Special Illustration Rare Pokemon Cards — Rarity Guide & Price List (2026)

Pokemon Special Illustration Rare cards (SIR) are the most premium non-secret rarity in modern Pokemon sets, featuring watercolor-style full-art treatments. With 283 cards tracked, SIR cards are among the most valuable pulls in current Pokemon TCG sets.

Last updated: July 7, 2026

Most Valuable Special Illustration Rare Pokemon Cards (2026)

The most expensive special illustration rare pokemon cards by current market price:

  1. Mega Charizard X ex from ME02: Phantasmal Flames — $1570.25
  2. Umbreon ex - 161/131 from SV: Prismatic Evolutions — $1530.43
  3. Pikachu ex - 276/217 from ME: Ascended Heroes — $1327.49
  4. Mega Gengar ex - 284/217 from ME: Ascended Heroes — $1324.47
  5. Mew ex - 232/091 from SV: Paldean Fates — $1082.18
  6. Mega Charizard X ex - 125/094 from ME02: Phantasmal Flames — $837.25
  7. Mega Dragonite ex - 290/217 from ME: Ascended Heroes — $798.36
  8. Mega Dragonite EX Special Illustration Rare from Pokemon Italian Asc Ascended Heroes — $793.11
  9. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - 231/182 from SV10: Destined Rivals — $558.78
  10. Sylveon ex - 156/131 from SV: Prismatic Evolutions — $549.49
  11. Mega Greninja ex from ME04: Chaos Rising — $490.00
  12. Pikachu ex - 277/217 from ME: Ascended Heroes — $450.41
  13. Pikachu EX Special Illustration Rare from Pokemon Italian Asc Ascended Heroes — $449.20
  14. Charizard ex from 151 — $421.21
  15. Charizard ex - 199/165 from SV: Scarlet & Violet 151 — $421.21
  16. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - 281/217 from ME: Ascended Heroes — $413.68
  17. Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX Special Illustration Rare from Pokemon German Asc De Ascended Heroes — $410.78
  18. Greninja ex - 214/167 from SV06: Twilight Masquerade — $400.83
  19. Pikachu ex - 238/191 from SV08: Surging Sparks — $380.25
  20. Charizard ex - 234/091 from SV: Paldean Fates — $335.77

Pokemon Special Illustration Rare Card Price Statistics

Frequently Asked Questions

How many special illustration rare pokemon cards are there?

There are 283 special illustration rare pokemon cards with active market prices tracked on Guardian TCG. Prices are updated daily from multiple market sources.

What is the most expensive special illustration rare pokemon card?

The most expensive special illustration rare pokemon card is Mega Charizard X ex from ME02: Phantasmal Flames, currently valued at $1570.25.

What is the pokemon special illustration rare card rarity guide?

Special Illustration Rare is one of the Pokemon card rarity tiers. Pokemon uses multiple rarity levels to classify cards by scarcity. Special Illustration Rare cards are among the harder-to-find cards in the set. Prices range from $335.77 to $1570.25 with an average of $727.26.

Are special illustration rare pokemon cards valuable?

Yes — some special illustration rare pokemon cards can be very valuable. The top 5 most valuable are: Mega Charizard X ex ($1570.25), Umbreon ex - 161/131 ($1530.43), Pikachu ex - 276/217 ($1327.49), Mega Gengar ex - 284/217 ($1324.47), Mew ex - 232/091 ($1082.18).

What is the pokemon special illustration rare card price range?

Pokemon Special Illustration Rare cards range from $335.77 to $1570.25, with an average price of $727.26. Guardian TCG tracks live prices from eBay sold listings and market data updated daily.

Other Pokemon Card Rarities

Related Tools

Trending Right Now

7-Day Top Movers