Japanese sets › Challenge from the Darkness
Japanese setChallenge from the Darkness 闇からの挑戦
In 30 secondsThe second Japanese Gym set, released in June 1999, adding Koga (キョウ), Blaine (カツラ), Giovanni (サカキ) and more Sabrina (ナツメ) cards. It is the Japanese original of Gym Challenge, including Blaine's Charizard (カツラのリザードン).
| Japanese name | 闇からの挑戦 |
|---|---|
| Released in Japan | 25 June 1999 |
| Cards in the set | 98 |
| Holo cards | 16 |
| Pokemon / Trainer / Energy | 75 / 23 / 0 |
| Card numbers printed? | No. Japanese cards before 2001 have no card numbers |
| 1st Edition | No (no Japanese 1st Edition stamp in this era) |
| Card back | The old "Pocket Monsters" back |
| English version | Gym Challenge |
| Copies printed | Never published |
| Copies graded by CGC (whole set) | 43,344 |
The packs and the box
Pack and box images © Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, via Bulbapedia, shown for identification only.
Go deeper: Rocket's legendaries
R団のミュウツー (Rocket's Mewtwo) and R団のサンダー (Rocket's Zapdos) are both holos here, as in the English Gym Challenge. Giovanni gets four holo Pokemon: Gyarados, Machamp, Nidoking and Persian.
Go deeper: 98 Japanese cards
The Japanese set has 98 cards and the English Gym Challenge 132, because the two English Gym sets mixed cards from both Japanese Gym sets. CGC also lists Yamabuki City and Guren Town Gym deck cards as their own versions.
Go deeper: how to recognise it
No card numbers, no 1st Edition stamp and the old "Pocket Monsters" back. Blaine's Charizard is the card most collectors look for first.
Most graded cards in this set (CGC)
| Card | Graded by CGC | Perfect 10s |
|---|---|---|
| ナツメのゲンガー Sabrina's Gengar | 2,725 | 212 |
| カツラのリザードン Blaine's Charizard | 2,664 | 155 |
| ナツメのフーディン Sabrina's Alakazam | 1,968 | 164 |
| カツラのウインディ Blaine's Arcanine | 1,854 | 142 |
| エリカのフシギバナ Erika's Venusaur | 1,778 | 128 |
| カツラのファイヤー Blaine's Moltres | 1,590 | 161 |
| R団のミュウツー Rocket's Mewtwo | 1,577 | 127 |
| ナツメの眼 Sabrina's Gaze | 1,504 | 211 |
Every card in Challenge from the Darkness
Japanese name first, English name underneath. Gold edge = holo. These cards have no printed numbers, so they are listed in database order. CGC count = all versions. Pictures show the matching English card. The artwork is usually the same; the Japanese card has Japanese text and no card number. Photos of the Japanese cards themselves are coming.
Matching English cardキョウのビードルKoga's WeedleCGC 127
Matching English cardキョウのアーボKoga's EkansCGC 146ジョバンニのニドラン♀Nidoran♀
ジョバンニのニドラン♂Nidoran♂
Matching English cardキョウのズバットKoga's ZubatCGC 153ナツメのコンパンSabrina's VenonatCGC 186
Matching English cardキョウのベトベターKoga's GrimerCGC 185
Matching English cardキョウのドガースKoga's KoffingCGC 332
Matching English cardキョウのモンジャラKoga's TangelaCGC 202
Matching English cardエリカのフシギソウErika's IvysaurCGC 251
Matching English cardキョウのコクーンKoga's KakunaCGC 110
Matching English cardサカキのニドリーナGiovanni's NidorinaCGC 101
Matching English cardサカキのニドリーノGiovanni's NidorinoCGC 99
Matching English cardキョウのゴルバットKoga's GolbatCGC 126Matching English cardキョウのドガースKoga's KoffingCGC 332
Matching English cardキョウのマタドガスKoga's WeezingCGC 148
Matching English cardエリカのフシギバナErika's VenusaurHolo · CGC 1,778
Matching English cardキョウのスピアーKoga's BeedrillHolo · CGC 1,130
Matching English cardキョウのアーボックKoga's ArbokCGC 92
Matching English cardサカキのニドクインGiovanni's NidoqueenCGC 117
Matching English cardサカキのニドキングGiovanni's NidokingHolo · CGC 1,140ナツメのモルフォンSabrina's VenomothCGC 102
Matching English cardキョウのベトベトンKoga's MukCGC 127
Matching English cardサカキのカイロスGiovanni's PinsirCGC 116
Matching English cardカツラのヒトカゲBlaine's CharmanderCGC 461
Matching English cardカツラのロコンBlaine's VulpixCGC 293
Matching English cardカツラのガーディBlaine's GrowlitheCGC 377
Matching English cardカツラのポニータBlaine's PonytaCGC 298
Matching English cardカツラのリザードBlaine's CharmeleonCGC 278
Matching English cardカツラのギャロップBlaine's RapidashCGC 213カツラのブーバーBlaine's MagmarCGC 226
Matching English cardカツラのリザードンBlaine's CharizardHolo · CGC 2,664
Matching English cardカツラのキュウコンBlaine's NinetalesCGC 243
Matching English cardカツラのウインディBlaine's ArcanineHolo · CGC 1,854カツラのファイヤーBlaine's MoltresHolo · CGC 1,590
Matching English cardナツメのコダックSabrina's PsyduckCGC 239
Matching English cardサカキのコイキングGiovanni's MagikarpCGC 267
Matching English cardナツメのゴルダックSabrina's GolduckCGC 162カスミのニョロボンMisty's PoliwrathCGC 108
Matching English cardサカキのギャラドスGiovanni's GyaradosHolo · CGC 1,485
Matching English cardマチスのライチュウLt. Surge's RaichuHolo · CGC 1,164
Matching English cardR団のサンダーRocket's ZapdosHolo · CGC 1,378
Matching English cardナツメのケーシィSabrina's AbraCGC 448ナツメのヤドンSabrina's SlowpokeCGC 270
Matching English cardナツメのスリープSabrina's DrowzeeCGC 300
Matching English cardナツメのバリヤードSabrina's Mr. MimeCGC 358
Matching English cardナツメのユンゲラーSabrina's KadabraCGC 292ナツメのヤドランSabrina's SlowbroCGC 149
Matching English cardナツメのゴースSabrina's GastlyCGC 403
Matching English cardナツメのゴーストSabrina's HaunterCGC 359
Matching English cardナツメのスリーパーSabrina's HypnoCGC 208
Matching English cardナツメのルージュラSabrina's JynxCGC 510
Matching English cardナツメのフーディンSabrina's AlakazamHolo · CGC 1,968
Matching English cardナツメのゲンガーSabrina's GengarHolo · CGC 2,725
Matching English cardR団のミュウツーRocket's MewtwoHolo · CGC 1,577
Matching English cardカツラのマンキーBlaine's MankeyCGC 202
Matching English cardサカキのワンリキーGiovanni's MachopCGC 172
Matching English cardカツラのサイホーンBlaine's RhyhornCGC 183
Matching English cardサカキのゴーリキーGiovanni's MachokeCGC 169
Matching English cardタケシのダグトリオBrock's DugtrioCGC 109
Matching English cardサカキのカイリキーGiovanni's MachampHolo · CGC 1,170
Matching English cardキョウのポッポKoga's PidgeyCGC 248
Matching English cardサカキのニャースGiovanni's MeowthCGC 386
Matching English cardカツラのドードーBlaine's DoduoCGC 253カツラのケンタロスBlaine's TaurosCGC 192
Matching English cardナツメのポリゴンSabrina's PorygonCGC 331Matching English cardキョウのポッポKoga's PidgeyCGC 248Matching English cardサカキのニャースGiovanni's MeowthCGC 386カツラのガルーラBlaine's KangaskhanCGC 158
Matching English cardキョウのピジョンKoga's PidgeottoCGC 112
Matching English cardサカキのペルシアンGiovanni's PersianHolo · CGC 1,258
Matching English cardキョウのメタモンKoga's DittoHolo · CGC 1,049R団のカビゴンRocket's SnorlaxCGC 324
イマクニ？のドードーDoduo
_____のチャンシーChansey
カツラのギャンブルBlaine's GambleCGC 120
トラッシュ交換Trash ExchangeCGC 127
ナツメの眼Sabrina's GazeCGC 1,504
見えない壁Trainer card (English name being checked)
Matching English cardワープポイントWarp PointCGC 180カツラの奥の手Blaine's Last ResortCGC 149
Matching English cardカツラのクイズ その3Blaine's Quiz #3CGC 97
Matching English cardキョウ秘伝, 変わり身の術Koga's Ninja TrickCGC 689くすぐりマシーンTrainer card (English name being checked)
Matching English cardグレンタウンジムCinnabar City GymCGC 65
Matching English cardセキチクシティジムFuchsia City GymCGC 89ナツメのESPSabrina's ESPCGC 183
Matching English cardナツメのサイキックコントロールSabrina's Psychic ControlCGC 145ロケット団員Trainer card (English name being checked)
Matching English cardヤマブキシティジムSaffron City GymCGC 90ロケット団の実験Trainer card (English name being checked)
ロケット団の爆発ジムTrainer card (English name being checked)
Matching English cardカツラBlaineCGC 460
Matching English cardキョウKogaCGC 118
Matching English cardサカキGiovanniHolo · CGC 833
Matching English cardサカキの切り札Giovanni's Last ResortCGC 135
Matching English cardトキワシティジムViridian City GymCGC 57
Matching English cardナツメSabrinaCGC 568