{ "url": "https://www.moonstonehq.com/articles/pokemon-card-rarity-chart-by-value", "slug": "pokemon-card-rarity-chart-by-value", "title": "Pokemon Card Rarity Chart: What Each Tier Is Worth", "summary": "The rarity field takes 37 distinct values across 21,908 English cards, 35 of them printed labels, and they fold into 11 tiers. Four of the seven ladder steps separate price. One does not, and two run backwards.", "section": "Quant research", "published": "2026-09-23", "readMinutes": 9, "publisher": "moonstone", "findings": [ { "value": "37", "measures": "distinct values in the rarity field", "basis": "35 printed labels, plus a blank and \"None\"" }, { "value": "1.11x", "measures": "the Common to Uncommon step", "basis": "6,063 against 4,901 priced cards" }, { "value": "46.05%", "measures": "of commons priced above the uncommon median", "basis": null }, { "value": "0.30x", "measures": "the Special Illustration Rare to Secret Rare step", "basis": "229 against 777 priced cards" } ], "tables": [ { "title": "Rarity tiers by count and ask distribution", "columns": [ "Tier", "Cards", "Share of catalog", "25th", "Median", "75th", "90th", "Under $1", "$100 or more" ], "rows": [ { "Tier": "Common", "Cards": "6,210", "Share of catalog": "28.35%", "25th": "$0.15", "Median": "$0.27", "75th": "$0.79", "90th": "$5.00", "Under $1": "78.10%", "$100 or more": "0.97%" }, { "Tier": "Uncommon", "Cards": "4,944", "Share of catalog": "22.57%", "25th": "$0.16", "Median": "$0.30", "75th": "$1.04", "90th": "$3.64", "Under $1": "74.54%", "$100 or more": "0.04%" }, { "Tier": "Rare", "Cards": "3,859", "Share of catalog": "17.61%", "25th": "$0.39", "Median": "$2.03", "75th": "$13.30", "90th": "$70.83", "Under $1": "39.88%", "$100 or more": "7.74%" }, { "Tier": "Ultra Rare", "Cards": "2,450", "Share of catalog": "11.18%", "25th": "$1.28", "Median": "$3.82", "75th": "$19.04", "90th": "$84.17", "Under $1": "19.28%", "$100 or more": "8.64%" }, { "Tier": "Promo", "Cards": "1,182", "Share of catalog": "5.40%", "25th": "$1.81", "Median": "$5.93", "75th": "$18.56", "90th": "$54.49", "Under $1": "16.12%", "$100 or more": "5.34%" }, { "Tier": "Secret / Hyper Rare", "Cards": "777", "Share of catalog": "3.55%", "25th": "$4.58", "Median": "$10.50", "75th": "$34.58", "90th": "$142.38", "Under $1": "10.81%", "$100 or more": "13.13%" }, { "Tier": "Holo Rare", "Cards": "752", "Share of catalog": "3.43%", "25th": "$0.37", "Median": "$13.60", "75th": "$60.86", "90th": "$200.00", "Under $1": "34.18%", "$100 or more": "17.02%" }, { "Tier": "No rarity printed", "Cards": "640", "Share of catalog": "2.92%", "25th": "$0.69", "Median": "$5.35", "75th": "$14.94", "90th": "$52.67", "Under $1": "28.08%", "$100 or more": "7.31%" }, { "Tier": "Illustration Rare", "Cards": "500", "Share of catalog": "2.28%", "25th": "$6.15", "Median": "$12.25", "75th": "$22.83", "90th": "$41.58", "Under $1": "0.00%", "$100 or more": "0.80%" }, { "Tier": "Shiny / Radiant", "Cards": "362", "Share of catalog": "1.65%", "25th": "$2.51", "Median": "$4.42", "75th": "$10.17", "90th": "$21.13", "Under $1": "1.66%", "$100 or more": "2.49%" }, { "Tier": "Special Illustration Rare", "Cards": "232", "Share of catalog": "1.06%", "25th": "$19.29", "Median": "$35.21", "75th": "$75.33", "90th": "$190.52", "Under $1": "0.00%", "$100 or more": "19.65%" } ] }, { "title": "Every step of the printed rarity ladder", "columns": [ "Step", "Priced cards", "Median multiple", "Lower tier above upper median", "Verdict" ], "rows": [ { "Step": "Common to Uncommon", "Priced cards": "6,063 / 4,901", "Median multiple": "1.11x", "Lower tier above upper median": "46.05%", "Verdict": "Not a step" }, { "Step": "Uncommon to Rare", "Priced cards": "4,901 / 3,811", "Median multiple": "6.77x", "Lower tier above upper median": "16.34%", "Verdict": "Real" }, { "Step": "Rare to Holo Rare", "Priced cards": "3,811 / 752", "Median multiple": "6.70x", "Lower tier above upper median": "24.64%", "Verdict": "Real" }, { "Step": "Holo Rare to Ultra Rare", "Priced cards": "752 / 2,443", "Median multiple": "0.28x", "Lower tier above upper median": "61.70%", "Verdict": "Inverted, see below" }, { "Step": "Ultra Rare to Illustration Rare", "Priced cards": "2,443 / 499", "Median multiple": "3.21x", "Lower tier above upper median": "29.96%", "Verdict": "Real" }, { "Step": "Illustration Rare to Special Illustration Rare", "Priced cards": "499 / 229", "Median multiple": "2.87x", "Lower tier above upper median": "13.23%", "Verdict": "Real" }, { "Step": "Special Illustration Rare to Secret Rare", "Priced cards": "229 / 777", "Median multiple": "0.30x", "Lower tier above upper median": "90.83%", "Verdict": "Inverted" } ] }, { "title": "Special Illustration Rare against Secret and Hyper Rare, current-era sets", "columns": [ "Set", "SIRs priced", "SIR median", "Secret/Hyper priced", "Secret/Hyper median", "Step" ], "rows": [ { "Set": "[Prismatic Evolutions](/set/prismatic%20evolutions)", "SIRs priced": "32", "SIR median": "$49.60", "Secret/Hyper priced": "5", "Secret/Hyper median": "$7.86", "Step": "0.16x" }, { "Set": "[Paldea Evolved](/set/paldea%20evolved)", "SIRs priced": "15", "SIR median": "$17.88", "Secret/Hyper priced": "9", "Secret/Hyper median": "$6.18", "Step": "0.35x" }, { "Set": "[Paradox Rift](/set/paradox%20rift)", "SIRs priced": "15", "SIR median": "$15.73", "Secret/Hyper priced": "7", "Secret/Hyper median": "$3.08", "Step": "0.20x" }, { "Set": "[Twilight Masquerade](/set/twilight%20masquerade)", "SIRs priced": "11", "SIR median": "$34.79", "Secret/Hyper priced": "6", "Secret/Hyper median": "$7.54", "Step": "0.22x" }, { "Set": "[Surging Sparks](/set/surging%20sparks)", "SIRs priced": "11", "SIR median": "$29.43", "Secret/Hyper priced": "6", "Secret/Hyper median": "$10.22", "Step": "0.35x" }, { "Set": "[Destined Rivals](/set/destined%20rivals)", "SIRs priced": "11", "SIR median": "$60.90", "Secret/Hyper priced": "6", "Secret/Hyper median": "$22.24", "Step": "0.37x" }, { "Set": "[Temporal Forces](/set/temporal%20forces)", "SIRs priced": "10", "SIR median": "$47.25", "Secret/Hyper priced": "6", "Secret/Hyper median": "$10.91", "Step": "0.23x" }, { "Set": "[Scarlet & Violet](/set/scarlet%20%26%20violet)", "SIRs priced": "10", "SIR median": "$12.85", "Secret/Hyper priced": "6", "Secret/Hyper median": "$5.79", "Step": "0.45x" }, { "Set": "[Paldean Fates](/set/paldean%20fates)", "SIRs priced": "8", "SIR median": "$26.29", "Secret/Hyper priced": "6", "Secret/Hyper median": "$11.19", "Step": "0.43x" }, { "Set": "[Shrouded Fable](/set/shrouded%20fable)", "SIRs priced": "5", "SIR median": "$25.84", "Secret/Hyper priced": "5", "Secret/Hyper median": "$21.38", "Step": "0.83x" }, { "Set": "[ME05: Pitch Black](/set/me05%3A%20pitch%20black)", "SIRs priced": "6", "SIR median": "$50.30", "Secret/Hyper priced": "100", "Secret/Hyper median": "$0.15", "Step": "0.00x" } ] }, { "title": "The Common to Uncommon step inside each era", "columns": [ "Era", "Commons / Uncommons priced", "Step", "Commons above the uncommon median" ], "rows": [ { "Era": "WotC 1999-2003", "Commons / Uncommons priced": "640 / 482", "Step": "1.28x", "Commons above the uncommon median": "45.16%" }, { "Era": "EX 2003-2007", "Commons / Uncommons priced": "598 / 541", "Step": "1.66x", "Commons above the uncommon median": "33.61%" }, { "Era": "Diamond & Pearl to HGSS 2007-2011", "Commons / Uncommons priced": "766 / 599", "Step": "1.07x", "Commons above the uncommon median": "47.91%" }, { "Era": "BW and XY 2011-2017", "Commons / Uncommons priced": "1,157 / 906", "Step": "1.13x", "Commons above the uncommon median": "41.75%" }, { "Era": "Sun & Moon 2017-2019", "Commons / Uncommons priced": "725 / 681", "Step": "1.04x", "Commons above the uncommon median": "42.62%" }, { "Era": "Sword & Shield 2020-2022", "Commons / Uncommons priced": "709 / 713", "Step": "1.00x", "Commons above the uncommon median": "45.84%" }, { "Era": "SV and Mega 2023-2026", "Commons / Uncommons priced": "1,443 / 968", "Step": "1.08x", "Commons above the uncommon median": "41.93%" } ] }, { "title": "Distinct values of the rarity field in each era", "columns": [ "Era", "Distinct values", "Cards" ], "rows": [ { "Era": "WotC 1999-2003", "Distinct values": "5", "Cards": "1,790" }, { "Era": "EX 2003-2007", "Distinct values": "5", "Cards": "1,876" }, { "Era": "Diamond & Pearl to HGSS 2007-2011", "Distinct values": "11", "Cards": "2,209" }, { "Era": "BW and XY 2011-2017", "Distinct values": "9", "Cards": "3,849" }, { "Era": "Sun & Moon 2017-2019", "Distinct values": "9", "Cards": "3,049" }, { "Era": "Sword & Shield 2020-2022", "Distinct values": "17", "Cards": "3,689" }, { "Era": "SV and Mega 2023-2026", "Distinct values": "21", "Cards": "4,922" } ] }, { "title": "How deep the chase tier runs in a modern set", "columns": [ "Set", "Cards", "Illustration Rares", "Special Illustration Rares", "Secret/Hyper", "Chase share" ], "rows": [ { "Set": "[Ascended Heroes](/set/ascended%20heroes)", "Cards": "295", "Illustration Rares": "33", "Special Illustration Rares": "22", "Secret/Hyper": "2", "Chase share": "19.32%" }, { "Set": "[Paldea Evolved](/set/paldea%20evolved)", "Cards": "279", "Illustration Rares": "36", "Special Illustration Rares": "15", "Secret/Hyper": "9", "Chase share": "21.51%" }, { "Set": "[Paradox Rift](/set/paradox%20rift)", "Cards": "266", "Illustration Rares": "34", "Special Illustration Rares": "15", "Secret/Hyper": "7", "Chase share": "21.05%" }, { "Set": "[Scarlet & Violet](/set/scarlet%20%26%20violet)", "Cards": "258", "Illustration Rares": "24", "Special Illustration Rares": "10", "Secret/Hyper": "6", "Chase share": "15.50%" }, { "Set": "[Surging Sparks](/set/surging%20sparks)", "Cards": "252", "Illustration Rares": "23", "Special Illustration Rares": "11", "Secret/Hyper": "6", "Chase share": "15.87%" }, { "Set": "[Paldean Fates](/set/paldean%20fates)", "Cards": "245", "Illustration Rares": "3", "Special Illustration Rares": "8", "Secret/Hyper": "6", "Chase share": "6.94%" }, { "Set": "[Destined Rivals](/set/destined%20rivals)", "Cards": "244", "Illustration Rares": "23", "Special Illustration Rares": "11", "Secret/Hyper": "6", "Chase share": "16.39%" }, { "Set": "[Obsidian Flames](/set/obsidian%20flames)", "Cards": "230", "Illustration Rares": "12", "Special Illustration Rares": "6", "Secret/Hyper": "3", "Chase share": "9.13%" } ] } ], "charts": [ { "title": "Median ask by rarity tier", "unit": "$", "note": "21,435 priced English printings, TCGplayer market asks, 2026-09-23", "points": [ { "label": "Special Illustration Rare", "value": 35.21, "basis": "229 priced" }, { "label": "Holo Rare", "value": 13.6, "basis": "752 priced" }, { "label": "Illustration Rare", "value": 12.25, "basis": "499 priced" }, { "label": "Secret / Hyper Rare", "value": 10.5, "basis": "777 priced" }, { "label": "Promo", "value": 5.93, "basis": "1,160 priced" }, { "label": "No rarity printed", "value": 5.35, "basis": "438 priced" }, { "label": "Shiny / Radiant", "value": 4.42, "basis": "362 priced" }, { "label": "Ultra Rare", "value": 3.82, "basis": "2,443 priced" }, { "label": "Rare", "value": 2.03, "basis": "3,811 priced" }, { "label": "Uncommon", "value": 0.3, "basis": "4,901 priced" }, { "label": "Common", "value": 0.27, "basis": "6,063 priced" } ] } ], "sections": [ "The chart", "The ladder, rung by rung", "The top of the modern ladder is upside down", "The first rung has never worked", "The vocabulary is growing faster than the ladder", "What this study cannot show", "What would overturn it" ], "method": [ "Population: the 21,908 distinct physical English printings defined in [How Many Pokemon Cards Are There?](/articles/how-many-pokemon-cards-are-there), of which 21,435 carry a market ask on 2026-09-23. Rarity is the `rarity` field on the catalog row, as printed. Labels fold to tiers by a rule applied in this order: empty, null, \"None\" and \"Code Card\" are No rarity printed; anything containing \"promo\" is Promo; \"special illustration\" or \"special art\" is Special Illustration Rare; \"illustration rare\" or \"art rare\" is Illustration Rare; \"hyper\", \"rainbow\", \"secret\", \"crown\" or \"gold\" is Secret / Hyper Rare; \"shiny\", \"shining\", \"radiant\" or \"amazing\" is Shiny / Radiant; \"ultra rare\", \"double rare\", \"triple rare\", \"futuristic\", \"classic collection\", \"pikachu rare\", \"jumbo\", \"ace spec\", \"prism\", \"legend\", \"prime\", \"break\", \"lv.x\" or \"holo rare v\" is Ultra Rare; \"holo\" is Holo Rare; \"uncommon\" is Uncommon; \"common\" is Common; a remaining \"rare\" is Rare. Prices are TCGplayer market asks resolved by the site's own per-card rule. Medians are the upper-middle value on even samples. A ladder step is reported only when both tiers hold at least 20 priced cards in the population being cut, which is why several era rows in the underlying data are blank rather than estimated. The overlap column is the share of the lower tier priced strictly above the upper tier's median. The \"Under $1\" column is a strict comparison and the \"$100 or more\" column is inclusive of $100 exactly, which moves four tiers by a card or two against a strict reading. The label count of 37 counts distinct values of the `rarity` field: 35 printed labels, the empty string and the literal \"None\"; the per-era label table counts the same way, which is why every era row includes the blank. Value share sums asks across the tier and divides by the $454,030.46 summed ask of all 21,435 priced cards. No regression is run and no era is weighted." ], "terms": "Figures are moonstone's own recorded measurements, dated as published. Quote them with the population stated beside them. The article at `url` is the human form of this file." }