EX Ruby & Sapphire (2003) – Set Guide & Collector Overview

The beginning of a new era — the first Pokémon set published by The Pokémon Company and the introduction of EX cards.

After finishing Skyridge, we officially step out of the Wizards of the Coast era and into something completely new.

EX Ruby & Sapphire, released in 2003, marks the start of the EX era and a major turning point for the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

This set does not just continue the game — it changes the direction of the TCG, the artwork, the card layout, and the way powerful Pokémon cards work in battle.

EX Ruby & Sapphire booster pack

EX Ruby & Sapphire booster box

About EX Ruby & Sapphire

• Release Date: 2003
• Set Size: 109 cards
• Era: EX / Generation 3
• Region: Hoenn

This set introduced many Pokémon from the Hoenn region, the world players explored in the Game Boy Advance games Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire.

After the e-Reader era, EX Ruby & Sapphire feels like a reset. The card borders, artwork, holo patterns, and gameplay mechanics all point toward a newer version of the Pokémon TCG.

Blaziken — one of the standout cards from the set

Mewtwo — a classic Pokémon featured in the new EX era

Lapras ex — one of the memorable EX cards from the set

How the TCG Changed with EX Cards

The biggest gameplay shift in this set is the introduction of Pokémon-ex.

These cards are stronger than normal Pokémon, but they come with a major drawback:

👉 When a Pokémon-ex is knocked out, your opponent takes two prize cards instead of one.

This created a new high-risk, high-reward style of play. Players could build around powerful EX Pokémon, but losing one at the wrong time could completely swing the game.

That design idea continued throughout the Pokémon TCG for years. Modern mechanics like Pokémon-GX, Pokémon V, Pokémon VMAX, and Pokémon ex all carry some version of that same idea: powerful Pokémon with a bigger prize penalty.

What Was Happening in Pokémon at the Time?

EX Ruby & Sapphire released during a major shift for the entire Pokémon franchise.

• Video Games: Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire introduced the Hoenn region on Game Boy Advance.
• Anime: The Advanced Generation era was beginning, with Ash traveling through Hoenn.
• TCG: The Wizards of the Coast era had ended, and the EX era began.
• Franchise Direction: Pokémon was proving it could move beyond the original 151 and stay strong with a new generation.

This was a very important moment for the brand. Pokémon was no longer just riding the original Kanto nostalgia. It was moving into a new generation with new starters, new mechanics, new villains, and a new visual identity.

Card Prices Then vs Now

When EX Ruby & Sapphire first released, booster packs were just a few dollars at retail. Many collectors opened them casually without realizing how important sealed EX-era product would become later.

Today, sealed EX Ruby & Sapphire packs and booster boxes are far harder to find. The EX era had a smaller collector spotlight for years compared to Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and the Neo sets, but interest has grown as collectors look deeper into post-WOTC history.

For raw singles, TCGplayer is usually the better reference point because it reflects active raw-card buying and selling. For graded cards, PriceCharting can be useful for PSA and slabbed sale trends.

• Lapras ex: one of the memorable EX chase cards from the set
• Mewtwo: strong nostalgic appeal because of the character
• Blaziken: important Hoenn starter evolution and a standout card from the set
• Sealed booster packs: much more expensive today than original retail
• Booster boxes: scarce and increasingly collectible as early EX-era sealed product

Condition matters a lot. Clean EX-era holos and ex cards can be surprisingly difficult to find because many were played with, stored poorly, or overlooked for years while collectors focused mostly on WOTC sets.

Sealed Product Growth

Sealed EX Ruby & Sapphire product has quietly become one of the more interesting parts of the market.

Unlike Base Set or Team Rocket, early EX-era product was not always treated as “classic vintage” by collectors. For years, many people overlooked it. That has started to change.

As more collectors finish WOTC-era goals and move forward in the timeline, early EX sets are getting more attention. Sealed product from this era is limited, and booster boxes are no longer something collectors can casually find.

This is why EX Ruby & Sapphire matters: it is not just another set — it is the beginning of the next major Pokémon TCG era.

Download the EX Ruby & Sapphire Master Set Checklist

Free printable PDF — track regular, holo, reverse holo, and notes for your master set.

Download Checklist (PDF)

Collector Outlook

EX Ruby & Sapphire is still somewhat underappreciated compared to the biggest WOTC-era sets, but that may be part of what makes it interesting.

• First set of the EX era
• Introduction of Pokémon-ex mechanics
• Strong connection to Ruby & Sapphire video games
• Early Hoenn nostalgia
• Growing sealed scarcity

Collectors who grew up with Game Boy Advance Pokémon are now old enough to revisit this era with nostalgia, and that could continue pushing attention toward early EX sets.

What’s Next? — EX Sandstorm

Next in the series is EX Sandstorm, which continues the early EX era and expands the Hoenn-focused card pool.

We’ll look at the chase cards, set history, pricing trends, and how the EX era continued developing after Ruby & Sapphire.