Nidoking · Aquapolis, what to know.
About the Nidoking card
Numbered 150 of 182 in Aquapolis, released in January 2003, Nidoking is a Rare Secret, a Stage 2 Colorless-type carrying 100 HP.
It evolves from Nidorino, so Nidoking is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Hironobu Yoshida.
About Nidoking in the Pokémon world
The Ground-Poison final form of the Nidoran♂ line. Tall bipedal silhouette with a long horn. Considered one of the strongest Ground types in Gen 1. Base Set holo Nidoking is a steady five-figure card in PSA 10 1st Edition. Quieter than the marquee starters but consistently in demand.
What is Nidoking worth?
Nidoking 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 Nidoking before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Nidoking, surface is the grade cap. The colorless foil shows hairlines under raking light, and the print reveals scratches that flat scans miss. Centering on the left and right borders is the second thing to check.
If you are collecting Nidoking
When you go to buy Nidoking, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Nidoking, so price the specific copy in front of you.
