Pokemon Card Rarity Guide: SIR, SAR, IR, AR and What They Are Worth
A complete guide to modern Pokemon TCG rarity tiers — Special Illustration Rares, Alt Arts, Illustration Rares and more — with EU market value context.
Rarity in Modern Pokemon TCG: A Moving Target
Pokemon TCG rarity has changed dramatically since the Sword and Shield era. The introduction of full-art cards, alt arts, and now Special Illustration Rares has created a hierarchy that many collectors struggle to navigate. If you don't know the difference between an IR and a SIR, you will overpay or undersell.
This guide covers modern sets (Scarlet and Violet era onward) with a focus on what these rarities actually mean for value on the EU market.
The Modern Rarity Hierarchy (High to Low)
Special Illustration Rare (SIR) — also called Full Art Alt Art
The premium tier. SIRs feature unique full-bleed artwork commissioned specifically for the card, often showing the Pokemon in an illustrated scene rather than a portrait format. These are the chase cards of every modern set.
Value range on Cardmarket: €30-300+ depending on Pokemon and artist. Charizard SIRs consistently hit the top of the range. SIRs with popular Pokemon (Eevee evolutions, Pikachu, legendary Pokemon) command significant premiums.
Hyper Rare (HR) — Rainbow Rare
Rainbow-colored full-art treatment. Common in older Sword and Shield sets. In Scarlet and Violet era, replaced largely by SIRs. Still collectible but lower floor than SIRs for most cards.
Special Art Rare (SAR)
Full-art illustration featuring a Trainer character, often paired with their signature Pokemon. SAR Trainer cards (Nemona, Arven, etc.) have strong collector appeal. Value range: €15-80 depending on character popularity.
Illustration Rare (IR)
The "base" full-art illustration tier. Full-bleed artwork but typically a simpler scene than SIRs. These represent the entry point to the premium illustration tier — accessible price point (€5-25) with genuine artistic merit. Strong buy for set completionists.
Art Rare (AR)
The evolved form of the classic Rare Holo. Full-bleed artwork but with a gold card frame and more traditional layout than IRs. Common in Japanese sets, increasingly in English sets. Value: €3-15. High volume in every set.
Double Rare (RR) and below
Standard rare tiers. Double Rare is the competitive card tier — EX, V, VMAX cards. Value driven primarily by play demand, which is volatile. Not the focus for investment collectors.
How Rarity Affects Grading ROI
Not all rarities grade equally well in terms of ROI. The general rule:
- SIRs: Strong PSA 10 premium. Worth grading if raw price is €50+
- SARs and IRs: Moderate PSA 10 premium. Use the calculator case-by-case
- ARs: Low PSA 10 premium relative to grading cost. Usually not worth grading unless it's a highly popular card
- RRs and below: Almost never worth grading for investment (competitive cards are the exception)
CardSense and Rarity
CardSense shows rarity codes (SIR, SAR, IR, AR, RR) on every card in your portfolio and in search results. Sort by rarity to quickly identify your highest-tier cards, set price alerts on SIRs you're watching, and use the Grading Calculator before submission.