Arbok · Expedition Base Set, what to know.
About the Arbok card
Numbered 3 of 165 in Expedition Base Set, released in September 2002, Arbok is a Rare Holo, a Stage 1 Grass-type carrying 70 HP.
It evolves from Ekans, so Arbok is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Kyoko Umemoto.
About Arbok in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Ekans. Hood patterns differ by region; the original Pokédex art shows a specific pattern that not all later art has preserved. Fossil Arbok has been quietly appreciating as part of a broader Team Rocket-themed collector trend.
What is Arbok worth?
Arbok is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Expedition Base Set's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Expedition Base Set holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Confirm the print and finish on Arbok before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window on Arbok is where most points are won or lost. Surface scratches and foil misregistration are common on Wizards-era cards, and centering was inconsistent enough that clean PSA 10s stay scarce. Read the grass foil at a 45-degree angle under strong light before committing.
If you are collecting Arbok
For Arbok, variant comes before condition. A 1st Edition and an Unlimited Arbok are different markets for the same art, so settle the print before you negotiate. Demand a clear photo of the Arbok holo for any raw purchase.
