Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Overview
The Absol card from the Dragon expansion (ex3) represents a Basic Darkness-type Pokémon card issued during the early EX-era of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Illustrated by Naoyo Kimura, the card is part of a Rare slot within the set and exists in multiple print varieties, including normal, reverse, and holographic ( holo ) versions. As with many cards from the ex3 Dragon line, Absol combines disruptive mechanics with a modest energy cost and a low base HP total, making it a niche option for players who value hand disruption and damage scaling based on prize count.
Card Information
- Name: Absol
- Pokedex number (Dex ID): 359
- Type: Darkness
- Rarity: Rare
- Stage: Basic
- HP: 70
- Attacks:
- Bad News — Cost: Darkness. Effect: If the number of cards in your opponent's hand is at least 6, choose a number of cards there, without looking, until your opponent has 5 cards left. Have your opponent discard the cards you chose.
- Prize Count — Cost: Darkness, Colorless. Effect: If you have more Prize cards left than your opponent, this attack does 20 damage plus 20 more damage. Damage: 20+
- Weakness: Fighting ×2
- Resistance: Psychic −30
- Illustrator: Naoyo Kimura
- Set: Dragon (ex3)
- Card Variants: Normal, Reverse, Holo; First Edition: False
- Local ID: 1
- Dex ID: 359
- Legal: Not legal in Standard or Expanded formats
Variants and Printing
Absol from ex3 exists in several print variants, reflecting the broader practice of the era which included normal (non-holo), reverse holo, and holo foil versions. The first edition option is not available for this specific print run, aligning with the information that the card is listed as non-first edition in the documented variant set. The Dragon set itself (ex3) is identified by its official logo and symbol, and the card’s designation as ex3 places it in the early-2000s EX-series period of the TCG.
Gameplay and Strategy
From a gameplay standpoint, Absol’s two attacks emphasize disruption and damage conditional on game state. The Bad News attack leverages a hand-disruption mechanic: if the opponent holds six or more cards, the player can choose and force the opponent to discard several cards until their hand size is reduced to five. This conditional effect leverages the opponent’s current hand size and can be situational, but in practice it is most impactful in the mid-game when both players have established board states and card counts. The risk is that if the opponent’s hand is five cards or fewer, the attack provides no effect beyond its energy cost, so tactical timing is essential.
The second attack, Prize Count, scales damage based on prize card count relative to the opponent. If the player has more Prize cards remaining than the opponent, this attack deals 40 total damage (20 base plus 20 additional). This mechanic rewards decks that take a deliberate lead in prize cards or stall the opponent to extend the game, enabling Absol to deliver incremental pressure without requiring a bulky energy investment. The damage potential is modest by modern standards but can be meaningful in older formats where prize dynamics and set-specific matchups shaped the mid-to-late game.
In terms of deck-building synergy, Absol benefits from support cards and strategies that help control the pace of the game—such as those that balance hand disruption with efficient energy acceleration. Its Darkness typing and vulnerability to Fighting-type attacks are notable, so players pairing it with strategies to mitigate those weaknesses (e.g., supplementary defensive Pokémon or Trainer cards that protect or fetch energies) can improve viability. Absent a powerful HP pool or strong boss-like threats, Absol typically slots into niche or theme decks rather than top-tier competitive builds, especially in formats where more robust fundamentals and higher-HP basics prevail.
Collector and Market Information
As a Rare card from the Dragon set (ex3), Absol carries appeal for collectors of early-EX era cards and fans of the 359th Pokémon. The set itself lists a total of 97 official cards with 100 released in total across print runs, positioning Absol among the rarer pulls from its expansion. The card’s printed variants—normal, reverse holo, and holo—offer distinct collecting incentives, with holo and reverse holo copies typically commanding higher interest and value among collectors due to their presentation and rarity within a given print run.
Market data for this Absol card reflects fluctuations typical of vintage holographic and non-holographic items. As of late October 2025:
- CardMarket (EUR): Non-holo variants show an average price around €23.74, with a reported low of €3.75. The overall trend in the data cites a positive movement (approximately +17.42% in the observed window). For holo variants, the average prices sit around €20 (average holo), with a low around €5 and a holo-trend of approximately +22.56%.
- TCGplayer (USD): For holofoil copies, the reported low price is about $94, with a mid price near $390 and a high price around $580.83; the current market price is listed near $395. Reverse holofoil copies show a low near $78.29, a mid around $113.63, a high near $139.28, and a market price near $67.76.
These figures provide a snapshot of market activity for Absol ex3-1 across major secondary markets and are subject to change with market dynamics, grading considerations, and regional availability. For collectors and investors, the presence of holo and reverse holo variants, coupled with the age of the card and its rarity designation, tends to influence price variance and demand in ongoing cycles.
Art and Lore
The card’s artwork, contributed by Naoyo Kimura, is representative of the Dragon set’s style, which emphasizes bold portrayals of Pokémon in dynamic, action-oriented contexts. Absol itself is known in the broader Pokémon canon as the Disaster Pokémon, typically depicted with its dark coloration and fur-lined silhouette that convey a sense of vigilance and foreboding. In the context of the TCG, the art style often reinforces the creature’s theme of sharp perception and the ominous aura surrounding its namesake disasters. Kimura’s rendering for this card captures Absol in a poised, alert stance consistent with the character’s reputation in the Pokémon world, contributing to both the card’s aesthetic appeal and its thematic resonance within the set’s narrative arc.
Trivia
- The Dragon set (ex3) marks part of the early-EX era, a period notable for “EX” era mechanics and distinctive card indexing. Absol’s presence in ex3 places it among a generation of cards that experimented with more aggressive disruption themes and varied attack costs.
- Although Absol is a basic Pokémon in this card, its dual-attacks offer both a hand-disruption option and a conditional damage increase based on prize count, illustrating the era’s emphasis on strategic resource management.
- The card’s variants include normal, holo, and reverse holo, with no First Edition print for this specific ex3-1 listing, aligning with the documented variant data for the card.
- Naoyo Kimura’s artwork on Absol contributes to a broader catalog of Pokémon illustrations from the time, which are collectively valued by collectors for their stylistic consistency and historical context within the EX-era releases.
- The card’s legal status—non-legal in Standard and Expanded formats as of the latest data—reflects ongoing format evolution and the broader archival interest in vintage cards even when they are not tournament-legal in modern play.
Conclusion
Absol from the Dragon set (ex3) represents a specific intersection of art, gameplay, and collecting history within the Pokémon TCG. Its two Attack mechanics—one disruptive and one conditional-damage oriented—reflect the era’s design philosophy, prioritizing strategic decision-making and prize dynamics. While not a staple in contemporary competitive formats due to its limited HP and evolving metagame, Absol ex3-1 remains a valued piece for collectors and historians of the TCG, particularly because of its holo and reverse holo variants, its rarity designation, and its place within a formative chapter of the game's evolution.