Secret Rare Cards
Numbered beyond the printed set total, secret rares are the hidden gems of every expansion. Gold cards, rainbow rares, and alternate arts — these are the cards that make collectors gasp when they pull one.
What Is It?
Secret Rare cards are identified by their card number exceeding the official set count — for example, card 201/198. This numbering signals they are part of a hidden subset within the expansion. Secret rares have appeared in every era since EX Ruby & Sapphire (2003) and include gold-bordered cards, rainbow-foil hyper rares, alternate art illustrations, and gold versions of Trainer and Energy cards. They are the hardest standard cards to pull from booster packs.
How to Identify
Check the card number in the bottom-left or bottom-right corner. If the first number is higher than the second (e.g., 205/198), it is a secret rare. Gold-bordered cards have a distinctive golden frame. Rainbow rares feature a prismatic, multi-color foil across the entire card. Secret rare Trainer and Energy cards often have a golden or silver treatment. The pull rate is approximately 1 in 30-70 packs depending on the set.
Value Range
Secret rare values vary enormously. Gold Trainer cards (like Gold Snorlax) sell for $5-30. Rainbow rares range from $10-80 depending on the Pokemon. Gold star cards from the EX era are worth $100-2,000+. Alternate art secret rares from Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet are the most valuable, with cards like Umbreon VMAX (alt art) reaching $200-400.
Scan with Pokex
Pokex identifies secret rares by their extended numbering and matches them to the correct variant in the price database. Since secret rares can look similar to standard ultra rares, the scanner eliminates confusion by reading the set number and cross-referencing market data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 How do you know if a Pokemon card is a secret rare?
Check the card number — if it exceeds the set total (e.g., 201/198), it is a secret rare. These cards also often have gold borders, rainbow foil, or alternate art that distinguishes them visually from regular cards.
Q2 What are the odds of pulling a secret rare?
Pull rates vary by set, but secret rares typically appear in roughly 1 out of every 30-70 booster packs. Some sets have higher secret rare counts, slightly improving odds, while others concentrate value in fewer cards.
Q3 Are rainbow rares still printed?
Rainbow rares (Hyper Rares) were a staple from Sun & Moon through Sword & Shield. Scarlet & Violet replaced them with Illustration Rares and Special Art Rares. However, rainbow rares from earlier sets remain highly collectible.
Q4 What is the most valuable secret rare Pokemon card?
The Umbreon VMAX alternate art from Evolving Skies consistently ranks among the most valuable modern secret rares, selling for $200-400 raw and over $1,000 in PSA 10. Vintage gold star cards can exceed $2,000.
Related Rarity Tiers
Own a Secret Rare card?
Scan it to check its current market value instantly.
No credit card. No signup. Just scan.
