2003 182 cards

Hidden Treasures of the Deep

Aquapolis introduced Crystal-type Pokemon — ultra-rare cards that could change their type — in one of the most scarce and valuable English sets ever printed.

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ecard3

Difficulty

4/5 to complete

Avg Card Value

Varies

Market average

Top Card

Crystal Lugia

See market

Rarity Tier

Rare

Overview

Aquapolis, released January 15, 2003, is the second e-Reader expansion with 182 cards. It introduced Crystal-type Pokemon — rare holographic cards that could change their energy type. Due to limited English print runs, Aquapolis is one of the rarest and most expensive WOTC sets.

Best for

Collectors who already finished WOTC and are pushing into scarcer English print runs
people attempting a wide Aquapolis master set who will split base numbers from high-number / special rows
anyone specifically hunting Crystal Lugia / Crystal Nidoking and needing the rest of the set for context

Skip this path if

you expect modern pull-rate economics on late WOTC English
you expect every card in Aquapolis to carry similar resale (bulk is bulk)

Common mistakes

Collectors mishandle Aquapolis by skipping authenticity checks on Crystal / high-number cards people fake more often. Crystal Lugia / Crystal Nidoking still does most of the economic work inside a 182-card list — do not price bulk like hits. Listings labeled only “e-Reader English” are not a SKU: match set code ecard3 (2003) before you match the art.

What to check first

Start with condition under light; foil-heavy e-Series cards show whitening fast. Then inspect Crystal Lugia / Crystal Nidoking under real light before anyone says “NM” or grade. Gap the rest with the Aquapolis checklist; sealed product does not replace the expensive row.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

Crystal Nidoking (#148), Crystal Kingdra (#148), and Crystal Lugia (#149) are the most valuable cards. Arcanine holo (#H2) is the most sought-after non-Crystal card. E-Reader reverse holos are also highly prized. Crystal cards in PSA 10 can exceed $5,000–$20,000.

Rhydon

Starmie

Steelix

Umbreon

Vaporeon

Xatu

Full Collection

Cards from Aquapolis

Tap any card to see price history and details.

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Tips to finish the set

Aquapolis is extremely difficult and expensive to complete due to low print runs and Crystal-type secret rares. Start with commons and uncommons, which are still affordable. The six Crystal-type cards are the ultimate challenge for completionists.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

01

Identify Aquapolis cards by set code ecard3 / symbol — do not sort by art alone
02

Split bulk commons/uncommons from holos and special rarities before pricing
03

Track Crystal Lugia and Crystal Nidoking as priority singles, not pack EV fantasies
04

Scan or checklist-gap the rest after the chase budget is honest

Scan with the app

Pokex helps identify the scarce Aquapolis cards and their Crystal-type variants. The scanner is particularly useful for authenticating these high-value cards, which are frequently counterfeited due to their rarity.

FAQ

Common questions

01 What are Crystal-type Pokemon cards?

Crystal-type cards are ultra-rare holographic cards that can change their Pokemon type using specific energy combinations. They feature unique crystal-like holographic patterns and are numbered beyond the base set count as secret rares.

02 Why is Aquapolis so expensive?

Aquapolis had a very limited English print run, making sealed product and individual cards scarce. Combined with the Crystal-type secret rares and growing e-Reader era interest, prices have climbed significantly.

03 How many Crystal cards are in Aquapolis?

Aquapolis contains six Crystal-type Pokemon: Crystal Nidoking, Crystal Kingdra, and Crystal Lugia as the headliners, each being secret rares numbered beyond the standard set count.

04 Is Aquapolis Arcanine valuable?

Yes. Arcanine holo (H2/H32) is one of the most popular non-Crystal cards in the set. Near mint copies sell for $100–$300, with PSA 10 copies reaching $1,000+.