The rarest Pokémon cards
The rarest Pokémon cards
The highest rarities, their cards and today's prices, and the even rarer cards you won't find in any booster.
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The short answer
The rarest Pokémon cards in recent boosters are each set's highest rarities: hyper rares (gold), special illustration rares and ultra rares, much harder to pull than a rare. The rarest of all have often never been in a booster: contest and tournament rewards, Staff cards, promos given out in a handful of copies.
The highest rarities, and their cards
Rarity by rarity, from highest down, with the number of cards in the gotem. catalogue and their most valuable cards right now:
Pokémon rarities explained →What each rarity means, and how many cards each has.The rarest of all: outside boosters
The rarest Pokémon cards were never in a booster: contest and tournament rewards, Staff cards, event promos given out in a handful of copies. The most famous is the Pikachu Illustrator, a 1998 Japanese card given to the winners of an illustration contest, considered one of the rarest Pokémon cards in the world. Old cards in perfect condition are rare too: a Base Set 1st edition graded 10 is far rarer than the same card worn.
Pokémon promo cards →How you get them, how to recognise them, what they're worth.Rarer doesn't mean more valuable
Rarity tells you how often a card is pulled, not what it's worth. Price also depends on the character, the artwork, the card's age, its language and above all its condition. A card of a lower rarity but featuring a much-loved character can be worth more than a rarer card.
The most expensive Pokémon cards right now →The ranking at market price, updated daily.What are the odds of pulling one?
Publishers generally don't publish exact pull rates. The figures going around come from collectors opening boxes: they give a rough idea, change from set to set, and guarantee nothing for any given booster.
Got one?
- 1Sleeve it straight away, then put it in a top-loader.
- 2Check that it's genuine: rare cards are the most copied.
- 3Look up its price for its language and condition.
- 4If it's perfect, consider getting it graded.
Pulled a rare card? Scan it
gotem. tells you which card it is and what it's worth, by language and condition, and adds it to your collection. Free.
Scan my cardFrequently asked questions
What is the rarest Pokémon card?
Among booster rarities, hyper rares and special illustration rares. The rarest of all are cards outside boosters, like the Pikachu Illustrator, given to the winners of a contest in 1998.
What is the most expensive Pokémon card?
Right now, Entei ☆ (EX Forces Cachées), around €4,206 at market price.
Are rare cards always valuable?
No: rarity matters, but so do the character, the artwork, the language and the condition. A rare card of an unpopular character can be worth little.
How do I know if I have a rare card?
Look at its rarity symbol or code, or scan it: gotem. gives you its rarity and price.
Where can I see all the cards of a rarity?
In the gotem. catalogue, filter by rarity and sort by price: each rarity on this page has its "See all" link.
Pulled a rare card? Scan it
gotem. tells you which card it is and what it's worth, by language and condition, and adds it to your collection. Free.
Scan my card
