What are Special Art Rares? Pokemon TCG explained

Keeping up to date with every card rarity in the Pokemon TCG can be a challenge, especially when you take both Japanese and English cards into account.

While the majority of Japanese cards end up appearing in English expansion sets – the cards from Night Wanderer will mostly be present in Shrouded Fable, for example – there are notable differences between how the cards are categorized.

Special Art Rares are the equivalent to Special Illustration Rares in English expansion sets, featuring stunning full pieces of artwork and an iconic character of some description. Also known as SAR cards, these gems have the potential to shoot up in value after an expansion set release.

As shown in the image above, Special Art Rare Pokemon cards are marked with the letters ‘SAR’ on the bottom left hand corner of the card. This is relevant to Scarlet & Violet era cards only, mind, as the rarity symbols and categories changed during this period.

How to tell if you have a Special Art Rare card

If you think you’ve pulled a SAR card from a Booster Pack but aren’t entirely sure, there are a few key ways that you can tell. Ask yourself the following questions to review the card:

1. Does the card say ‘SAR’ on the bottom left-hand corner? While some card types can be a little more flexible with their categories and symbols, you will never come across a Special Art Rare without this marker. If it’s not there, you may have an Art Rare or Super Rare instead.
2. Does the card feature a full art design? SAR cards are always full art pieces. If the art is contained to the standard artwork box, you’re dealing with a different card category.
3. Is the card genuine? This takes a little more time and practice to verify, but SAR cards are valuable and therefore, commonly faked. If you’re unsure whether all the card information lines up, it’s worth running the information through the online Pokemon TCG database and verifying the retailer or site that you purchased it from.

If you have pulled a Special Art Rare, make sure to sleeve it and tuck it safely away in your binder. There are some SAR cards out there that can sell for an immensely high price, as the intricate designs make them chase cards for collectors.

To brush up on your card knowledge even further, make sure to check out more of our card rarity guides. Hyper Rares and Ultra Rares are worth checking out if you’re a collector, and understanding the grading process can help with determining card value, too.