energy attached to the attacking Pokémon to that Pokémon. Frost Beam deals 30 damage with a chance to Paralyze on a coin flip.

Card Details:

• Set: Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition (s8a-P)
• Card Number: 005/025
• Rarity: Full Art Holo Promo
• Type: Water
• Stage: Stage 1 (Lv.31)
• HP: 70
• Special Ability: Final Beam (revenge damage on KO)
• Attack: Frost Beam (30, chance to Paralyze)
• Illustrator: Kagemaru Himeno
• Distribution: Pokémon Center / Retail – October 2021 (purchase of 5 S8a packs)
• Language: Japanese
• Condition: Near Mint

Why collectors love this card:
Dark Gyarados is one of the most iconic and historically significant cards from the original Team Rocket era — a fan-favourite "Dark Pokémon" concept that captured the imagination of an entire generation of collectors at the very dawn of the Pokémon TCG. Reviving it in full-art holo for the 25th Anniversary series gives long-time collectors a genuinely emotional, nostalgic touchpoint — the same beloved character reimagined with two decades of card design evolution behind it. A must for vintage Pokémon fans, Gyarados collectors, Team Rocket era enthusiasts, and 25th Anniversary promo completionists.

✅ Japanese Exclusive · ✅ 25th Anniversary Promo Series · ✅ Full Art Holo · ✅ Near Mint

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