Illustration Rare

Illustration Rare, often shortened to IR, is a rarity tier introduced in the Pokémon TCG with the Scarlet & Violet era from 2023. The cards have artwork across the whole surface and show a Pokémon in a scene, drawn by a named artist. Special Illustration Rare, shortened to SIR, is a higher tier with more detailed and often more cinematic scenes.

What defines them

Unlike most other rare cards, Illustration Rare does not depend on the Pokémon being an ex or having special rules. The card can show an ordinary Pokémon, and it is the artwork that gives it value to collectors. The artist's name appears at the bottom of the card, and the scene often shows the Pokémon in its habitat. Special Illustration Rare goes further, with a more complex scene and often a Trainer or another character alongside the Pokémon.

Card numbers and symbols

Both IR and SIR normally carry a card number above the set's printed total, so in practice they are also secret rares in the older sense. They are marked with gold stars, with the number of stars separating the two tiers; see rarity symbols. Exact symbol use can vary between sets, so check the set list.

Relation to earlier cards

The concept builds on alternate art from the Sword & Shield era and on Japanese counterparts known as AR (Art Rare) and SAR (Special Art Rare). The English tiers are in practice a continuation of the same idea.

Rarity and price

• Publishers do not state how often an IR or SIR card is pulled; collectors can only estimate from their own samples, see pull rates.
• Price depends on the Pokémon, the scene, the artist and the condition, and can vary greatly within a single set.
• Many of them count as chase cards, but an individual card can be more popular than its tier would suggest.

A caveat

Names, symbols and selection are tied to the set. Read the set's own list in the card catalog to see which cards belong to the tier.

In summary

Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare put the artist in focus and are a distinct feature of the Scarlet & Violet era. They differ from earlier rarities in that it is the artwork, not the card's game rules, that makes them sought after. The tiers are tied to each set, and new sets can adjust the details. Always check the set's own rarity list.