Sableye

Sableye and Mawile, and a Kentucky legend

Sableye is paired with Mawile as version counterparts. The two are split between paired versions in Ruby and Sapphire, HeartGold and SoulSilver, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Sword and Shield, and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, turning up in the same locations in each. Both received Mega Evolutions, and outside Legends: Z-A they share the same base stat total, HP and Speed.

Its design may draw on the Hopkinsville Goblin, the creature from an alleged 1955 encounter in Kentucky described with shining eyes, clawed arms and a swaying walk that Sableye copies in the 3D games.

Sableye on cards: a 2003 holo to Mega Sableye & Tyranitar GX

Sableye's first card is a 2003 Sandstorm holo rare illustrated by Hajime Kusajima. Our catalog lists 32 Sableye printings across 27 sets, with the most (eight) in the Sun & Moon era.

Supreme Victors (2009) printed Sableye G, one of the Platinum-era Pokémon SP cards representing Team Galactic's Pokémon. Unified Minds (2019) paired it with Tyranitar in the Tag Team card Mega Sableye & Tyranitar GX, printed four ways, including a full art, an alternate art and a secret rare. The base Sword & Shield set (2020) added a full art Sableye V, and Paldean Fates (2024) gave Sableye a shiny rare.

Cards to know

• Sableye (Sandstorm #10)

  Sableye's first card, a 2003 holo rare illustrated by Hajime Kusajima.

• Sableye G (Supreme Victors #41)

  A Pokémon SP card representing Team Galactic's Sableye, from 2009's Supreme Victors.

• Mega Sableye & Tyranitar GX (Unified Minds #226)

  The alternate art version of Sableye's Tag Team card, illustrated by chibi.

• Mega Sableye & Tyranitar GX (Unified Minds #245)

  The secret rare version of the same Tag Team card, numbered above the set total.

• Sableye V (Sword & Shield #194)

  A full art Sableye V from the 2020 base Sword & Shield set.

• Sableye (Paldean Fates #184)

  Sableye in its shiny coloring, a shiny rare from Paldean Fates (2024).