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Old School Cards
Pokemon
June 25, 1999

Gym Challenge

1999 · gym-challenge · 98 cards in print run
ABOUT THE SET

Known in Japan as Challenge from the Darkness (闇からの挑戦), this is the sixth main expansion of the Media Factory run and the partner to Leaders' Stadium — the two Japanese Gym sets that Wizards later re-cut into English Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge. Released June 25, 1999, it leans into the back-half Kanto leaders — Koga, Sabrina, Blaine, and Giovanni — capped by Blaine's Charizard (No. 006). A couple of illustrations here were redrawn for the West (Koga's Ninja Trick and Misty's Tears), so the Japanese originals carry art you won't find on the English cards. Single Unlimited print run, no 1st Edition, classic cosmos holo. A staple of any serious vintage Japanese Pokémon shelf.

Collector StaplePlentiful in raw commons, but holos in high grade are genuinely tough; the original Japanese artwork makes this the more characterful half of the Gym pair.
96
Cards in our checklist
1999
Japanese release
Gym 2
Japanese set code
4
Featured gym leaders
PRINT QUIRKS · WHAT TO LOOK FOR
  • 1
    Two cards had their illustrations redrawn for the censored English release: Koga's Ninja Trick (the original Japanese omote-manji symbol was changed) and Misty's Tears, so the Japanese versions carry the unaltered art.
  • 2
    Card numbering runs as plain No. 001-098 (e.g. Blaine's Charizard is No. 006), not the X/132 fraction used on the English cards.
  • 3
    Shares the Gym-booster set symbol and stadium styling with the partner Japanese set, Leaders' Stadium (Gym 1).
GRADING NOTES

Japanese Gym-era stock tends to take an edge well, with cleaner borders and tighter centering than the later English run. Holos use the classic cosmos/galaxy foil that shows hairline scratches under angled light, so inspect the holo window before grading. No 1st Edition stamp exists for this set; all copies are Unlimited.

FULL SET CHECKLIST

Every card in the set, across all 1 edition. Pick an edition to narrow the listed copies; listed cards are clickable.

98 OF 98 CARDS20 LISTED
No. 002Erika's IvysaurUncommon—No. 003Erika's VenusaurHolo Rare—No. 004Blaine's CharmanderCommon—No. 005Blaine's CharmeleonUncommon—No. 006Blaine's CharizardHolo Rare—No. 013Koga's WeedleCommon—No. 014Koga's KakunaUncommon—No. 015Koga's BeedrillHolo Rare—No. 016Koga's PidgeyCommon—No. 016Koga's PidgeyUncommon—No. 017Koga's PidgeottoRare—No. 023Koga's EkansCommon—No. 024Koga's ArbokRare—No. 026Lt. Surge's RaichuHolo RareSOLDNo. 029Giovanni's Nidoran ♀ (F)Common—No. 030Giovanni's NidorinaUncommon—No. 031Giovanni's NidoqueenRare—No. 032Giovanni's Nidoran ♂ (M)Common—No. 033Giovanni's NidorinoUncommon—No. 034Giovanni's NidokingHolo Rare—No. 037Blaine's VulpixCommon—No. 038Blaine's NinetalesRare—No. 041Koga's ZubatCommon—No. 042Koga's GolbatUncommon—No. 048Sabrina's VenonatCommon—No. 049Sabrina's VenomothRare—No. 051Brock's DugtrioRare—No. 052Giovanni's MeowthCommon—No. 052Giovanni's MeowthUncommon—No. 053Giovanni's PersianHolo RareSOLDNo. 054Sabrina's PsyduckCommon—No. 055Sabrina's GolduckRare—No. 056Blaine's MankeyCommon—No. 058Blaine's GrowlitheCommon—No. 059Blaine's ArcanineHolo Rare—No. 062Misty's PoliwrathRare—No. 063Sabrina's AbraCommon—No. 064Sabrina's KadabraUncommon—No. 065Sabrina's AlakazamHolo Rare—No. 066Giovanni's MachopCommon—No. 067Giovanni's MachokeUncommon—No. 068Giovanni's MachampHolo Rare—No. 077Blaine's PonytaCommon—No. 078Blaine's RapidashUncommon—No. 079Sabrina's SlowpokeCommon—No. 080Sabrina's SlowbroUncommon—No. 084Imakuni?'s DoduoSpecial Rare—No. 088Koga's GrimerCommon—No. 089Koga's MukRare—No. 092Sabrina's GastlyUncommon—No. 093Sabrina's HaunterUncommon—No. 094Sabrina's GengarHolo Rare—No. 096Sabrina's DrowzeeCommon—No. 097Sabrina's HypnoUncommon—No. 109Koga's KoffingCommon—No. 109Koga's KoffingUncommon—No. 110Koga's WeezingUncommon—No. 111Blaine's RhyhornCommon—No. 113(your name)'s ChanseySuper Uncommon—No. 114Koga's TangelaCommon—No. 115Blaine's KangaskhanUncommon—No. 122Sabrina's Mr. MimeCommon—No. 124Sabrina's JynxUncommon—No. 126Blaine's MagmarUncommon—No. 127Giovanni's PinsirRare—No. 128Blaine's TaurosCommon—No. 129Giovanni's MagikarpCommon—No. 130Giovanni's GyaradosHolo Rare—No. 132Koga's DittoHolo Rare—No. 137Sabrina's PorygonCommon—No. 143Rocket's SnorlaxRare—No. 145Rocket's ZapdosHolo Rare—No. 146Blaine's MoltresHolo Rare—No. 150Rocket's MewtwoHolo Rare—No. 084Blaine's DoduoCommon—Blaine's GambleCommonSOLDBlaine's Last ResortUncommonSOLDBlaine's Quiz #3UncommonSOLDT04Guren Town GymUncommon—BlaineRareSOLDSabrina's EyesCommonSOLDSabrina's ESPUncommonSOLDSabrina's Psychic ControlUncommonSOLDT09Yamabuki City GymUncommon—SabrinaRareSOLDInvisible WallCommonSOLDTrash ExchangeCommonSOLDKoga's Abnormal Body SkillUncommonSOLDT14Sekichiku City GymUncommon—KogaRareSOLDWarp PointCommonSOLDGiovanni's Last ResortRareSOLDT18Tokiwa City GymRare—GiovanniHolo RareSOLDTeam Rocket MemberUncommonSOLDTeam Rocket's ExperimentUncommonSOLDTickle MachineUncommonSOLDT23Team Rocket's Explosive GymUncommon—
NOTABLE CARDS · IN OUR STOCK
Lt. Surge's Raichu
SOLD
Pokemonlp
Lt. Surge's Raichu
Gym Challenge · 1999 · No. 026
$27.95SOLD
Giovanni's Persian
SOLD
Pokemonmp
Giovanni's Persian
Gym Challenge · 1999 · No. 053
$26.95SOLD
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