Golbat

Golbat in the anime: Brock's long wait

Brock's Zubat, caught in the early Kanto episode "Clefairy and the Moon Stone", finally evolved into Golbat in the Johto episode "Hassle in the Castle", 159 episodes later. That is the longest wait of any Pokémon that evolved within the same anime series it was caught in. Golbat then evolved into Crobat 31 episodes later in "Control Freak!", the first time a main character's Pokémon evolved through friendship.

Golbat on cards: Fossil, Dark Golbat and two Gym Leaders

Golbat's first card is Fossil #34 (1999), illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno. Team Rocket (2000) printed Dark Golbat by Mitsuhiro Arita as both a holo (#7) and a non-holo Rare (#24), the only two Rares among the 26 Golbat printings in our catalog. Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge then tied it to two Gym Leaders in 2000: Brock's Golbat for the Pewter City leader and Koga's Golbat for Fuchsia City, both drawn by Ken Sugimori.

Team Rocket Returns (2004) revived the idea with a new Dark Golbat, and Destined Rivals (2025) printed Team Rocket's Golbat. Everything else in the line has been a Common or Uncommon, so its collectible highs are the Wizards of the Coast era holo and first edition cards.

Why collectors follow Golbat

Golbat's card history follows Kanto's villains and Gym Leaders: Dark Golbat twice, Team Rocket's Golbat in the Scarlet & Violet era, and named cards for Brock and Koga. For collectors building Gym or Team Rocket themed binders, it is a recurring piece.

Cards to know

• Golbat (Fossil #34)

  Golbat's first card, a 1999 Fossil Uncommon illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno.

• Dark Golbat (Team Rocket #24)

  The non-holo Rare Dark Golbat from Team Rocket, sharing Mitsuhiro Arita's art with the holo #7.

• Brock's Golbat (Gym Heroes #39)

  Brock's Golbat from Gym Heroes, tied to the Pewter City Gym Leader.

• Koga's Golbat (Gym Challenge #46)

  Koga's Golbat, a Gym Challenge Uncommon tied to the Fuchsia City Gym Leader.

• Dark Golbat (Team Rocket Returns #34)

  The EX era's Dark Golbat from Team Rocket Returns, illustrated by Masakazu Fukuda.