Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Rarity distribution analytics in the Pokémon TCG: Sudowoodo in Aquapolis
Rarity analytics aren’t just about price tags or chase cards; they’re a lens into how a set breathes, what players sought during the peak of a release, and how collectors balanced nostalgia with the thrill of new mechanics. Sudowoodo, a punching-bag of a Pokémon with a surprising toolkit, sits in the rare tier of the Aquapolis era. This Basic Fighting-type card, illustrated by the renowned Kagemaru Himeno, doesn’t just sit on a shelf — it tells a story about how a single card can swing from “everyday staple” to a sought-after treasure for fans who remember the era when holographics were a centerpiece of collector excitement. ⚡🔥
Card at a glance
- Name: Sudowoodo
- Set: Aquapolis (ecard2)
- Rarity: Rare
- Type: Fighting
- Stage: Basic
- HP: 60
- Attacks:
- Copy — Cost: Colorless. Choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon's attacks and copy it. This attack does nothing if Sudowoodo lacks the energy needed to use that attack (you must still meet any other requirements).
- Energy Draw — Cost: Fighting. Search your deck for a basic Energy card and attach it to Sudowoodo. Shuffle your deck afterward.
- Weakness: Water ×2
- Illustrator: Kagemaru Himeno
- Legal formats: Not legal for Standard or Expanded (as of the latest update in the dataset)
In Aquapolis, Sudowoodo’s value isn’t just in its 60 HP or its dual-utility attacks. The Copy attack embodies a classic tempo mechanic: it lets you leverage your opponent’s arsenal against them, provided you can meet the energy costs. The Energy Draw attack compounds this tempo, letting you accelerate energy attachment to fuel your next moves. For collectors, the allure lies in its rarity and the vivid art by Himeno, juxtaposed against the set’s seafloor-flavored flavor and the watercolor-green theme that defined Aquapolis. 🎨
Market pulse: what the numbers tell us about rarity distribution
The available pricing data paints a snapshot of Sudowoodo’s standing among rare cards from a historical set that still excites collectors. CardMarket data indicates an average price around €68.19 for this card class as of late 2025, with a striking spread from a low of €6 to a robust trend around €68.87. This spread reflects the dual nature of rarity: on one hand, scarcity on the condition- and holo-variants; on the other, nostalgia-driven demand that spikes among veteran players and hobbyists revisiting Aquapolis-era decks. The value signal is amplified when holo versions are present, and while the dataset here emphasizes broad rarity, Sudowoodo’s position as a rare card within Aquapolis helps explain its resilient price trajectory. 🔎
TCGPlayer’s current snapshot for Sudowoodo in non-holo form places the normal-price range with a low around $16.84, a mid around $43.94, and a high near $70—indicating a healthy tier that sits above many common cards of the same era. For reverse-holo variants, the low sits around $14.76, mid around $20.77, and highs near $25.97, with a market price around $27.03. That contrast between standard and holo variants underscores the general collector preference for shiny finishes, while also signaling that even non-holo Sudowoodo cards maintain a foothold in the market due to rarity and nostalgia. These numbers capture the distribution curve: a rare card with practical play value and distinctive artwork tends to stabilize above base-line set prices, especially in the long tail of modern nostalgia. 💎
Why Sudowoodo remains relevant for strategies and showpieces
From a gameplay perspective, Sudowoodo is not a modern-day powerhouse by current standards, but its toolkit is a masterclass in tempo play. The ability to copy an opponent’s attack, when you can meet the energy prerequisite, gives you a flexible pivot in a match—especially against decks that rely on single-powerful moves. The Energy Draw attack, meanwhile, provides a reason to build around a compact energy curve, letting you crash into a heavier attacker a few turns earlier than expected. For collectors, this blend of tactical depth and exquisite illustration makes Sudowoodo a compelling centerpiece in a display deck or a curated binder page dedicated to Aquapolis. ⚡🎴
Art lovers will appreciate Himeno’s line work and the set’s aquatic aesthetic, which makes Aquapolis stand out among other early-2000s releases. Sudowoodo’s stance—stoic, a bit misfit, and surprisingly adaptable—mirrors the TCG’s broader shift toward versatile stagecraft and hybrid strategies that rewarded players who could improvise with limited resources. The card’s serial number (ecard2-36) and its relative position within the Aquapolis lineup highlight a deliberate balance: a late-numbered card in a relatively small print run, with strong demand from fans who remember the era’s vibe and the thrill of a rare find. 🎨
If you’re thinking of adding Sudowoodo to a collection or a playable deck, you’re embracing a moment in TCG history when “copy what the opponent does” could feel like a creative counterplay rather than a gimmick. The rarity and pricing curves suggest that now is a good time to study distribution patterns—how many copies exist in holo vs non-holo, how often the card shows up in sealed product, and how collector interest translates into steady pricing. The analytics around Aquapolis remind us that distribution is as much about cultural memory as it is about print runs and card mechanics. 🔥
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