Politoed · Skyridge, what to know.
About the Politoed card
Politoed sits at #H23 in Skyridge, the fifteenth of the Wizards of the Coast print runs. Illustration by Atsuko Nishida. In the games, Politoed evolves from Poliwhirl, which makes it a late-stage card in the line.
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.
Print variants and how to spot them
Skyridge shipped in Standard, Reverse Holo, and Crystal Type prints. Crystal Type cards are rare alternate-art holos with a colorless rainbow holofoil pattern, pulled at significantly lower rates than standard holos. They are the marquee chase for this set.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window is where most grade points are won or lost. Surface scratches and print misregistration on the foil are common, and centering on Wizards-era holos was inconsistent enough that PSA 10s remain genuinely scarce a quarter century later. The PSA 9 to PSA 10 price gap on this kind of card is wide enough that pre-grading inspection under a loupe is well worth the time.
If you are buying this card
If you are buying this card, the order of operations is variant first, then condition. Verify the print variant (1st Edition stamp visible, drop shadow on the right edge if Unlimited) before you negotiate on price. For raw purchases above $500, insist on photo or video showing the holo surface under direct light from a 45-degree angle so you can spot hairlines. The "live market price" on this page tracks recent eBay sales, but the actual transaction price will vary by variant, grade, and how recently a comparable sale closed.
