Scarlet and Violet SIR ranking

Top 10 Special Illustration Rares from the Scarlet and Violet Era

Special illustration rares have become the headline chase cards of the Scarlet and Violet era. These cards combine full-card artwork, popular Pokémon, iconic trainers, and difficult pull rates into some of the most memorable modern Pokémon TCG cards.

This ranking looks at artwork, character popularity, set impact, pull difficulty, and collector demand. You can also browse all Pokémon sets, compare odds with the Pokémon odds calculator, or read the Pokémon card rarity guide.

Quick answer: best Scarlet and Violet SIR cards

The best special illustration rare from the Scarlet and Violet era is Umbreon ex from Prismatic Evolutions, followed by Mew ex from Paldean Fates and Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex from Destined Rivals.

  1. #10
    Cynthia's Garchomp ex

    Destined Rivals special illustration rare

  2. #9
    Gardevoir ex

    Paldean Fates special illustration rare

  3. #8
    Lillie's Clefairy ex

    Journey Together special illustration rare

  4. #7
    Greninja ex

    Twilight Masquerade special illustration rare

  5. #6
    Charizard ex

    151 special illustration rare

  6. #5
    Pikachu ex

    Surging Sparks special illustration rare

  7. #4
    Sylveon ex

    Prismatic Evolutions special illustration rare

  8. #3
    Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex

    Destined Rivals special illustration rare

  9. #2
    Mew ex

    Paldean Fates special illustration rare

  10. #1
    Umbreon ex

    Prismatic Evolutions special illustration rare

How we ranked these special illustration rares

Artwork and identity

The strongest SIRs have artwork that collectors remember immediately, whether through color, composition, or story.

Character appeal

Popular Pokémon and trainers rank higher when their cards become major chase pulls across the wider collector community.

Set impact

Cards get extra credit when they define a set, drive pack demand, or become the card most collectors associate with a release.

Top 10 Scarlet and Violet special illustration rares: full countdown

Below is the full countdown, starting at number 10 and working down to the best Scarlet and Violet special illustration rare at number 1.

#10 ranked SIR

10. Cynthia's Garchomp ex

Destined Rivals #232

Destined Rivals Pokémon set logo
Cynthia's Garchomp ex Destined Rivals special illustration rare

Cynthia's Garchomp starts the list because it combines a popular Pokémon, one of the most beloved trainers in the series, and a set with huge collector momentum. Cynthia's Garchomp was iconic in the Generation 4 Pokémon games, where it became one of the most memorable champion battles in the franchise. Destined Rivals also gives this card extra strength because trainer-owned Pokémon are a major theme of the set, and Cynthia is exactly the kind of character collectors want to see on a premium SIR.

You can view the full Destined Rivals set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#9 ranked SIR

9. Gardevoir ex

Paldean Fates #233

Paldean Fates Pokémon set logo
Gardevoir ex Paldean Fates special illustration rare

Gardevoir ex from Paldean Fates is a shiny version of an already popular Pokémon, which gives it a strong foundation before even looking at the artwork. The card has an incredible amount of detail, with a soft, emotional scene that feels very different from the louder chase cards in the era. The extra background details help the card feel lived in, and the Wooper tucked into the scene is the cherry on top. It is one of the best examples of a modern SIR using atmosphere rather than pure spectacle.

You can view the full Paldean Fates set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#8 ranked SIR

8. Lillie's Clefairy ex

Journey Together #184

Journey Together Pokémon set logo
Lillie's Clefairy ex Journey Together special illustration rare

Lillie's Clefairy ex earns its place thanks to a strong mix of artwork, nostalgia, and trainer popularity. Clefairy is a Generation 1 Pokémon, which always helps with collector appeal, but the biggest boost comes from Lillie herself. Lillie is one of the most popular modern Pokémon trainers, and cards featuring her often attract attention well beyond normal set demand. The artwork is beautiful, gentle, and character-focused, making it a standout SIR from Journey Together.

You can view the full Journey Together set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#7 ranked SIR

7. Greninja ex

Twilight Masquerade #214

Twilight Masquerade Pokémon set logo
Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade special illustration rare

Greninja ex is the card that gave Twilight Masquerade its identity for many collectors. The set as a whole was solid rather than legendary, but this SIR is exceptional. Greninja is already one of the most popular Pokémon from the modern generations, and the artwork gives it a dramatic, high-energy scene that feels worthy of a major chase card. The colors, motion, and composition all work together, which is why many collectors still think of Twilight Masquerade as the Greninja set.

You can view the full Twilight Masquerade set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#6 ranked SIR

6. Charizard ex

151 #199

151 Pokémon set logo
Charizard ex 151 special illustration rare

Charizard ex from 151 is here for a very simple reason: Charizard is arguably the second most popular Pokémon of all time, and 151 is one of the most popular Scarlet and Violet era sets. The artwork is not universally considered the best of the Kanto starter trio, and plenty of collectors would argue that the Blastoise and Venusaur SIRs are stronger visually. Even so, a Charizard SIR in a nostalgia-driven set was always going to be a huge card. Popularity, recognisability, and set demand carry this one comfortably into the top 10.

You can view the full 151 set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#5 ranked SIR

5. Pikachu ex

Surging Sparks #238

Surging Sparks Pokémon set logo
Pikachu ex Surging Sparks special illustration rare

Pikachu ex from Surging Sparks does not need much explanation, because Pikachu is the most popular Pokémon of all time. A premium Pikachu chase card will almost always be important, and this SIR became the headline pull from Surging Sparks as soon as collectors saw it. The artwork has the bright, electric energy you would expect from a major Pikachu card, but the real reason it ranks this highly is simply character power. When Pikachu gets a top-tier SIR, the hobby pays attention.

You can view the full Surging Sparks set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#4 ranked SIR

4. Sylveon ex

Prismatic Evolutions #156

Prismatic Evolutions Pokémon set logo
Sylveon ex Prismatic Evolutions special illustration rare

Sylveon ex is one of the best cards from Prismatic Evolutions because it brings together a very popular Pokémon, a difficult pull rate, and artwork that perfectly suits the card. Sylveon already has a devoted collector base thanks to the popularity of Eeveelutions, and this SIR leans into everything fans like about the Pokémon. The Terastalized effect, jewel-like details, and color scheme make the card feel premium without losing Sylveon's softer charm. It is hard to pull, visually impressive, and exactly the kind of card Prismatic Evolutions collectors chase.

You can view the full Prismatic Evolutions set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#3 ranked SIR

3. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex

Destined Rivals #231

Destined Rivals Pokémon set logo
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex Destined Rivals special illustration rare

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex is built from several collector favourites at once. Mewtwo is one of the most popular Pokémon ever, Team Rocket is one of the most recognisable villain groups in the franchise, and Giovanni appearing in the artwork gives the card even more character appeal. Destined Rivals is also a very popular set, which helps push this card even higher. It feels like a true centerpiece card: dramatic, nostalgic, and tied to one of the most famous Pokémon and trainer combinations in the series.

You can view the full Destined Rivals set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#2 ranked SIR

2. Mew ex

Paldean Fates #232

Paldean Fates Pokémon set logo
Mew ex Paldean Fates special illustration rare

Mew ex from Paldean Fates, usually called Bubble Mew by the community, is one of the defining cards of the Scarlet and Violet era. The artwork is simple, but that simplicity is exactly why it works. The soft bubble effect, clean composition, and excellent coloring make the card instantly recognisable. It is also a shiny Mew card, which adds another layer of appeal because shiny Mew has a long history of collector demand. Bubble Mew proves that a card does not need an overloaded scene to become iconic.

You can view the full Paldean Fates set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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#1 ranked SIR

1. Umbreon ex

Best overall

Prismatic Evolutions #161

Prismatic Evolutions Pokémon set logo
Umbreon ex Prismatic Evolutions special illustration rare

Umbreon ex takes the number one spot because it combines extreme popularity, very difficult pull odds, and stunning artwork. Umbreon is already one of the most collected Eeveelutions, and Prismatic Evolutions gave it a card that immediately became one of the era's biggest chases. Sometimes nicknamed Sun-breon by collectors, the card has a striking visual identity that stands apart from most other Umbreon cards. The artwork feels dramatic, the colors are memorable, and the difficulty of pulling it only adds to the chase. It is the Scarlet and Violet SIR that best captures rarity, hype, and collector demand all at once.

You can view the full Prismatic Evolutions set list, use the odds calculator to compare pull chances, or search for individual Pokémon cards.

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Final thoughts

The Scarlet and Violet era has produced some of the strongest SIR cards in modern Pokémon. Umbreon ex, Bubble Mew, Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex, and Sylveon ex are already cards collectors talk about as era-defining pulls.

Rankings like this are always partly subjective, especially when artwork, popularity, and pull difficulty all matter. For more collecting ideas, visit the Pokémon TCG guides hub or compare this list with our top Scarlet and Violet illustration rares.

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