Last Updated: October 2026
Dark Charizard from Pokémon Card★web is one of the most fascinating Japanese Charizard cards from the early 2000s. Released in 2001, this holo card combines the iconic Dark Charizard artwork with one of the most unusual Pokémon TCG releases ever produced.
What makes it especially interesting is that Pokémon Card★web was a Japan-exclusive set with no English equivalent. Even today, the card can be surprisingly difficult to find in good condition.
📌 Key Facts
| Release | October 20, 2001 |
| Set | Pokémon Card★web |
| Card No. | 042/048 |
| Rarity | Rare Holo |
| Artist | Ken Sugimori |
| Language | Japanese Exclusive |
| PSA 10 Market | Approximately $9,000–$10,000 |
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The Story Behind Pokémon Card★web
Pokémon Card★web was released in Japan on October 20, 2001. It was the only main expansion of the short-lived Japanese Web Era and contained 48 cards.
Unlike a normal booster set, Pokémon Card★web was sold through Pokémon Center Online. The cards were distributed in small packs inside clear plastic packaging rather than the traditional foil booster packs.
The set was also unusual because it reprinted cards from earlier expansions, including cards from the original Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket era.
That is where this Dark Charizard comes in.
Web Dark Charizard #042
The Dark Charizard #042/048 uses Ken Sugimori’s iconic Dark Charizard artwork originally associated with the Team Rocket era.
However, the Web version has a completely different card layout and set identity. The Web symbol and card number clearly distinguish it from the earlier Japanese Rocket Gang and English Team Rocket versions.
The Web version was released in both 1st Edition and Unlimited printings, making the 1st Edition copy particularly desirable to collectors.
This is also an important distinction when shopping: a listing simply described as “Japanese Dark Charizard” may refer to several completely different cards.
How Much Is Web Dark Charizard Worth?
The market for this card has changed dramatically. Recent raw sales have ranged widely, with many ordinary raw copies selling around $70–$90, while exceptionally clean copies can command much more.
| Condition | Approximate Market Value |
|---|---|
| Raw | Approximately $70–$300+ |
| PSA 7 | Approximately $500–$2,000 |
| PSA 8 | Approximately $1,000–$1,300 |
| PSA 9 | Approximately $1,600–$3,500+ |
| PSA 10 | Approximately $9,000–$10,000+ |
Prices can vary enormously depending on the exact printing, condition, centering, and whether the sale was an auction or fixed-price transaction. Recent PSA 10 sales have reached roughly $8,000–$10,000+, showing just how valuable a Gem Mint copy can become.
Why Has It Become So Expensive?
There are several reasons collectors are attracted to this card.
- It features one of the most popular Pokémon of all time.
- It is a Japanese-exclusive Web Era card with no English equivalent.
- The card is a holo Dark Charizard.
- It was produced in both 1st Edition and Unlimited versions.
- The Pokémon Web release itself was unusual and relatively obscure.
- High-grade copies have become increasingly expensive.
For collectors of Japanese vintage Pokémon cards, it checks almost every box: Charizard, holo, early-era artwork, Japanese exclusivity, and a fascinating release history.
1st Edition or Unlimited?
If you are searching for one, pay close attention to the printing.
The 1st Edition version carries the 1st Edition stamp, while the Unlimited version does not. Both are collectible, but the 1st Edition version has become particularly desirable among high-end collectors.
Recent 1st Edition PSA 9 sales have reached roughly $2,000–$3,500, while PSA 10 examples have sold for several thousand dollars and, in 2026, have repeatedly reached around $7,000–$10,000+.
Does an English Version Exist?
No identical English Pokémon Web card exists.
Pokémon Card★web was released exclusively in Japanese, making this Dark Charizard a true Japanese-exclusive version. English collectors may recognize the original Dark Charizard from Team Rocket, but the Web #042/048 printing itself was never released in English.
Final Thoughts
The Web Dark Charizard is one of those cards that can easily be overlooked if you only collect the major Japanese sets.
It uses a familiar Dark Charizard illustration, but its unusual Web Era history, Japanese exclusivity, 1st Edition printing, and rapidly increasing high-grade prices make it a very interesting card for serious collectors.
If you are building a complete Charizard collection, this is definitely a version worth knowing about.
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