Illustration rare card (TCG)
Illustration rare (Japanese: Art Rare) and special illustration rare (Japanese: Special Art Rare) are types of rarity in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, introduced in the Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery.
Illustration rare cards are usually reprints of Common, Uncommon, and Rare cards from the same set, with alternate artwork. These cards are usually reprints of double rare cards from the same set, with alternate artwork. Sometimes, entire evolution lines get reprinted as illustration rare cards. These are often drawn by one illustrator, telling the story of that Pokémon growing up. Starting with the Scarlet & Violet expansion, illustration rare cards feature a single gold star () for their rarity symbol.
Special illustration rare cards are like illustration rare cards but instead feature an additional layer of glitter foil and either feature alternative artwork of chase Pokémon cards such as Pokémon V, VSTAR, VMAX or Pokémon ex or of Supporter cards. Starting with the Scarlet & Violet expansion, special illustration rare cards feature a double gold star () for their rarity.
Both illustration rare and special illustration rare cards are Full Art Secret cards that showcase Pokémon in their natural environments and offer a closer look at their unique personalities. Illustration rare cards are holographic cards without any texture, always featuring Pokémon. Special illustration rare cards are etched, meaning that they do have texture. These cards can feature either Pokémon or Supporters.
Illustration rare and special illustration rare cards are similar to the Trainer Gallery cards introduced in the Brilliant Stars expansion (the Japanese VMAX Climax subset), bar the fact that they generally do not feature characters.
List of illustration rare cards
List of special illustration rare cards
This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. |