EX Sandstorm (2003) – Set Guide & Collector Overview
The second EX-era set — a desert-themed expansion that helped deepen the new Pokémon-ex era after Ruby & Sapphire.
Welcome back to the PokeFarm TCG Set Guide Series. After EX Ruby & Sapphire introduced the new EX era, EX Sandstorm continued building the Hoenn-era identity of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Released in English in September 2003, EX Sandstorm contains 100 cards and is the second set of the EX Series. The Japanese counterpart was Miracle of the Desert, released in Japan in April 2003. The English version also included several cards that first appeared in English before later Japanese printings. 0
This set arrived at an important point for Pokémon. The franchise had moved beyond the original Kanto and Johto nostalgia into the Hoenn region, and the card game was now fully in the post-Wizards of the Coast era. The manufacturer / publisher change had already happened with EX Ruby & Sapphire, and EX Sandstorm shows the new direction becoming more established.
EX Sandstorm booster pack
EX Sandstorm booster box
About EX Sandstorm
- Release Date: September 2003
- Set Size: 100 cards
- Era: EX Series / Generation 3
- Japanese Counterpart: Miracle of the Desert
- Theme: Desert, fossil, Hoenn, and early EX-era mechanics
EX Sandstorm has a very different feel from the late Wizards of the Coast sets. It does not have the e-Reader strip-heavy look of Expedition, Aquapolis, or Skyridge. Instead, it continues the cleaner EX-era layout introduced by EX Ruby & Sapphire.
The set also leans heavily into desert and fossil themes. Cards like Aerodactyl ex, Kabutops ex, Cradily, Armaldo, Omastar, and the Fossil Trainer cards help give the expansion a strong identity.
Aerodactyl ex — a fossil-themed EX card from Sandstorm
How the Card Game Was Changing
EX Sandstorm continued the biggest gameplay idea introduced in EX Ruby & Sapphire: Pokémon-ex.
These cards were powerful, but if one was Knocked Out, the opponent took two Prize cards instead of one. That created a new risk-versus-reward style of play. Stronger Pokémon could give a player an advantage, but losing one at the wrong time could swing the entire game.
This basic idea became one of the most important design patterns in the modern Pokémon TCG. Later mechanics like Pokémon-GX, Pokémon V, VMAX, and modern Pokémon ex all follow the same broad concept: bigger power, bigger reward for the opponent.
EX Sandstorm is important because it shows the EX mechanic starting to settle into the game, instead of feeling like a one-set experiment.
Top Chase Cards from EX Sandstorm
EX Sandstorm may not have the same headline reputation as Skyridge or EX Team Rocket Returns, but it has several cards collectors still chase today.
- Typhlosion ex
- Raichu ex
- Kabutops ex
- Aerodactyl ex
- Gardevoir ex
- Jolteon and other Eeveelution holos
- Arcanine, Espeon, Umbreon, Flareon, and Vaporeon
The EX cards are the obvious chase cards, but some of the non-EX holos are very interesting too. Eeveelutions, Arcanine, and fossil-themed holos can be affordable compared to later hype cards, while still having strong collector appeal.
Raichu ex — one of the most popular EX cards in the set
Kabutops ex — another fossil-themed EX chase card
Typhlosion ex — one of the stronger long-term collector cards from EX Sandstorm
Jolteon — an affordable Eeveelution card that still has strong collector appeal
What Was Happening with Pokémon at the Time?
In 2003, Pokémon was in the middle of a major identity shift. The original late-1990s explosion had cooled down, but the franchise was far from dead. Instead, it was rebuilding itself around Generation 3, the Hoenn region, and a new wave of fans.
- Video Games: Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire had introduced Hoenn on the Game Boy Advance.
- Anime: The Advanced Generation era was underway, with Ash traveling through Hoenn.
- TCG: The EX Series was replacing the WOTC-era design and gameplay structure.
- Brand Direction: Pokémon was proving it could keep growing beyond the original 151 Pokémon.
This is why early EX-era sets are becoming more interesting to collectors today. They represent a period where Pokémon was no longer the original playground craze, but also not yet the modern mega-franchise collector market we know now.
The Manufacturer / Publisher Change
One of the biggest changes around this time was the move away from Wizards of the Coast. Skyridge was the last WOTC Pokémon set, and EX Ruby & Sapphire began the new era under The Pokémon Company / Nintendo-aligned publishing.
By EX Sandstorm, that change was no longer just theoretical — collectors could feel it in the cards. The card layout, set identity, pull rates, holo style, and gameplay direction all felt different from Base Set through Skyridge.
For collectors, that makes EX Sandstorm part of the “early post-WOTC” identity. It is not WOTC vintage, but it is also not modern in the way Sword & Shield or Scarlet & Violet are modern. It sits in a very interesting middle ground.
Prices Then vs Now
At release, EX Sandstorm booster packs were normal retail products — just a few dollars per pack. Today, sealed packs regularly appear in the hundreds of dollars. Recent public references show sealed packs around the $395–$450 range, with some listings higher depending on pack art, condition, and whether the pack is in a blister. 1
Booster boxes have moved even more dramatically. A public 2022 reference noted an EX Sandstorm booster box sale around $6,000 for a damaged box, while a 2025 auction listing reported a factory-sealed EX Sandstorm booster box result of $24,400. Another 2026 news report described an EX Sandstorm booster box selling for £20,000. 2
That kind of jump shows what is happening to early EX sealed product. For years, collectors focused mostly on WOTC sets. Now, attention is moving into the early EX era because sealed supply is thin and the nostalgia wave is catching up.
Raw Card Prices
For raw card values, TCGplayer is usually the best practical reference because it reflects active raw-card listings and market prices. Recent TCGplayer snippets show Raichu ex with a market price around $190–$204, and Aerodactyl ex around $138. 3
Condition matters heavily. A lightly played copy and a clean near mint copy can be very different markets, especially for early EX cards with foil surfaces and edge wear.
Affordable Cards That May Still Be Worth Watching
This is not financial advice, but from a collector perspective, EX Sandstorm still has some cards that feel more affordable than they probably should be.
- Jolteon: Eeveelutions usually keep long-term collector demand, and non-EX holos can be overlooked.
- Flareon / Vaporeon / Umbreon / Espeon: Eeveelution collectors are one of the strongest groups in Pokémon.
- Armaldo, Cradily, and Kabutops ex: fossil-themed cards fit the desert identity of the set and may appeal to collectors building themed binders.
- Aerodactyl ex: still relatively approachable compared to some bigger EX-era chase cards.
- Typhlosion ex: starter evolutions and Johto nostalgia give it strong long-term appeal.
The key is condition. Early EX cards were often played with, stored in binders without sleeves, or ignored compared to older WOTC cards. Clean raw copies may become harder to find over time.
Download the EX Sandstorm Master Set Checklist
Free printable PDF — track regular, holo, reverse holo, and notes for your master set.
Collector Outlook
EX Sandstorm may not be the loudest set in the EX era, but it has a lot going for it:
- Second EX-era expansion
- Strong desert / fossil identity
- Early post-WOTC history
- Affordable collector entry points
- Sealed product getting harder and more expensive
As more collectors move beyond WOTC and start appreciating the early EX period, EX Sandstorm may continue getting more attention.
What’s Next? — EX Dragon
Next in the PokeFarm TCG Set Guide Series is EX Dragon, another important early EX-era set with a stronger dragon theme and its own lineup of chase cards.
Stay tuned for the next guide.
