Aquapolis
Set Details
Take Your Opponents Down…by the Sea.
The Pokémon®-e: Aquapolis™ set is the scene for big-time battles. With 186 cards—the largest set ever—only the best Pokémon Master Trainers will conquer this mysterious coastal city.
The Aquapolis Pokémon Set splashed onto the scene on January 15, 2003, in English, following its twin Japanese releases—The Town on No Map (March 8, 2002) and Wind from the Sea (May 24, 2002). As the second main expansion in the Pokémon-e line, Aquapolis pushed the e-Reader concept even further: every card carries a Dot-Code strip that unlocks mini-games, Pokédex lore, tunes, and extra attacks when swiped on a Game Boy Advance. With 182 total cards—147 in the base list, 32 “H-numbered” Holos, and 3 secret rares—this set remains one of the largest ever printed and a must-have for collectors chasing the complete e-Card trilogy.
What truly sets the Aquapolis Pokémon Set apart is the debut of Crystal Pokémon. These showpiece cards feature the Crystal Type Poké-Body, morphing their type to match the last Energy attached—reflected by a multicolored background shimmer that still looks futuristic today. Rarity mechanics also saw a shake-up: Holos were given their own H-series numbers (H1–H32), while a handful of cards received “a” and “b” variants whose artwork remains identical but whose Dot-Codes reveal entirely different data when scanned—an e-Reader gimmick no other set repeated.
Several details make the Aquapolis Pokémon Set legendary among hobbyists:
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Wizards of the Coast never produced Reverse Holo versions of the set’s Holo rares, so pulling a foil Crystal Lugia remains the pinnacle thrill—and a PSA 10 copy sold for just under $9,500 in 2023, with 2024 sales still commanding high four-figure prices.
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The stylized set symbol, inspired by an uncharted coastal town and hidden ocean ruins, mirrors the Japanese lore behind its dual titles.
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Thanks to lettered card numbers, a “complete master set” actually includes 186 pieces, not 182—a detail that often trips up completionists.
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Scanning certain Dot-Codes unlocks exclusive mini-games, like the Breakout-style “Block Kuzure” hidden on the Crystal Energy card—a nostalgic callback to early handheld gaming.
With its experimental mechanics, immense roster, and hidden treasures, the Aquapolis Pokémon Set shines as one of the most collectible and fascinating releases of the entire e-Card era.
Aquapolis Set Cards
