Ariados · Aquapolis, what to know.
About the Ariados card
Ariados is card H3 of 182 in Aquapolis, released in January 2003, a Rare Holo. It is a Stage 1 Grass-type with 70 HP.
As a Stage 1, it evolves from Spinarak, which places Ariados deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Illustrated by Shin-ichi Yoshida.
What is Ariados worth?
Ariados 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 Ariados 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 Ariados 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 Ariados
Buying Ariados well means pricing the exact print and grade, not the card name. The 1st Edition Ariados trades above the Unlimited copy, so confirm the stamp before you agree a number. Always see the holo surface in good light first.
