Arcanine · Aquapolis, what to know.
About the Arcanine card
Numbered H2 of 182 in Aquapolis, released in January 2003, Arcanine is a Rare Holo, a Stage 1 Fire-type carrying 90 HP.
It evolves from Growlithe, so Arcanine is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Kyoko Umemoto.
About Arcanine in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Growlithe via Fire Stone. Large striped fire-dog silhouette. Designated a "Legendary" Pokémon in lore despite not being a true Legendary in mechanics. Base Set Arcanine is a Rare (non-holo) and one of the more sought-after non-holos in the set. Raw PSA 10s have appreciated notably.
What is Arcanine worth?
Arcanine is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Aquapolis'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, Aquapolis 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 Arcanine before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
Grading Arcanine comes down to the holo surface and the borders. The era's foil scratches easily, so even a pack-fresh Arcanine can drop from a 10 to a 9 on a single hairline. Inspect the window at an angle and the corners against the frame.
If you are collecting Arcanine
For Arcanine, variant comes before condition. A 1st Edition and an Unlimited Arcanine are different markets for the same art, so settle the print before you negotiate. Demand a clear photo of the Arcanine holo for any raw purchase.
