Dark Octillery: Deck Archetypes That Benefit From Its Effect

Dark Octillery card art from Team Rocket Returns (ex7-8), illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Dark Octillery: Deck Archetypes That Benefit From Its Effect

Dark Octillery arrives in Team Rocket Returns as a curious blend of Water and Darkness—a single-stage evolution that can wobble the pacing of a match just as you set your plan in motion. With 70 HP and two distinct attacks, this card isn’t just about raw numbers; it’s about how you choreograph the board. The cheery indigo of its artwork belies a strategic toolkit that shines when you lean into tempo, disruption, and calculated risk. For collectors, it’s a vivid snapshot of the late-2000s TCG era, but for players, it’s a playable partner in decks that prize control and resource management. Mitsuhiro Arita’s art captures the creature’s odd, ink-slick menace, and the card’s rarity—Rare—signals that it’s both fun to pilot and satisfying to pull. ⚡🔥

Card snapshot: what Dark Octillery brings to the table

Set: Team Rocket Returns (ex7)
Rarity: Rare; holo, reverse, and normal variants exist
Type: Water / Darkness
Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Remoraid)
HP: 70
Illustrator: Mitsuhiro Arita
Weakness: Lightning ×2
Attacks:
- Black Suction Cups — Water energy, 10 damage to each Defending Pokémon; flip a coin. If heads, each Defending Pokémon is Paralyzed.
- Ink Blast — Colorless, Colorless; 30 damage plus 10 more damage for each Energy attached to Dark Octillery but not used to pay for this attack's Energy cost (maximum +20 damage in this way).
Evolves From: Remoraid

In gameplay, the unit’s dual nature matters. The first attack, Black Suction Cups, offers a reliable chance to slow the pace by paralyzing the Defending Pokémon on heads. The second attack, Ink Blast, rewards thoughtful energy management. You can channel a carefully curated reserve of Energy onto Dark Octillery—enough to pay the base 2 Energy cost for Ink Blast, while still leaving additional Energy to swell the attack’s power. That mechanic invites archetypes that value disruption mixed with scalable damage. 💎🎴

Why this card fits certain deck archetypes

Dark Octillery’s design is a bridge between field control and resource optimization. Its ability to potentially paralyze the active opponent adds a tempo edge to decks that want to limit the opponent’s options while they assemble bigger threats. Simultaneously, Ink Blast provides a surprisingly scalable punch when you’re able to privilege Energy attachment strategies that don’t fully apply to the attack’s cost. This duality makes it a good fit for archetypes that blend control with momentum—especially decks that want to punish over-extension by forcing into suboptimal attacks on fragile backlines. ⚡

Archetypes that benefit from Dark Octillery’s toolkit

Paralysis-lean tempo decks: The chance to paralyze on a successful coin flip can buy precious turns. In a deck that wants to slow down the opponent and set up a definitive strike, Black Suction Cups becomes a reliable way to unlock tempo advantages without expending heavy energy commitments.
Energy-management heavy builds: Ink Blast rewards the player who can maximize damage by using Energy not consumed to pay for the attack’s cost. Decks that emphasize energy acceleration or energy-recycling effects can push Ink Blast toward the upper teens or low 40s, depending on how much “extra” energy you attach and leave behind to fuel the attack.
Spread- and pressure-focused strategies: With 10 damage to each Defending Pokémon on a hit and a paralyze condition possible, Dark Octillery contributes to a board-state where multiple opposing threats are pressured simultaneously. This creates opportunities to finish off weaker threats while keeping heavier hitters at bay.
Evolved-remoraid synergy playstyles: As the Evolution from Remoraid, Dark Octillery encourages a smooth mid-game curve. Players who like to evolve on the timely turns or who enjoy stacking stage-based threats will appreciate Dark Octillery as a mid-game anchor that can pivot between control and raw damage depending on energy access.
Hybrid Water/Dark offense: The dual typing adds a flexibility buffer against certain matchups, letting you slot Dark Octillery into wider Water/Dark-based lines that leverage similar energies and trainer choices.

Practical deck-building notes

When weaving Dark Octillery into a practical deck, consider how you’ll manage Energy. Since Ink Blast’s max output rests on Energy not used for paying the cost, you’ll want a plan to attach extra Energy without overcommitting to the attack’s cost. Cards that help search, draw, or recycle Energy keep this engine healthy. You’ll also want to ensure you have at least two Energy to pay for Ink Blast’s basic cost, then design the rest of the field to provide the surplus that will boost damage. The balance between disruption (paralysis) and pressure (Ink Blast) is your North Star for these builds. And remember: the weakness to Lightning ×2 invites careful pairing against Lightning-heavy opponents, so you’ll want to stage your bench and evolve timing to avoid rough matchups. 🔥

From a collector’s perspective, Dark Octillery’s rarity and its place in a holo/normal/reverse holo spectrum makes it a delightful centerpiece for a mid-2000s collection. The card’s pricing snapshot shows a healthy spread across formats and variants. Non-holo copies hover in the $20 range on average, holo versions trend higher, and reverse holos fetch premium prices, influenced by condition and market demand. The data hints at a dynamic market where nostalgia and functionality converge—great for players who want a playable card with a story to tell. 💎

For fans who relish lore and art, Igatsu-like ink-swirls and the Team Rocket Returns era’s signature dark flair give Dark Octillery a distinct personality. Arita’s illustration captures a creature that feels slippery and clever—with the kind of visual storytelling that collectors appreciate when they pull a rare holo during a tense tournament moment. 🎨

Market snapshot and value trends

Current pricing data indicates a spectrum of values by variant. On TCGPlayer, normal versions sit around the high-teens to mid-twenties, with holo versions often commanding higher numbers in the mid- to upper-twenties or more, depending on market fluctuations. The market for reverse holos can swing significantly, sometimes reaching the higher end of the spectrum (even approaching fifty dollars for highly sought-after copies). The average holo price sits around the mid-30s, suggesting that collectors who want both playability and presentation can find a compelling balance. Keep an eye on recent updates (e.g., market updates in 2025) to catch shifts in demand and condition-based pricing. 💬

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