Pokemon TCG: EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua Set

EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua (マグマVSアクア ふたつの野望) Trading Card Game Set E19 / J21
General information
Cards	English: 97  Japanese: 89
Series	EX Series
Region Focus	Hoenn
Previous Expansion	EX Dragon
Following Expansion	EX Hidden Legends
Associated Decks	Team Magma   Team Aqua
Released	March 15th, 2004 (English)  October 24th, 2003 (Japanese)

Quick menu: Overview / Pick a Side / Print Versions / Set List / Other Cards / For Collectors / Most Powerful / Trivia / Images & Videos

EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua is the fourth expansion of the EX Series, released on March 15th, 2004 and known in Japan as Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions. It is one of the most distinctive sets Pokémon has ever printed: a 97-card release built entirely around Hoenn’s two rival villain teams, where nearly every Pokémon wears a faction badge and you, in effect, get to choose whose side you’re on.

Only the second villain-themed set in the game’s history — after the original Team Rocket back in 2000 — it splits its roster almost down the middle: 35 Team Magma cards face off against 36 Team Aqua cards, each side with its own look, its own leader and its own legendary mascot. Team Magma fields Team Magma’s Groudon; Team Aqua answers with Team Aqua’s Kyogre.

Quietly, it was also an important set mechanically: EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua introduced dual-type Pokémon to the TCG for the first time, an idea that would echo through the game for years. Its neutral chase cards are the seven Pokémon-ex — the legendary beasts Entei, Raikou and Suicune, plus the Hoenn starters Blaziken, Sceptile and Swampert, and Cradily — capped by two secret rares, a box-topper Absol and a wishing-star Jirachi.

Two faction theme decks shipped alongside it, Team Magma (Fire/Fighting) and Team Aqua (Water/Lightning). Odd, experimental and unlike anything before or since, it has become a cult favourite — and it holds one last little place in history that we’ll come to below.

Pick a Side: Team Magma vs. Team Aqua

VS

Most Pokémon sets ask you to catch ’em all. This one asks you to choose a side. Nearly every Pokémon in EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua is badged to one of the two Hoenn villain teams — you don’t just play a Sharpedo, you play Team Aqua’s Sharpedo — and the set is built so that Magma and Aqua feel like two opposing armies packed into the same booster box.

The designers leaned all the way in. The two factions even look different at a glance: Team Magma’s Pokémon carry curvy, flame-like lines around the artwork window, while Team Aqua’s have a ring of bubbles, and each card wears its team designation in the top-left corner with the faction’s insignia tucked into the attack box. Under the hood these were “owner’s Pokémon,” a callback to the Team Rocket era, and they came with their own supporting cast of team-specific Trainers, Tools and even Energy.

Naturally, each side gets a commander. Maxie leads Team Magma and Archie leads Team Aqua, printed as mirror-image Supporter cards that reach into your deck for your faction’s Pokémon. With the roster split a near-perfect 35 to 36, the whole set plays like a tug-of-war — and picking Magma or Aqua is half the fun of collecting it.

Print Versions & Collectors Info

Boosters came in four artwork variants — Sharpedo, Houndoom, Walrein and Aggron — each holding nine cards, split between the two teams. Two faction theme decks, Team Magma and Team Aqua, let you jump straight into the rivalry.

English booster packs

Set List with Pictures

Card Image	No.	Card name	Rarity	Card type
	1/95	Team Aqua’s Cacturne
	Card text You may discard a Darkness Energy card attached to Team Aqua’s Cacturne. If you do, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	2/95	Team Aqua’s Crawdaunt
	Card text Before doing damage, you may choose 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon that has Team Magma in its name and switch it with 1 of the Defending Pokémon. Your opponent chooses the Defending Pokémon to switch.
	3/95	Team Aqua’s Kyogre
	Card text As long as the number of Pokémon in play (both yours and your opponent’s) that has Team Aqua in its name is 3 or less, Team Aqua’s Kyogre can’t attack.
	4/95	Team Aqua’s Manectric
	Card text As long as the number of Pokémon in play (both yours and your opponent’s) that has Team Aqua in its name is 3 or less, Team Aqua’s Kyogre can’t attack.
	5/95	Team Aqua’s Sharpedo
	Card text Team Aqua’s Sharpedo can’t attack during your next turn.
	6/95	Team Aqua’s Walrein
	Card text You may return any number of basic Water Energy cards attached to all of your Pokémon to your hand. If you do, this attack does 50 damage plus 10 more damage for each Energy you returned.
	7/95	Team Magma’s Aggron
	Card text You may discard any number of basic Energy cards attached to Team Magma’s Aggron. If you do, this attack does 50 damage plus 20 more damage for each basic Energy card you discarded.
	8/95	Team Magma’s Claydol
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), you may move an Energy card attached to your Pokémon with Team Magma in its name to another of your Pokémon. This power can’t be used if Team Magma’s Claydol is affected by a Special Condition.
	9/95	Team Magma’s Groudon
	Card text As long as the number of Pokémon in play (both yours and your opponent’s) that has Team Magma in its name is 3 or less, Team Magma’s Groudon can’t attack.
	10/95	Team Magma’s Houndoom
	Card text    Discard the top 5 cards from your deck. This attack does 30 damage times the number of Fire and Fighting basic Energy cards discarded in this way.
	11/95	Team Magma’s Rhydon
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon has Team Aqua in its name, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	12/95	Team Magma’s Torkoal
	Card text Discard a Fire Energy attached to Team Magma’s Torkoal, and your opponent switches the Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon, if any.
	13/95	Raichu     Lightning
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 40 damage plus 40 more damage and discard all Lightning Energy cards attached to Raichu.
	14/95	Team Aqua’s Crawdaunt
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon is Poisoned, this attack does 20 damage plus 20 more damage.
	15/95	Team Aqua’s Mightyena
	Card text    If the Defending Pokémon is Pokémon-ex, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	16/95	Team Aqua’s Sealeo
	Card text At the end of your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	17/95	Team Aqua’s Seviper
	Card text Search your deck for a Grass Basic Pokémon or Basic Pokémon with Team Aqua in its name and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	18/95	Team Aqua’s Sharpedo
	Card text At the end of your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	19/95	Team Magma’s Camerupt
	Card text You may move a Fire Energy card attached to Team Magma’s Camerupt to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
	20/95	Team Magma’s Lairon
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	21/95	Team Magma’s Mightyena
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon is Pokémon-ex, this attack does 40 damage plus 40 more damage.
	22/95	Team Magma’s Rhydon
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon already has at least 2 damage counters on it, this attack does 20 damage plus 20 more damage.
	23/95	Team Magma’s Zangoose
	Card text Search your deck for a Colorless Basic Pokémon or Basic Pokémon with Team Magma in its name and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle your deck
	24/95	Team Aqua’s Cacnea
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	25/95	Team Aqua’s Carvanha
	Card text At the end of your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	26/95	Team Aqua’s Corphish
	Card text Discard a basic Energy card attached to Team Aqua’s Corphish or this attack does nothing. The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	27/95	Team Aqua’s Electrike
	Card text Discard a basic Energy card attached to Team Aqua’s Corphish or this attack does nothing. The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	28/95	Team Aqua’s Lanturn
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), you may attach a basic Energy card from your hand to Team Aqua’s Lanturn. Put 2 damage counters on Team Aqua’s Lanturn. This power can’t be used if Team Aqua’s Lanturn is affected by a Special Condition.
	29/95	Team Aqua’s Manectric
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon has Team Magma in its name, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	30/95	Team Aqua’s Mightyena
	Card text Search your deck for Pokémon that has Team Aqua in its name, show up to 3 of them to your opponent, and put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	31/95	Team Aqua’s Sealeo
	Card text You may discard any Stadium card in play.
	32/95	Team Magma’s Baltoy
	Card text Flip 2 coins. For each heads, choose 1 of you opponent’s Pokémon and put 1 damage counter on that Pokémon.
	33/95	Team Magma’s Claydol
	Card text Put 2 damage counters on your opponent’s Pokémon in any way you like.
	34/95	Team Magma’s Houndoom
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon has Team Aqua in its name, the Defending Pokémon is now Burned.
	35/95	Team Magma’s Houndour
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Burned.
	36/95	Team Magma’s Lairon
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon already has any damage counters on it, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	37/95	Team Magma’s Mightyena
	Card text Once during your turn (before your attack), if Team Magma’s Mightyena is your Active Pokémon, you may search your deck for a Pokémon with Team Magma in its name, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. This power can’t be used if Team Magma’s Mightyena is affected by a Special Condition.
	38/95	Team Magma’s Rhyhorn
	Card text Does 10 damage to each Defending Pokémon.
	39/95	Bulbasaur
	Card text Attach a Grass Energy card from your hand to Bulbasaur.
	40/95	Cubone
	Card text Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	41/95	Jigglypuff
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	42/95	Meowth
	Card text Before doing damage, discard all Trainer cards attached to the Defending Pokémon (before they affect the damage).
	43/95	Pikachu
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all effects of an attack, including damage, done to Pikachu during your opponent’s next turn.
	44/95	Psyduck
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	45/95	Slowpoke
	Card text Choose 1 of the Defending Pokémon’s attacks. That Pokémon can’t use that attack during your opponent’s next turn.
	46/95	Squirtle
	Card text As long as Squirtle has any Energy cards attached to it, damage done to Squirtle by an opponent’s attack is reduced by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
	47/95	Team Aqua’s Carvanha
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	48/95	Team Aqua’s Carvanha
	Card text Wave Splash.
	49/95	Team Aqua’s Chinchou
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	50/95	Team Aqua’s Corphish
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	51/95	Team Aqua’s Corphish
	Card text At the end of your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	52/95	Team Aqua’s Electrike
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	53/95	Team Aqua’s Electrike
	Card text Attach an Energy card from your hand to Team Aqua’s Electrike.
	54/95	Team Aqua’s Poochyena
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	55/95	Team Aqua’s Poochyena
	Card text Your opponent switches the Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon, if any.
	56/95	Team Aqua’s Spheal
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	57/95	Team Aqua’s Spheal
	Card text At the end of your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	58/95	Team Magma’s Aron
	Card text Mud Slap.
	59/95	Team Magma’s Aron
	Card text Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. This attack does 10 damage to that Pokémon. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness or Resistance.
	60/95	Team Magma’s Baltoy
	Card text Flip 2 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads.
	61/95	Team Magma’s Baltoy
	Card text Put 1 damage counter on 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon.
	62/95	Team Magma’s Houndour
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Burned.
	63/95	Team Magma’s Houndour
	Card text Your opponent switches the Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon, if any.
	64/95	Team Magma’s Numel
	Card text Collect.
	65/95	Team Magma’s Poochyena
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage to the Defending Pokémon. If tails, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed
	66/95	Team Magma’s Poochyena
	Card text Your opponent switches the Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon, if any.
	67/95	Team Magma’s Rhyhorn
	Card text If the Defending Pokémon already has at least 2 damage counters on it, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage.
	68/95	Team Magma’s Rhyhorn
	Card text You may discard any Stadium card in play.
	69/95	Team Aqua Schemer		T[Su]
	Card text You can play only one Supporter card each turn. When you play this card, put it next to your Active Pokémon. When your turn ends, discard this card.
	70/95	Team Magma Schemer		T[Su]
	Card text You can play only one Supporter card each turn. When you play this card, put it next to your Active Pokémon. When your turn ends, discard this card.
	71/95	Archie		T[Su]
	Card text Search your deck for a Pokémon with Team Aqua in its name and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterward. Treat the new Benched Pokémon as a Basic Pokémon. If it is a Stage 2 Pokémon, put 2 damage counters on that Pokémon.
	72/95	Dual Ball		T
	Card text Flip 2 coins. For each heads, search your deck for a Basic Pokémon card, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	73/95	Maxie		T[Su]
	Card text Search your hand or discard pile for a Pokémon with Team Magma in its name and put it onto your Bench. Treat the new Benched Pokémon as a Basic Pokémon. If it is a Stage 2 Pokémon, put 2 damage counters on that Pokémon.
	74/95	Strength Charm		T[Tool]
	Card text Whenever an attack from the Pokémon that Strength Charm is attached to does damage (after applying Weakness and Resistance), the attack does 10 more damage. At the end of your turn in which this happens, discard Strength Charm.
	75/95	Team Aqua Ball		T
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a Pokémon that has Team Aqua in its name, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. If tails, search your deck for a Basic Pokémon that has Team Aqua in its name, show it to your opponent and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	76/95	Team Aqua Belt		T[Tool]
	Card text At any time between turns, if the Pokémon Team Aqua Belt is attached to is your Active Pokémon, search your deck for a card that evolves from that Pokémon and put it on that Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that Pokémon.) Shuffle your deck afterward, then discard Team Aqua Belt.
	77/95	Team Aqua Conspirator		T[Su]
	Card text Search your deck for up to 2 in any combination of Basic Pokémon with Team Aqua in its name and basic Energy cards, show them to your opponent, and put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	78/95	Team Aqua Hideout		T[St]
	Card text Each Pokémon that does not have Team Aqua in its name pays   more to retreat.
	79/95	Team Aqua Technical Machine 01		T[TM]
	Card text  Choose 1 Special Condition. The Defending Pokémon is now affected by that Special Condition.
	80/95	Team Magma Ball		T
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, search your deck for a Pokémon that has Team Magma in its name, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. If tails, search your deck for a Basic Pokémon that has Team Magma in its name, show it to your opponent and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	81/95	Team Magma Belt		T[Tool]
	Card text At any time between turns, if the Pokémon Team Magma Belt is attached to is your Active Pokémon, search your deck for a card that evolves from that Pokémon and put it on that Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that Pokémon.) Shuffle your deck afterward, then discard Team Magma Belt.
	82/95	Team Magma Conspirator		T[Su]
	Card text Search your deck for up to 2 in any combination of Basic Pokémon with Team Magma in its name and basic Energy cards, show them to your opponent, and put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	83/95	Team Magma Hideout		T[St]
	Card text Whenever any player plays a Basic Pokémon that doesn’t have Team Magma in its name from his or her hand, that player puts 1 damage counter on that Pokémon.
	84/95	Team Magma Technical Machine 01		T[TM]
	Card text Choose an Energy card attached to the Defending Pokémon and put that card at the bottom of your opponent’s deck.
	85/95	Warp Point		T
	Card text Your opponent switches 1 of his or her Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon, if any. You switch 1 of your Active Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Pokémon, if any.
	86/95	Aqua Energy		E
	Card text Aqua Energy can only be attached to a Pokémon with Team Aqua in its name. Aqua Energy provides Water and Darkness Energy but provides 2 Energy at a time. (Doesn’t count as a basic Energy card when not in play and has no other effect than providing Energy.) At the end of your turn, discard Aqua Energy.
	87/95	Magma Energy		E
	Card text Magma Energy can only be attached to a Pokémon with Team Magma in its name. Magma Energy provides Fighting and Darkness Energy but provides 2 Energy at a time. (Doesn’t count as a basic Energy card when not in play and has no other effect than providing Energy.) At the end of your turn, discard Magma Energy.
	88/95	Double Rainbow		E
	Card text Double Rainbow Energy can be attached only to an Evolved Pokémon (excluding Pokémon-ex). While in play, Double Rainbow Energy provides every type of Energy but provides 2 Energy at a time. (Has no effect other than providing Energy.) Damage done to your opponent’s Pokémon by the Pokémon Double Rainbow Energy is attached to is reduced by 10 (before applying Weakness and Resistance). When the Pokémon Double Rainbow Energy is attached to is no longer an Evolved Pokémon, discard Double Rainbow Energy.
	89/95	Blaziken ex
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 30 damage plus 20 more damage. If tails, this attack does 30 damage and the Defending Pokémon is now Burned.
	90/95	Cradily ex
	Card text As long as Cradily ex is your Active Pokémon, your opponent can’t play a Pokémon from his or her hand to evolve his or her Active Pokémon.
	91/95	Entei ex
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Burned.
	92/95	Raikou ex
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	93/95	Sceptile ex
	Card text The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned. The Defending Pokémon can’t retreat until the end of your opponent’s next turn.
	94/95	Suicune ex
	Card text Choose 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. This attack does 10 damage to that Pokémon. You may move an Energy card attached to that Pokémon to another of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	95/95	Swampert ex
	Card text Does 20 damage plus 20 more damage for each basic Energy attached to Swampert ex but not used to pay for this attack’s Energy cost. You can’t add more than 80 damage in this way.
	96/95	Absol
	Card text Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 10 more damage.
	97/95	Jirachi
	Card text This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness, Resistance, Poké-Powers, Poké-Bodies or any other effects on the Defending Pokémon.

Other Cards

The team theme runs right through the Trainer line-up. Each faction gets its own leader as a Supporter card — and they are perfect mirror images of one another.

Maxie (73/95)

The Team Magma commander. His Supporter effect digs a “Team Magma” Pokémon out of your hand or discard and drops it onto your Bench — a tailor-made engine for a mono-Magma deck.

Archie (71/95)

Team Aqua’s answer to Maxie, working exactly the same way for “Team Aqua” Pokémon. Between the two leaders, the set practically builds your faction deck for you.

For Collectors: Most Valuable Cards

The set’s prizes split into two camps: the neutral Pokémon-ex (led by the legendary beasts) and the two secret rares that cap the checklist.

Suicune ex (94/95)

The most sought-after card in the set. The northern beast’s elegant holo and disruptive attack make it the pick of the legendary-dog trio.

Absol (96/95)

A secret rare and guaranteed box-topper — the dark disaster Pokémon in a striking full-holo treatment that collectors chase to this day.

Jirachi (97/95)

The set’s other secret rare, the wishing-star mythical — a small card with an outsized reputation among completists.

Blaziken ex (89/95)

The Hoenn fire-fighter as an ex — a fan-favourite starter and one of the set’s most popular non-secret pulls.

Entei ex (91/95)

The volcano beast rounds out the legendary-dog ex trio alongside Raikou and Suicune.

Raikou ex (92/95)

The thunder beast — a gorgeous electric holo and a staple of any EX-era legendary-dog collection.

Team Magma’s Groudon (9/95)

Not an ex, but a faction mascot: the continent Pokémon leading the Magma charge, and one of the set’s signature holo rares.

Team Aqua’s Kyogre (3/95)

Aqua’s answering legend — the sea-basin Pokémon and the mirror to Groudon at the heart of the rivalry.

Most Powerful Cards (Competitive Play)

Faction flavour aside, the neutral ex cards gave the format some genuinely strong tools.

Suicune ex (94/95)

More than a pretty face: its attack snipes a Benched Pokémon and shuffles your opponent’s Energy around, quietly wrecking their setup while it chips away.

Swampert ex (95/95)

A heavy hitter that scales with the extra Energy you pile on — load it up and it swings for a huge chunk in a single turn.

Blaziken ex (89/95)

A flexible fire attacker with a coin-flip burst of extra damage or a Burn — aggressive and awkward to race.

Raikou ex (92/95)

Fast, Confusion-dealing pressure that fit the tempo decks of the era — a reliable electric beatstick.

Trivia

• It is only the second villain-themed set in Pokémon TCG history, following the original Team Rocket set of 2000.
• The set introduced dual-type Pokémon to the TCG — cards belonging to two types at once — for the very first time.
• It was the last English set to carry the e-Reader Dot-Code strip, quietly closing the book on the e-Reader era.
• The roster is split almost evenly — 35 Team Magma cards to 36 Team Aqua — and the two factions even have different artwork frames (flame-like lines for Magma, bubbles for Aqua).
• Each team has a leader Supporter: Maxie for Magma and Archie for Aqua, printed as mirror-image cards.
• Its Japanese title, Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions, frames the whole set as a clash of rival dreams for Hoenn.
• Two secret rares close the checklist: a box-topper Absol (96/95) and the mythical Jirachi (97/95).

Images & Videos

A vintage EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua box opening — a good look at both factions’ cards.

Opening more vintage packs from the set — Magma or Aqua, which will you pull?