01Card Stats

Stage 1 (evolves from Shellder)

HP 80

TypeWater

RarityRare Holo

IllustratorKyoko Umemoto

WeaknessMetal ×2

Retreat●●

SetExpedition Base Set

Released2002

02Editions and Print Runs

Printed in the WotC era when 1st Edition and Unlimited distinctions still applied.

1st Edition

How to spot it: 1st Edition stamp in the bottom-left of the artwork frame.

First print window; smaller run than Unlimited.

Unlimited

How to spot it: No 1st Edition stamp; standard print frame.

Most common version of this card.

04Variants and Foiling

Rarity tiers: Rare Holo
Foiling: Holo version with the holo pattern applied to the artwork. Reverse-holo parallel exists with the holo pattern applied to the background.
Alt art / specials: No full-art, secret rare, or alternate-art version documented for this print.

05Language and Regional Versions

English: Standard English release.
Japanese: Released in the equivalent Japanese set.
European: Localized European prints exist with translated text.
Other: No documented language-exclusive errors or major regional variants.

06Current Market Value

Holo	~$67 raw · PSA 10 ~$1,752 (PriceCharting realized, May 2026)

Vintage WotC card; graded copies trade above raw.

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07Why Collectors Want It

Expedition Base Set (2002) was the first English e-Card set, with dot-code strips that make cards notoriously difficult to grade gem-mint.
Cloyster #8 is a Rare Holo trading around $67 raw, with PSA 10 copies realizing roughly $1,752 (PriceCharting, May 2026).
The high graded premium (~26x) reflects how rarely Expedition holos survive without edge whitening or surface wear.
As the evolution of Shellder, it anchors the Shellder to Cloyster line in holo.

08Competitive Playability

Tier: None

Stage 1 Cloyster with 80 HP; top attack around 20 damage. Functions as an evolution-chain piece rather than a tournament attacker.

09Card Moves and Abilities

Lick Cost: Colorless + Colorless · 10 damage

Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.

Auto Fire Cost: Water + Colorless + Colorless · 20× damage

Flip 4 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads.

Weakness: Metal ×2
Retreat cost: 2

10Grading and Population

PSA 10 estimate: ~$1,752 (PriceCharting realized, May 2026)

Expedition holos are among the hardest vintage English cards to grade clean; PSA 10 examples are scarce and command a steep premium over raw.

Other graders: BGS and CGC also grade vintage Pokemon; PSA dominates secondary-market liquidity.

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