For years, collectors have mastered the Pokémon TCG landscape. We learned the pull rates, we knew what to hunt, and we built our collections with expertise. Then, the Mega Evolution era changed the game with a new rarity system.
Now, it’s happened again.
The brand-new "Mega Evolution" (2025) set has just been released, and it's not just a nostalgic trip. It has introduced a new, almost mythical tier of rarity: the Mega Hyper Rare.
This article is your official guide for the Rare Candy community. First, we’ll provide a definitive breakdown of the Scarlet & Violet rarity system you must know. Then, we’ll dive into the Mega Evolution set, analyze its brutal pull rates, and show you exactly what to look for.
Part 1: The Foundation: Your Guide to Scarlet & Violet Rarities
Before you can understand the Mega Evolution set, you must understand the new standard. The Scarlet & Violet era threw out the old system (goodbye, Rainbow Rares!) and replaced it with a more intuitive, art-focused structure. Mega Evolution takes this system and levels it up!
Here is every rarity, its symbol (at the bottom-left of the card), and what it means.
Common (C): [Circle Symbol ○]
What it is: The backbone of the set. These are your basic Pokémon and essential Trainer cards.
Key Card Example: Litleo from Prismatic Evolutions
Uncommon (U): [Diamond Symbol ◆]
What it is: Evolved Pokémon and more complex Trainer or Item cards.
Key Card Example: Heracross from Scarlet & Violet Base set
Rare (R): [Star Symbol ★]
What it is: This is the baseline "Rare" card for a set. In the S&V and Mega eras, all cards in this slot are guaranteed to be holographic.
Key Card Example: Gholdengo from Paldean Fates
Holo Rare:
What it is: This isn't a separate rarity but the treatment for all "Rare" cards. If you see a single star ★, the card art will be holographic. There are no more non-holo Rares.
Key Card Example: Any Common/Uncommon/Rare card with this special holographic pattern
Reverse Holo:
What it is: This is a treatment, not a rarity. You get one in nearly every pack. It can be a Common, Uncommon, or Rare card where the entire card is holographic except for the art box.
Key Card Example: Reuniclus Reverse Holo (from S&V—Black Bolt)
Double Rare (RR): [Two Black Stars ★★]
What it is: This is the standard rarity for all regular and Mega Pokémon ex, including Tera ex. These are the most common "hits" in a set.
Key Card Example: Skeledirge Ex from Paldea Evolved
Illustration Rare (IR): [One Gold Star ★]
What it is: A fan-favorite! These are full-art "alternate art" cards for regular (non-ex) Pokémon. They are known for their beautiful, story-driven artwork.
Key Card Example: Latios From Surging Sparks
Ultra Rare (UR): [Two White/Foil Stars ★★]
What it is: This category is now reserved for Full Art versions of Pokémon ex and Supporter cards. They have a distinct, etched texture (for Pokémon) or vibrant art (for Supporters).
Key Card Example: Pikachu Ex from Surging Sparks
Special Illustration Rare (SIR): [Two Gold Stars ★★]
What it is: This is the community's "Secret Illustration Rare." These are the primary "chase" cards of a set, featuring stunning, full-card alternate artwork for Pokémon ex and Supporters.
Key Card Example: Zekrom Ex (SIR) (from Black Bolt), Team Rockets MewTwo (SIR) (from Destined Rivals)
Hyper Rare (HR): [Three Gold Stars ★★★]
What it is: Also known as "Gold Cards." These are full-art, textured cards with a monochromatic gold finish, typically for Pokémon ex, Trainers, or Energy cards.
Key Card Example: Team Rocket’s Mewtwo Ex (from Destined Rivals), iono’s Bellibolt ex (from Journey Together)
Part 2: The Mega Evolution (2025) Set Analysis
Now for the main event. The Mega Evolution set is the first set of a new era in the Pokémon TCG leaving Scarlet & Violet behind and introducing new rarities.
This set uses all the rarities listed above aside from Hyper Rare, but it adds one more tier at the very top.
Introducing: The Mega Hyper Rare
Your eyes are not deceiving you. The Mega Hyper Rare is a new, official rarity designation, and it's the hardest pull in Pokémon TCG history.
What it is: The MHR is a tier above Hyper Rare. These cards feature a stunning monochromatic gold design, but are exclusively for the new Mega Evolution Pokémon.
The Cards: There are only two in the Mega Evolution set, making them instant "grail" cards:
The Rarity: These cards are designed to be legends. Finding one is the collector's equivalent of a perfect game.
In-Depth Pull Rate Analysis: Scarlet & Violet Set vs. Mega Evolution Set
This is what every collector wants to know. We've compiled data from thousands of pack openings to compare the pull rates from the previous Scarlet & Violet sets and the new Mega Evolution set.
The results are staggering.
Rarity | Standard S&V Set (e.g., Paradox Rift) | Mega Evolution |
Double Rare (RR) | ~1 in 7 packs | ~1 in 5 packs |
Illustration Rare (IR) | ~1 in 7 packs | ~1 in 9 packs |
Ultra Rare (UR) | ~1 in 14 packs | ~1 in 12 packs |
Special Illus. Rare (SIR) | ~1 in 59 packs | ~1 in 101 packs |
Hyper Rare (HR) | ~1 in 121 packs | (N/A - Replaced by MHR) |
Mega Hyper Rare (MHR) | (N/A) | ~1 in 1,260 packs |
Analysis: What This Data Means for You
Mega Evolution is a High-Risk, High-Reward Set: Look closely at the table. It's easier to pull a basic Double Rare (ex) or an Ultra Rare (Full Art) from Mega Evolution than from previous sets. The designers front-loaded the set with more "minor hits."
The SIR Chase is 3x Harder: This is the first major hurdle. The top "alternate art" SIR cards (like the Mega Lucario ex SIR) are significantly harder to pull than most previous sets' SIR. They are no longer the main chase; they are the secondary chase.
The MHR is a "Lottery" Card: A pull rate of ~1 in 1,260 packs is a new precedent. This card is not meant to be pulled by the average collector. It's a true "grail" card, and its market value will reflect this. For perspective, you would need to open more than 105 Elite Trainer Boxes (on average) to find one.
Our Advice for Rare Candy Collectors
Know Your Symbols: This is more important than ever. Use this guide to identify your hits immediately. That "Gold" card you pulled might be a Hyper Rare... or it might be the legendary Mega Hyper Rare.
Set Your Expectations: Go into the Mega Evolution set hunting for the beautiful Illustration Rares and Full Arts. Be thrilled if you pull an SIR. And if you pull an MHR, understand that you've just pulled one of the rarest cards ever printed.
Track Your Collection: The values for this set will be volatile. The Mega Hyper Rares will command a massive premium, while the SIRs will also be high. The best way to know the true value of your new collection is to scan and track your pulls right here on the Rare Candy App or at Rare Candy Website
To see the full list: Check out the full card list here Mega Evolutions full card list
Happy hunting, and may the pack gods be with you!
