Rankings
Best Sets for Special Illustration Rare Pulls
Special Illustration Rares and equivalent top-rarity cards are the most sought-after chase cards in modern Pokémon TCG. This ranking shows which sets give you the best odds and lowest cost per top-rarity pull.
Short answer: Darkness Ablaze currently offers the lowest cost to pull a top-rarity card (HR), with an expected spend of around 24 € per pull.
Last updated: May 10, 2026
SIR Set Rankings
Sets Ranked by Top-Rarity Cost Efficiency
| # | Set | Top Rarity | Pack Price | Cost / Pull | 50% Cost | 90% Cost | Avg. Top Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Darkness Ablaze Sword & Shield | HR (1:3) | 8.00 € | 24 € | 16 € | 48 € | 4.73 € |
| 2 |  Brilliant Stars Sword & Shield | HR (1:3) | 8.35 € | 25 € | 17 € | 50 € | 8.63 € |
| 3 |  Lost Origin Sword & Shield | HR (1:5) | 9.57 € | 49 € | 38 € | 105 € | 16.77 € |
| 4 |  Fusion Strike Sword & Shield | HR (1:5) | 13.10 € | 68 € | 52 € | 144 € | 6.57 € |
| 5 |  Rebel Clash Sword & Shield | UR (1:10) | 9.10 € | 91 € | 64 € | 200 € | 7.26 € |
| 6 |  Battle Styles Sword & Shield | UR (1:18) | 6.96 € | 124 € | 90 € | 278 € | 18.59 € |
| 7 |  Vivid Voltage Sword & Shield | UR (1:18) | 7.27 € | 130 € | 95 € | 291 € | 8.34 € |
| 8 |  Chilling Reign Sword & Shield | UR (1:18) | 7.55 € | 135 € | 98 € | 302 € | 10.69 € |
| 9 |  Shining Fates Sword & Shield | UR (1:16) | 10.38 € | 165 € | 114 € | 374 € | 3.33 € |
| 10 |  Scarlet & Violet Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:32) | 5.13 € | 165 € | 118 € | 380 € | 5.60 € |
| 11 |  Evolving Skies Sword & Shield | HR (1:5) | 33.93 € | 170 € | 136 € | 373 € | 24.67 € |
| 12 |  Obsidian Flames Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:32) | 6.01 € | 194 € | 138 € | 445 € | 2.72 € |
| 13 |  Silver Tempest Sword & Shield | UR (1:27) | 7.92 € | 214 € | 150 € | 491 € | 12.36 € |
| 14 |  Paradox Rift Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:47) | 4.77 € | 224 € | 157 € | 510 € | 2.07 € |
| 15 |  Astral Radiance Sword & Shield | UR (1:36) | 6.67 € | 238 € | 167 € | 547 € | 4.03 € |
| 16 |  Paldea Evolved Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:32) | 7.49 € | 242 € | 172 € | 554 € | 1.97 € |
| 17 |  Champion's Path Sword & Shield | UR (1:18) | 14.35 € | 261 € | 187 € | 588 € | 2.39 € |
| 18 |  Sword & Shield Sword & Shield | UR (1:36) | 8.97 € | 320 € | 224 € | 736 € | 10.76 € |
| 19 |  Journey Together Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:86) | 4.60 € | 397 € | 276 € | 911 € | 2.39 € |
| 20 |  Twilight Masquerade Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:86) | 5.44 € | 469 € | 326 € | 1077 € | 3.15 € |
| 21 |  Prismatic Evolutions Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:45) | 10.53 € | 479 € | 337 € | 1095 € | 31.62 € |
| 22 |  Crown Zenith Sword & Shield | UR (1:29) | 17.71 € | 506 € | 354 € | 1151 € | 7.36 € |
| 23 |  Surging Sparks Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:87) | 5.90 € | 513 € | 354 € | 1180 € | 3.22 € |
| 24 |  Perfect Order Mega Evolution | SIR (1:75) | 7.71 € | 580 € | 401 € | 1326 € | 7.09 € |
| 25 |  Mega Evolution Mega Evolution | SIR (1:101) | 6.17 € | 623 € | 432 € | 1431 € | 13.64 € |
| 26 |  Phantasmal Flames Mega Evolution | SIR (1:80) | 8.39 € | 671 € | 470 € | 1544 € | 3.64 € |
| 27 |  151 Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:32) | 30.46 € | 983 € | 701 € | 2254 € | 31.51 € |
| 28 |  Ascended Heroes Mega Evolution | SIR (1:71) | 14.22 € | 1016 € | 711 € | 2332 € | 38.21 € |
| 29 |  Destined Rivals Scarlet & Violet | SIR (1:94) | 11.88 € | 1117 € | 772 € | 2566 € | 4.92 € |
Darkness Ablaze
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
HR
Cost / Pull
24 €
50% Cost
16 €
Best Card: Houndoom V (9.03 €)
Brilliant Stars
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
HR
Cost / Pull
25 €
50% Cost
17 €
Best Card: Umbreon VMAX (99.46 €)
Lost Origin
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
HR
Cost / Pull
49 €
50% Cost
38 €
Best Card: Giratina V (805.06 €)
Fusion Strike
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
HR
Cost / Pull
68 €
50% Cost
52 €
Best Card: Mew V (114.71 €)
Rebel Clash
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
91 €
50% Cost
64 €
Best Card: Ninetales V (18.84 €)
Battle Styles
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
124 €
50% Cost
90 €
Best Card: Tyranitar V (106.38 €)
Vivid Voltage
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
130 €
50% Cost
95 €
Best Card: Pikachu V (36.44 €)
Chilling Reign
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
135 €
50% Cost
98 €
Best Card: Galarian Moltres V (177.95 €)
Shining Fates
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
165 €
50% Cost
114 €
Best Card: Skyla (10.53 €)
Scarlet & Violet
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
165 €
50% Cost
118 €
Best Card: Drowzee (35.18 €)
Evolving Skies
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
HR
Cost / Pull
170 €
50% Cost
136 €
Best Card: Dragonite V (474.25 €)
Obsidian Flames
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
194 €
50% Cost
138 €
Best Card: Charizard ex (16.13 €)
Silver Tempest
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
214 €
50% Cost
150 €
Best Card: Lugia V (486.77 €)
Paradox Rift
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
224 €
50% Cost
157 €
Best Card: Maushold ex (4.86 €)
Astral Radiance
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
238 €
50% Cost
167 €
Best Card: Origin Forme Palkia V (78.58 €)
Paldea Evolved
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
242 €
50% Cost
172 €
Best Card: Boss's Orders (6.56 €)
Champion's Path
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
261 €
50% Cost
187 €
Best Card: Gardevoir V (3.55 €)
Sword & Shield
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
320 €
50% Cost
224 €
Best Card: Marnie (44.96 €)
Journey Together
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
397 €
50% Cost
276 €
Best Card: Lillie's Clefairy ex (5.22 €)
Twilight Masquerade
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
469 €
50% Cost
326 €
Best Card: Dragapult ex (8.47 €)
Prismatic Evolutions
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
479 €
50% Cost
337 €
Best Card: Sylveon ex (255.95 €)
Crown Zenith
Sword & Shield
Top Rarity
UR
Cost / Pull
506 €
50% Cost
354 €
Best Card: Darkrai VSTAR (102.64 €)
Surging Sparks
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
513 €
50% Cost
354 €
Best Card: Pikachu ex (23.98 €)
Perfect Order
Mega Evolution
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
580 €
50% Cost
401 €
Best Card: Meowth ex (19.62 €)
Mega Evolution
Mega Evolution
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
623 €
50% Cost
432 €
Best Card: Mega Lucario ex (158.66 €)
Phantasmal Flames
Mega Evolution
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
671 €
50% Cost
470 €
Best Card: Mega Charizard X ex (27.73 €)
151
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
983 €
50% Cost
701 €
Best Card: Charizard ex (437.58 €)
Ascended Heroes
Mega Evolution
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
1016 €
50% Cost
711 €
Best Card: Mega Gengar ex (1002.34 €)
Destined Rivals
Scarlet & Violet
Top Rarity
SIR
Cost / Pull
1117 €
50% Cost
772 €
Best Card: Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex (22.65 €)
How we rank sets for SIR pulls
Sets are ranked by expected cost per top-rarity pull: pack price divided by the top-rarity rate per pack. Lower cost means better odds per euro.
- Top rarity is identified in order: SIR (Special Illustration Rare), HR (Hyper Rare), CR (Crown Rare), UR (Ultra Rare), or the rarest slot available.
- Cost per pull = pack price ÷ top-rarity rate. This is the expected average pack spend to pull any card of that rarity.
- Cost for 50%/90% chance uses the formula: ceil(log(1 − targetChance) / log(1 − rate)) × pack price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Pokémon set has the best SIR odds?
This ranking sorts sets by cost per expected top-rarity pull. The set at the top of the list offers the lowest average spend per SIR or equivalent rarity pull based on current data.
How much does it cost to pull a Special Illustration Rare?
It varies significantly by set. Some sets have better SIR odds than others. This page shows the estimated cost per pull and the cost to reach a 50% and 90% pull probability for each set.
Are the SIR costs guarantees?
No. These are probability estimates based on reported pull rates. Booster packs are random. You might pull a SIR on the first pack, or not within the estimated number. These figures describe what you would expect on average over many openings.
Related Rankings