Set Overview
Aquapolis was the second e-Card set, released in January 2003. It carried on the card-e Reader dot-code system from Expedition and introduced the first Crystal Pokémon — dazzling secret rares with a crystalline holo treatment that became the era’s signature chase cards.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | January 15, 2003 (English) |
| Publisher | Wizards of the Coast |
| Total Cards | 147 numbered cards + 32 Crystal (H) holos + 3 Crystal secret rares |
| Crystal Cards | H1–H32 parallel holos, plus Crystal Kingdra, Lugia & Nidoking (148–150) |
| Notable Feature | card-e Reader dot codes · first Crystal Pokémon |
| Key Chase Card | Crystal Lugia 149/147 |
About the Set
Aquapolis kept Expedition’s photographic frame and e-Reader strips but layered in a full parallel holo subset: the 32 Crystal (H) cards, numbered H1–H32, are shinier holo versions sitting alongside the main 147-card run. Topping it all off are three Crystal Pokémon secret rares — Crystal Kingdra, Crystal Lugia and Crystal Nidoking, numbered 148–150, above the printed total.
How to identify it: Aquapolis cards read N/147 and carry the e-Reader dot strips. The Crystal secret rares are numbered 148/147, 149/147 and 150/147, and the H-numbered holos (H1–H32) are the parallel Crystal subset.
Crystal Cards & the e-Reader
Like Expedition, Aquapolis has a single Unlimited print run with no 1st Edition stamp, and every card carries the card-e Reader dot strips. What sets it apart is the Crystal subset.
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Main set (1–147) | The standard commons, uncommons and rares that make up the bulk of the set. |
| Crystal holos (H1–H32) | A parallel holo subset — shinier versions of 32 set cards, pulled at a lower rate. |
| Crystal secret rares (148–150) | Crystal Kingdra, Lugia and Nidoking — the crystalline chase cards numbered past the total. |
Note: the gallery below covers the numbered main set. The three Crystal secret rares (148–150) are included; the H1–H32 Crystal holo parallels are a separate subset.
Complete Card Gallery
The numbered main set of Aquapolis, including the three Crystal secret rares. Click any card to view it full size — use the arrow keys (or swipe) to move through the set.
Key Cards
The three Crystal Pokémon secret rares are the set’s defining chase cards — Crystal Lugia above all.
| Card | Name | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
 |
Crystal Lugia 149/147 Crystal Secret Rare | The most coveted card in the set and one of the most iconic e-Card chases. |
 |
Crystal Kingdra 148/147 Crystal Secret Rare | The first of the three Crystal secret rares, with the signature crystalline holo. |
 |
Crystal Nidoking 150/147 Crystal Secret Rare | Closes out the set at 150/147 as the third Crystal Pokémon. |
Promo Cards
Aquapolis landed right at the end of the Wizards of the Coast era. The final Wizards Black Star Promos overlapped its release before the Pokémon TCG license moved to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company in mid-2003.
Wizards Black Star Promos use their own numbering (#1–#53) and carry a black star where a set symbol would be.
Collecting & Where to Buy
Aquapolis is out of print and trades on the secondary market. Common and uncommon singles are cheap, but the Crystal secret rares — Lugia especially — are among the most valuable e-Card era cards, and the H1–H32 Crystal holos carry strong premiums too.
Collector tip: the Crystal cards are the value — confirm you are looking at a genuine Crystal (numbered 148–150, or an H-numbered holo) and check the edges, since the photographic borders show wear easily.
Note: external links are provided for reference only. Always confirm a card's printing, condition and authenticity before purchasing.