Secret rare

Secret rare is the term for a card in a set that has a higher card number than the set's printed total. If a set is marked with 198 cards in total and a card is numbered 210/198, it is a secret rare. The name refers to the fact that such cards lie outside the printed list of the set, and they are counted among the more sought-after rarity groups.

How to recognize them

The surest sign is the card number: it is larger than the number after the slash. Beyond that, the appearance varies between eras. Older secret rares, such as the Shining cards in the Neo sets, had their own foil and a distinctive design. In later eras secret rares have often been cards with extended artwork, gold-colored design or rainbow foil. It is therefore best to compare against the set's list in the card catalog rather than relying on appearance.

Development over time

The term has shifted somewhat in meaning. At first, secret rares were a small and clearly defined group. Later sets have added more cards above the printed total, and the group now includes full art cards, special variants and cards with gold or rainbow treatment. Newer sets also have dedicated tiers such as Illustration Rare, which can likewise carry a card number above the total.

Rarity and price

• Publishers do not state how many secret rares are printed, nor how often they appear in packs; see pull rates.
• Price depends mostly on which Pokémon is shown, the artwork and the condition, not on the label alone.
• Many secret rares are so-called chase cards, but not all of them are.

A caveat

Since the card number is what decides it, you need to read the set's list to know whether a card really is a secret rare. Sets without a printed total or with special numbering can be exceptions. See also rarity symbols for how the regular tiers are marked.

In summary

Secret rare is a broad term that in practice means "a card outside the printed total". What lies behind it varies from era to era, from simple foil variants to elaborate special illustrations. Use the card number to identify them, and check the set list to see what kind of card it is. How hard the card is to get cannot be read from the label alone.