Salamence – Darkness Ablaze (#185)
Price Overview & Key Facts
Salamence (#185) is a Rare Ultra card from Sword & Shield - Darkness Ablaze released in 2020. It showcases artwork by Saki Hayashiro and the Swoop Across attack, This attack does 30 damage to each of your opponent's Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.). TCGplayer market price sits around $3.05, Cardmarket average sale is €5.79, Floor listings start near €2.79.
- TCGplayer market price: $3.05
- Cardmarket trend price: €3.55
- Recent low listing: €2.79
Card Details
- Set
- Darkness Ablaze
- Card Number
- 185
- Rarity
- ✨ Rare Ultra
- Illustrator
- 🎨 Saki Hayashiro
- HP
- 220
- Type
- ⭐ Colorless
- Regulation Mark
- Regulation D ✓ Legal in Standard
- Weaknesses
- Lightning ×2
- Resistances
- Fighting -30
- Retreat Cost
- 2 (Colorless, Colorless)
Attacks & Strategy
-
Swoop Across
[Colorless, Colorless, Colorless]
This attack does 30 damage to each of your opponent's Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) -
Heavy Storm
[Colorless, Colorless, Colorless, Colorless]
— 160
💡 Excellent damage-to-energy ratio (40.0 per energy).
💎 Collector's Value & Investment Potential
Salamence from Darkness Ablaze (Rare Ultra) represents a premium addition to any Pokémon TCG collection. Released in 2020, this card features artwork by renowned illustrator Saki Hayashiro.
Market Trends: Current market conditions show moderate interest in this card.
Investment Considerations: Mid-range TCG cards often provide balanced risk-reward profiles for collectors.
⚔️ Competitive Play & Tournament Viability
This Salamence 185 is legal for tournament play in Expanded, Unlimited formats. The card bears Regulation Mark D, indicating its current competitive viability.
Key Attack: Salamence's Swoop Across for Colorless + Colorless + Colorless energy. Special effect: This attack does 30 damage to each of your opponent's Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance ...
Stats Overview: 220 HP • Colorless Type • Weak to Lightning ×2 • Resistant to Fighting -30
Players should check the official Pokémon TCG tournament rules for the most current format regulations and card legality status.
� Compare Salamence Cards
Looking for other Salamence cards to compare? View different versions with varying HP, attacks, and rarity levels.
| Set | HP | Attacks | Rarity | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darkness Ablaze #185 ← Current | 220 | 2 attacks | Rare Ultra | $3.05 |
�📦 Darkness Ablaze Set Context
This Salamence is part of the Darkness Ablaze expansion , released as part of the Sword & Shield series in 2020. As a Rare Ultra card, it represents one of the premium pulls from this set.
Artist Spotlight: This card features artwork by Saki Hayashiro, whose distinctive illustration style has made their cards highly collectible. Explore more cards illustrated by this artist to discover similar art styles and collecting themes.
💎 Professional Grading Guide
Professional grading can significantly increase the value of your Salamence card. Here's what you need to know:
Industry standard • Value multiplier: 3-6x
Best for: High-value cards, modern sets
Subgrades available • Value multiplier: 3-5x
Best for: Premium cards, perfect centering
Fast turnaround • Value multiplier: 2-4x
Best for: Budget-friendly option, bulk
💡 Should You Grade This Card?
- Yes, consider grading if: Premium rarity card in Near Mint+ condition
- Grading cost: $20-100+ per card (depending on service level)
- Break-even point: Card should be worth $50+ raw to justify grading costs
- Turnaround time: 2 weeks to 6 months depending on service
Collector Notes
- Rare Ultra cards from Darkness Ablaze are typically short-printed and head straight into collector binders.
- The illustration by Saki Hayashiro resonates with starter collectors, creating consistent search demand for this Bulbasaur variant.
- Colorless typing keeps this card relevant for themed decks and Grass-type collectors alike.
📚 Card History & Trivia
Release Information: Salamence 185 was released in 2020 in the Darkness Ablaze expansion. This set is part of the Sword & Shield series, which introduced new gameplay mechanics and collectible cards.
Artist Background: The artwork for this card was created by Saki Hayashiro. Professional Pokémon TCG artists undergo rigorous selection and bring unique styles to the game. View complete portfolio →
Rarity & Collectibility: As a Rare Ultra card, this Salamence is among the premium chase cards from Darkness Ablaze. These premium versions typically hold value better than common printings.
Set Popularity: Darkness Ablaze represents a mid-era release that balances accessibility with collectibility.
Competitive History: Colorless type Pokémon like Salamence with high HP make excellent tank options in competitive play, often serving as cornerstone Pokémon in control decks. Currently legal in Expanded, Unlimited formats.
🛡️ Related Products & Deck Building
Maximize the value and playability of your Salamence card with these essential products:
- Penny sleeves: Basic protection
- Perfect fit sleeves: Pre-grading
- Top loaders: Display & storage
- Magnetic holders recommended
- Binders with side-loading pages
- Storage boxes (800-count)
- ETB (Elite Trainer Box) storage
- Premium display cases
- Pair with Colorless energy cards
- Energy acceleration trainers
- Draw support & consistency cards
💡 Deck Building Tip: Salamence works best in Colorless type decks. With high HP, consider including healing and damage reduction cards to maximize survivability.