Some rarity tiers take years to build a following. This one grabbed collectors' attention almost as soon as it appeared.
A distinct foil treatment, not a new Pokemon
A Rainbow Rare isn't a different Pokemon or a new set of stats, it's a rarity treatment applied to a Pokemon that usually already exists elsewhere in the same set as an EX or GX card. What sets it apart is the artwork itself: iridescent, rainbow-toned foil across the background and energy symbols, distinct from any other card in the set.
Rising through the XY and Sun & Moon eras
The style is generally traced to the XY era in the mid-2010s, before becoming a signature feature of the Sun & Moon GX sets that followed. By the time GX Rainbow Rares were a fixture of nearly every main set, the treatment had become one of the most recognizable rarity tiers in the modern game.
Why collectors chase them
A Rainbow Rare offered something a standard holo couldn't: a card that looked completely different from its own regular-print version, on top of already being a low pull-rate secret or ultra rare. That combination of scarcity and a genuinely distinctive look made Rainbow Rares an instant hit with collectors, and the concept has carried through into later full-art rarity tiers in more recent sets.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a card a Rainbow Rare?
An iridescent, rainbow-foil treatment usually applied to an EX or GX Pokemon that already has a standard version in the set.
When did Rainbow Rare cards first appear?
Generally traced to the XY era in the mid-2010s, becoming especially prominent in the Sun & Moon GX era.
Why did Rainbow Rares become such popular chase cards?
Their distinctive look combined with already-low pull rates made them instant collector favorites.