Darkrai VSTAR – Special Art Rare 228/172 | VSTAR Universe (S12a) | Japanese Pokémon Card 2022

The Pitch-Black Nightmare — in one of the most atmospheric SAR illustrations ever printed. The Darkrai VSTAR Special Art Rare (SAR) 228/172 from the Japanese Sword & Shield High Class Pack VSTAR Universe (S12a) features a breathtaking full-art illustration by Pani Kobayashi — placing Darkrai hovering over a moonlit twilight landscape of misty mountains, glowing floral meadows, and an ethereal night sky in a composition of extraordinary beauty and depth.

VSTAR Universe was released on December 2nd 2022 in Japan as a prestigious High Class Pack — the definitive Sword & Shield era swan song, packed with SARs, ARs, and stunning alternate art treatments that collectors have pursued since day one. The Darkrai VSTAR SAR by Pani Kobayashi is widely regarded as one of the finest Darkrai illustrations ever produced — the twilight landscape setting perfectly capturing the Mythical Pokémon's domain over darkness and dreams. 

A Darkness-type V Evolution with 270 HP, featuring the scaling Dark Pulse attack — dealing 30+ damage, boosted by 30 for every Darkness Energy across all your Pokémon — and the once-per-game Star Abyss VSTAR Power: retrieving up to 2 Item cards from your discard pile and adding them directly to your hand — one of the most versatile and competitively powerful VSTAR Powers in the Sword & Shield era.

Card Details:

• Set: VSTAR Universe (S12a) – Japanese Sword & Shield High Class Pack 2022
• Card Number: 228/172
• Rarity: Special Art Rare (SAR)
• Type: Darkness
• Stage: V Evolution (VSTAR)
• HP: 270
• Attack: Dark Pulse (30+)
• VSTAR Power: Star Abyss (recover 2 Items from discard)
• Illustrator: Pani Kobayashi
• Finish: Full Art Holofoil SAR
• Language: Japanese
• Condition: Near Mint

Why collectors love this card: Darkrai is one of the most beloved and atmospheric Mythical Pokémon in the franchise — the Prince of Nightmares whose midnight silhouette has inspired some of the finest TCG artwork across multiple eras. Pani Kobayashi's moonlit meadow illustration is a masterpiece of mood and light — tranquil, haunting, and deeply beautiful in a way that makes this SAR a standout piece in even the stacked VSTAR Universe lineup. The Star Abyss VSTAR Power made this card genuinely competitive throughout its Standard-legal run. A must for Darkness-type collectors, Darkrai fans, VSTAR Universe set builders, and anyone drawn to atmospheric night-themed card art.

✅ Japanese Exclusive · ✅ Special Art Rare (SAR) · ✅ Near Mint

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