Image via pokemontcg.io
Poliwag
Base Set 2 88/130 • common
- Set
- Base Set 2
- Number
- 88/130
- Rarity
- Common
- Released
- 2000
- Energy type
- water energy
- Market price
- $0.51
- Artist
- Ken Sugimori
What it does
Does 10 damage plus 10 more damage for each Water Energy attached to Poliwag but not used to pay for this attack's Energy cost. You can't add more than 20 damage in this way.
Its newly grown legs prevent it from running. It appears to prefer swimming over trying to stand.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- ExpandedNot legal
- UnlimitedLegal
Card text © Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, via pokemontcg.io. Not produced by or endorsed by The Pokémon Company. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
Search for Poliwag on the marketplaces collectors use.
Listings from external marketplaces. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Where it came from
Poliwag was originally featured in the Base Set, the inaugural Pokémon Trading Card Game release in Japan in 1996 and internationally in 1999. The Base Set 2 version, numbered 88/130, was released in 2000 as a compilation set intended to keep popular early cards in circulation after the original print runs concluded. It reused the original illustration by Ken Sugimori, whose minimalist, clean style became the definitive visual language for the first generation of Pokémon designs, focusing on creature clarity over complex backgrounds.
The artwork captures Poliwag's signature spiral pattern, which was inspired by the real-world biological anatomy of tadpoles. As a common card in the Base Set 2, it served as a foundational building block for water-type decks of the era. The card is highly recognizable to collectors for its specific aesthetic continuity with the early Kanto-region era, maintaining the classic template that established the game's global popularity during the late 1990s.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real Pokémon cards collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Poliwag
Poliwag is a card in the Pokémon Cards catalog on collecto.rs. Base Set 2 88/130 • common. Catalog data is sourced from pokemontcg.io. No collectors on collecto.rs publicly track this card yet — adding yours would make you the first.
How many collectors track Poliwag on collecto.rs?
Poliwag doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Poliwag?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your card, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other Pokémon cards collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Poliwag catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Poliwag is sourced from pokemontcg.io. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is tracking Pokémon cards free on collecto.rs?
Yes. Tracking your cards is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every card you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
