Confused about Pokemon card rarities? Here, we’ll explain exactly what a Special Illustration Rare card is and how you can spot a SIR card when ripping packs.
Put simply, SIR stands for Special Illustration Rare. It refers to a specific kind of rare card that can be found in a variety of English-language Pokemon card products, with the Japanese equivalent being ‘SAR’ or Special Art Rare.
There are lots ofdifferent raritieswhen it comes to Pokemon cards and it can be pretty confusing getting to grips with them when starting your own collection. If you’ve spent any time in online Pokemon TCG communities, you’re bound to have seen the term ‘SIR’ being thrown around.
SIR cards are marked with a double golden star. Both the number of starsandthe color of the stars are important – Double Rares, for example, have the same double stars but they’re black not gold.
Special Illustration Rares are usually valuable, as they have gorgeous artwork and low pull rates. For example, some of themost expensive cardsfrom Temporal Forces like Iron Crown ex (206/162) are Special Illustration Rare cards.
How to find out if you have a SIR card
It’s easy to get confused between rarities, as the vast majority of them use a variation of a star symbol as a marker. If you think you’ve pulled a SIR, follow these three steps:
If you’re unsure what you’re dealing with exactly, it’s worth typing out the name intothe official Pokemon TCG database. This site will tell you everything you need to know about the card, ranging from the set name and illustrator to theregulation markand rarity.
If you do pull a Special Illustration Rare – congratulations! Sleeve it and store it safely in a binder. Whether you’re a competitive player or a collector, it’s good to keep specialty cards safe right from the get-go.
Em Stonham was a Games Writer on Dexerto’s UK team, specializing in Pokemon coverage. They are a Pokemon TCG expert, and also covered Pokemon Go, and Pokemon Sword & Shield. Em is also a big fan of trading card games and World of Warcraft, with bylines at Only Greats, Sleeve No Card Behind, and Diamond Lobby.
