You've opened your first Japanese booster pack, you're holding a card that looks spectacular, and in the bottom corner there's a tiny pair of letters you've never seen before. What does SAR mean? Is AR better than R? And why does none of it match the English cards you grew up with?
Take a breath — the Japanese rarity system is actually one of the tidiest things about this hobby once you know how to read it. Here's the collector-to-collector version.
Where to find the rarity mark
On Japanese cards, rarity is printed as a small letter code in the bottom corner of the card, near the card number. That's your starting point for identifying anything you pull. English sets use symbols and different naming, so if you collect both (plenty of us at Pokadopa do), it helps to keep the two systems separate in your head.
The everyday cards: C, U and R
These are the bread and butter of any pack:
- C (Common) and U (Uncommon) — the bulk of every set. Don't sleep on them: trainers and energy from this tier are what actually make decks run.
- R (Rare) — a step up, usually with holofoil treatment. Nice to pull, and often where playable attackers live.
The hits: RR and above
This is where the excitement starts:
- RR (Double Rare) — the powerful "ex" Pokémon that headline modern sets. These are your standard big hitters.
- AR (Art Rare) — full-art cards of regular Pokémon, often with beautiful scenery and storytelling in the artwork. Many collectors chase AR sub-sets purely for the art, and honestly, we get it.
- SAR (Special Art Rare) — the alternate-art versions of ex Pokémon and trainers. These are typically the most chased cards in a Japanese set, with extended artwork that covers the whole card.
- SR (Super Rare) — full-art versions of ex Pokémon and supporter cards, sitting above RR in flashiness.
- UR (Ultra Rare) — the gold cards. The classic "top of the box" chase for many sets.
Exact tiers can shift a little from era to era — the Pokémon Company likes to tweak things — but this covers the modern sets you'll find on our shelves.
A quick word on high-class packs
Some Japanese sets, like the beloved high-class packs released toward the end of each year, work differently. They're built around reprints and special versions of fan-favourite cards, and packs from these sets tend to be more generous with foils than a standard set. They're a favourite for collectors who want that premium opening experience — just know that "more shinies per pack" doesn't automatically mean "more valuable," since the whole print run is built that way.
What this means when you're buying
A few honest tips from our side of the counter:
- Don't judge a card only by its letters. A well-loved AR of a popular Pokémon can be more desirable than a forgettable SR. Character matters as much as rarity.
- Rarity tells you scarcity within the set, not market value. Demand does the rest.
- If you're chasing SARs, remember that's exactly what they are — a chase. Buy sealed product because you enjoy the ritual of opening it, not because any single box owes you a specific card.
That last point is the heart of how we do things at Pokadopa. We're collectors first, based right here in Cape Town, and we price our sealed product to be opened and enjoyed — not flipped. Chase the pull — fairly.
Ready to put your new knowledge to work?
Browse our sealed Japanese and English boxes and see the rarity system in action with your own pulls — or pick up something from our Pokémon toys and collectibles range if you'd rather your favourites come pre-pulled. Either way, we've got you.