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Japanese Pokémon card rarities: AR, SAR, SR, UR and MUR explained

Updated on 15/10/2026

Japanese Pokémon card rarities: AR, SAR, SR, UR and MUR explained
An AR, SR, SAR, CHR and CSR card compared
The rarities side by side, all photos of our own cards: AR, SR, SAR and, from the Sword & Shield sets, CHR and CSR.

Where to read the rarity

Number and rarity at the bottom left of a card
064/063 AR: 64 is higher than the total of 63, so it's a secret card, of AR rarity.

The rarities one by one

CodeNameHow to recognise it
ARArt RareFull-card artwork of a regular Pokémon; about ten per set
SRSuper RareFull art of a Pokémon ex or Trainer, textured surface
SARSpecial Art RareFull-card artwork of a Pokémon ex or Trainer: the most sought after
URUltra RareGold version
MURMega Ultra RareGold, in the Mega series, for the main Mega Pokémon ex
CHRCharacter RareSword & Shield series: a Pokémon together with its Trainer
CSRCharacter Super RareSword & Shield series: a V/VMAX card with its Trainer
RRDouble RareRegular version of a Pokémon ex

ARs from our catalogue

Chandelure 069/067 — Battle Region

Chandelure

069/067

3,99 €2 pcs
Kleavor 071/067 — Battle Region

Kleavor

071/067

2,49 €1 pcs
Mightyena 072/067 — Battle Region

Mightyena

072/067

3,49 €1 pcs
Hoothoot 073/067 — Battle Region

Hoothoot

073/067

8,79 €4 pcs

SARs from our catalogue

Pikachu ex 126/103 — 30th Celebration JP

Pikachu ex

126/103

74,99 €3 pcs
Salamence ex 133/103 — 30th Celebration JP

Salamence ex

133/103

19,99 €2 pcs
Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR 234/172 — VSTAR Universe

Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR

234/172

36,49 €2 pcs
Deoxys VSTAR 223/172 — VSTAR Universe

Deoxys VSTAR

223/172

32,99 €1 pcs

ARs that form a single scene

Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos AR from 30th Celebration side by side
Some ARs, placed side by side, make up a single illustration: here Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos from 30th Celebration. You'll find them all among the connected illustrations.

For the difference between holo, reverse and full art read holo, reverse and full art; for Pokémon ex and Mega ex, what ex cards are.

Frequently asked questions

What does SAR mean?+
Special Art Rare: the full-card illustrated version of a Pokémon ex or a Trainer. It's usually the most sought-after card in a set.
What's the difference between AR and SAR?+
Both have full-card artwork, but ARs are regular Pokémon (not ex), while SARs are Pokémon ex or Trainers, and rarer.
What does a number like 108/103 mean?+
That the card is beyond the total of the main set: it's a secret card, so a high rarity (AR, SR, SAR, UR).

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