Rainbow Pokémon Cards- All You Need to Know

Pokémon cards have been around for over 20 years and during that time, there have been thousands of different cards released. While most collectors focus on the original Evolutions set or the recent XY series, some rare and unique Pokémon cards have been released that are worth a lot of money. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most unique and valuable rainbow Pokémon cards out there. So if you’re looking to add some rare cards to your collection, be sure to keep an eye out for these!

What are rainbow rare cards?

The first rainbow card (sometimes referred to as a hyper rare) was introduced in the Sun & Moon expansion of Sun & Moon. This set contained a whopping eight rainbow cards. The Pokémon Company also released the first rainbow promotional card around the same time, being a beautiful Ho-Oh GX.

Rainbow cards got a revamp with Sword & Shield, the colors being much more vivid and a glitter effect was added.

Rainbow cards are unique, as not any other trading card game has had anything similar. They are a fan favorite but are rare and difficult to pull. 

All rainbow cards also have etching. Etching is a texture that is applied to the face of the cards during the manufacturing process. If you gently feel the face of the card with your fingers, you’ll feel a light texture. Most fakes do not have etching. 

Most rainbow cards are classified as secret rares. This is a card with a set number beyond the total. For example, Pikachu VMAX 188/185.

What are rainbow rare cards worth?

As a general rule, rainbow rare cards are valuable, although the exact value does entirely depend on the featured Pokémon. For example, a rainbow Charizard is going to skyrocket in value when compared to a less popular Pokémon like Gumshoos.

All rainbow cards will be worth more when graded. This is when you send cards to a company that encapsulates the card in a plastic case and gives it a grade on a 1-10 scale. Some popular grading services are CGC, BGS, MNT, and PSA. 

How many are there?

Today, we see rainbow cards in nearly every set released by TPC. Most sets average about 12 rainbow cards, but some are as high as 20 (Like Sword & Shield- Chilling Reign). 

Rainbow cards are a huge hit and here to stay, so even though there are over 200, we are sure to see more every set.

If you want to pull a rainbow rare of your own, you’ll probably have to open a lot of booster packs. A booster box (36 packs) sometimes will yield up to two rainbow cards, but sometimes contain none.

Which packs have rainbow rares?

Most packs you find on store shelves today have a chance of containing rainbow rare cards. 

Rainbow cards were introduced in 2017 and have been in almost every single set since then. However, some sets did not receive rainbow rares. These are ‘special’ sets like McDonald’s sets or holiday sets. Another set without any rainbow cards is the 25th-anniversary Celebrations set.

Which Expansion Set Has The Most Rainbow Rares?

The set with the most rainbow rares available would be Sword & Shield- Chilling Reign with a whopping 20 rainbow cards.

Here’s a list of each set containing rainbow rares, and how many:

Sun & Moon

Sword & Shield

The most expensive rainbow Pokémon cards

#1- Charizard GX (Sun & Moon- Burning Shadows) PSA 10  ~$3,000

#2- Charizard VMAX (Sword & Shield- Champion’s Path) PSA 10  ~$1,100

#3- Pikachu VMAX (Sword & Shield- Vivid Voltage) PSA 10  ~$850

Where to buy rainbow rare cards

Rainbow cards are fairly rare and you’d be lucky to pull one from a booster pack. It does happen, but the odds aren’t in your favor. However, they are sometimes included in products as promotional cards, so you know that you’re getting at least one.

If you just want rainbow cards and care about nothing else, the cheapest and most efficient place to buy them would be eBay. eBay is the world’s largest market for buying Pokémon card singles.

Conclusion

Rainbow Pokémon cards have been a fantastic addition to the hobby, and almost everyone smiles when they pull one from a pack. With over 200 already printed, we’ll be seeing more and more every set. So, are you a collector of rainbow cards?