Secret Rare Pokemon Cards
Hidden beyond the official set count. Secret rares are numbered past the total, making them some of the most exciting pulls in any booster box.
What Are They?
Secret rare Pokemon cards are cards numbered beyond the official card count of a set. For example, in a set with 198 cards, a secret rare might be numbered 199/198 or higher. This numbering convention signals their extreme scarcity and special status. Secret rares often feature gold borders, rainbow foil treatments, or unique artwork not seen in the standard set. They were first introduced in the Neo Genesis set with Shining Pokemon and have evolved through every era to include gold items, gold energy, rainbow rares, and alternate art variations.
How to Identify
Check the card number in the bottom right or bottom left corner. If the first number is larger than the second number (e.g., 205/198), it is a secret rare. Secret rares often have distinctive visual treatments: gold borders and gold foil for item and energy cards, rainbow coloring for rainbow rares, or special holographic patterns. The rarity symbol varies by era but is typically a gold star or a special symbol. In Scarlet & Violet era, secret rares include Special Art Rares, Hyper Rares, and Gold cards.
Value Factors
Secret rare values span a wide range. Gold item and energy cards typically sell for $5-30. Rainbow rare Pokemon and Trainers range from $10-100 depending on the character. The most valuable secret rares are alternate art and special art rare versions of popular Pokemon, which can reach $50-500 or more. Charizard secret rares consistently command the highest prices. The pull rate for secret rares is approximately 1 in every 10-15 packs, though the exact rate varies by set and rarity tier.
Scan with Pokex
Pokex identifies the exact secret rare variant including gold, rainbow, and alternate art classifications. Since sets can contain 20-40 different secret rares at different price points, the scanner pinpoints your specific card and shows you the correct market value instantly.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
Q1 How do I know if my Pokemon card is a secret rare?
Look at the card number in the bottom corner. If the card number exceeds the set total (e.g., 199/198), it is a secret rare. These cards also typically have special visual treatments like gold borders, rainbow coloring, or unique foil patterns.
Q2 What are the different types of secret rares?
Secret rares include gold cards (gold borders on items/energy), rainbow rares (rainbow hyper rare treatment), alternate art cards (unique scene illustrations), and in the SV era, Special Art Rares and Hyper Rares. Each type has different pull rates and values.
Q3 How rare are secret rare Pokemon cards?
Secret rares appear in roughly 1 of every 10-15 booster packs, though exact rates vary by set. Within the secret rare tier, some variants like Special Art Rares are even scarcer, appearing in approximately 1 of every 50-60 packs.
Q4 Are secret rares always the most valuable cards in a set?
Often, but not always. The most valuable card in a set is usually a secret rare (particularly alt arts or SARs), but some standard ultra rares or even promo cards can outperform certain secret rares depending on the featured Pokemon and collector demand.
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