Politoed · Skyridge, what to know.
About the Politoed card
Politoed is card H23 of 182 in Skyridge, released in May 2003, a Rare Holo. It is a Stage 2 Water-type with 110 HP.
As a Stage 2, it evolves from Poliwhirl, which places Politoed deeper in its line and means most collectors hold it alongside the cards it evolves from.
Illustrated by Atsuko Nishida. Nishida is the original designer of Pikachu and many Gen 1 Pokémon, and her card work has a soft, rounded warmth that suits the friendlier creatures.
About Politoed in the Pokémon world
A Water-Normal evolution of Poliwhirl when traded with King's Rock. Frog-king silhouette. Neo Discovery holo Politoed has steady collector demand from Poliwag-line completionists.
What is Politoed worth?
Politoed is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Skyridge'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, Skyridge 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 Politoed before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
Expect the holo window to set the grade on Politoed. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the water foil are the usual reasons a copy lands at a 9, and edge whitening against the frame is the next thing a grader notes.
If you are collecting Politoed
If you are buying Politoed, work in order: confirm the print variant first, then the grade, then price against recent sales for that exact variant and grade. For a raw Politoed above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.
