How Many Secret Rare Cards Are in Pokémon TCG: Brilliant Stars?
Pokémon TCG: Brilliant Stars is the hugely popular 9th main expansion set in the Sword & Shield era. Officially released on February 25th 2022, Brilliant Stars delivered a diverse mix of fan-favorite Pokémon VSTARs, sparkling "Shiny" cards, and coveted Secret Rares.
In total, the Brilliant Stars set contains 216 cards: 172 regular cards in the main set, 14 Secret Rares, and 30 special Trainer Gallery cards.
In this 2600+ word guide, we‘ll dive deep into everything you need to know about the Secret Rares of Brilliant Stars:
Overview of the 14 Secret Rares in Brilliant Stars
The main appeal of Brilliant Stars lies in the set‘s Secret Rares. These are premium foil cards with unique full art illustrations and a distinctive textured pattern.
Secret Rares stand out immediately from regular cards thanks to their shine and visual flair. They also have an extra aura of exclusivity due to very limited pull rates.
Here is the complete list of the 14 Secret Rare cards contained in the Pokémon TCG: Brilliant Stars expansion:
- Ultra Ball (Secret) #186
- Shaymin VSTAR (Secret) #173
- Galarian Moltres V (Secret) #183
- Galarian Zapdos V (Secret) #182
- Galarian Articuno V (Secret) #181
- Kindler (Secret) #179
- Cynthia‘s Ambition (Secret) #178
- Charizard VSTAR (Secret) #174
- Arceus VSTAR (Secret) #175
- Lumineon V (Secret) #184
- Whimsicott VSTAR (Secret) #176
- Genesect V (Secret) #185
- Marnie‘s Pride (Secret) #177
- Roseanne‘s Backup (Secret) #180
These rare Brilliant Stars Secret cards have unique artwork and desirability. But some stand out as the absolute most valuable and coveted secrets of the set…
The Rarest Card – Alternate Art Charizard V
Far and away the most expensive and sought after Secret Rare in Brilliant Stars is the Alternate Art Charizard V, card #154.
This vibrant Secret Rare depicts a roaring Charizard surrounded by galaxies in shades of blue and purple. The Alternate Art Charizard V currently sells for $400 – $600 depending on condition and grading.
Due to very limited pull rates, this Charizard remains extremely scarce. It was already commanding over $200 just weeks after the Brilliant Stars release.
That‘s nearly 10x the price of the 2nd most valuable Secret Rare in the set – Arceus VSTAR. This insane price gap shows just how desperately collectors chase the Alternate Art Charizard above all else.
As the undisputed king of the set, the Alternate Art Charizard V is almost guaranteed to continue appreciating in value long-term. Sealed boxes containing this Charizard also sell for astronomical prices. It defines the Brilliant Stars set.
Full List of Brilliant Stars Secret Rares by Value
While nothing compares to the Alternate Art Charizard V, here is a breakdown of the remaining Brilliant Stars Secret Rares ranked by current market value:
- Charizard V (Alternate Art) – $400-$600
- Arceus VSTAR (Secret) – $55-$85
- Cynthia‘s Ambition (Secret) – $70-$100
- Shaymin VSTAR (Secret) – $50-$75
- Ultra Ball (Secret) – $40-$60
- Genesect V (Secret) – $30-$50
- Whimsicott VSTAR (Secret) – $25-$40
- Marnie‘s Pride (Secret) – $20-$35
- Galarian Moltres V (Secret) – $15-$25
- Galarian Zapdos V (Secret) – $15-$25
- Galarian Articuno V (Secret) – $15-$25
- Roseanne‘s Backup (Secret) – $10-$20
- Lumineon V (Secret) – $10-$20
- Kindler (Secret) – $5-$15
The above market prices are based on PSA 10 graded copies as of March 2022. Raw ungraded copies tend to sell for 50-70% less.
As you can see, Secret Rares of highly competitive and collector-favorite Pokémon like Charizard, Arceus, Shaymin and Cynthia command the highest premiums by far.
Pull Rates for Brilliant Stars Secret Rares
So how easy or difficult is it to actually pull these Secret Rares from Brilliant Stars packs and boxes?
The secret rare pull rate in modern sets like Brilliant Stars is approximately 1 in 49 packs on average.
With 36 packs per booster box, your overall odds of pulling a secret rare from a Brilliant Stars box are around:
- 72% chance at 1 Secret Rare
- 24% chance at 2 Secret Rares
- 4% chance at 0 Secret Rares
But there‘s a big difference between the odds of a secret rare, and odds of pulling a specific secret rare.
Brilliant Stars contains 14 different Secret Rares. So your chances of pulling that insanely valuable Alternate Art Charizard V in particular are much lower:
- 1 in 686 packs
- Or 10% chance per booster box
Here are the approximate odds of pulling some other specific Secret Rares from the set:
- Cynthia‘s Ambition: 1 in 686 packs
- Shaymin VSTAR: 1 in 686 packs
- Arceus VSTAR: 1 in 686 packs
| Rarity | Odds per Pack | Odds per Booster Box |
|---|---|---|
| Secret Rare (any) | 1 in 49 packs | 72% chance |
| Specific Secret Rare | 1 in 686 packs | 10% chance |
So while Brilliant Stars booster boxes deliver great overall secret rare pull rates, chasing any one specific secret remains a challenge.
But for those willing to buy multiple booster boxes, or play the pack opening lottery, the payoff of hitting that Alternate Art Charizard makes it worthwhile!
Spotlight: Cynthia‘s Ambition Secret Rare
While it may be dwarfed in value by the mighty Charizard V, Cynthia‘s Ambition is still one of the most coveted Secret Rares from Brilliant Stars.
This full art Trainer card depicts fan-favorite Champion Cynthia in her iconic black coat. It‘s one of 9 different Cynthia cards in the Brilliant Stars set.
Cynthia has always been insanely popular in the Pokémon TCG among competitive players and collectors alike. As a result, her Secret Rare cards consistently command very high prices.
Mint PSA 10 copies of Cynthia‘s Ambition currently sell for $325 – $375. That‘s massive for a Trainer card, and showcases Cynthia‘s immense popularity.
The Ambition artwork itself is also stunning. Cynthia‘s confident stance coupled with the cosmic background makes this an iconic Secret Rare.
Due to playability, collector demand and artwork appeal, Cynthia‘s Ambition is likely to continue appreciating in value over time. Raw copies currently sell for $75 – $100.
For fans of Cynthia and investing in Pokémon cards, Cynthia‘s Ambition is a Secret Rare worth chasing in Brilliant Stars.
Booster Box Secret Rare Pull Rates and Odds
Since Secret Rares are still relatively scarce pulls, buying booster boxes gives you the best shot at collecting these coveted foil cards.
Each Brilliant Stars booster box contains 36 packs, so your overall secret rare pull rates per box are:
- 72% chance of 1 Secret Rare
- 24% chance of 2 Secret Rares
- 4% chance of 0 Secret Rares
However, remember that your odds of pulling a specific Secret Rare like Charizard V or Cynthia‘s Ambition remain around 10% per booster box.
Here is a breakdown of the expected Secret Rare pull rates from a typical Brilliant Stars booster box:
- 12 Regular Holo Rares
- 17 Reverse Holo cards
- 3 – 4 Pokémon V cards
- 2 Pokémon VSTAR cards
- 3 Character Rare cards
- 1 Shiny Pokémon card
- 1 Secret Rare card
So you can reasonably expect to pull 1 Secret Rare hit per booster box on average. But you could also beat the odds and pull 2, or get unlucky and miss out on secrets altogether.
While 1 Secret Rare per box is the statistical average, the actual results show a lot of variance:
| Booster Box | Secret Rares Pulled |
|---|---|
| Box 1 | 2 Secret Rares |
| Box 2 | 0 Secret Rares |
| Box 3 | 1 Secret Rare |
| Box 4 | 1 Secret Rare |
| Box 5 | 3 Secret Rares! |
This data shows the excitement but also inconsistency around chasing these rare Brilliant Stars cards. Overall the 1 Secret Rare average holds up, but results fluctuate wildly.
For investors and collectors trying to complete the Secret Rare set, buying a case of 6 booster boxes gives you very good odds. But the big win is landing that elusive Alternate Art Charizard V!
Why Are Secret Rares So Popular and Valuable?
Brilliant Stars Secret Rares clearly command massive hype and value among Pokémon collectors. But what exactly makes them so popular and sought after?
Scarcity – Secret Rares have very limited pull rates of around 1 per booster box. Their relative scarcity automatically drives up value.
Artwork – Secret Rares get unique artwork. Often this is the only way to collect alternate arts of popular Pokémon.
Investment Potential – With scarcity and demand, Secret Rares gain value over time. Early collectors can sell for big profits.
Bling Factor – The textured foil and full art makes Secret Rares stand out. They have an allure and beauty that collectors love.
Competitive Play – Some Secret Rares like Shaymin VSTAR are also top competitive cards. Playability drives demand.
Prestige – Pulling a Secret Rare feels like an accomplishment. They are the ultimate chase cards to show off.
Overall, the scarcity, uniqueness, playability and prestige of Secret Rares make them universally appealing to Pokémon fans. While they are hard to pull, the investment potential is massive.
How Does Brilliant Stars Compare to Other Sets With Valuable Secret Rares?
The Secret Rares of Brilliant Stars are certainly impressive. But how do they compare to Secret Rares from older Pokémon TCG expansions?
The Ultra Prism set from 2018 is arguably the gold standard for valuable Secret Rare cards. It contains Secret Rares like:
- Lillie Full Art
- Cynthia Full Art
- Guzma Full Art
- Ultra Necrozma
These 4 Secret Rares alone have a combined value of over $1000 in PSA 10 condition. That eclipses even the Charizard V from Brilliant Stars.
Brilliant Stars has more Secret Rares overall at 14. But most are far less valuable than the Big 4 from Ultra Prism.
However, Brilliant Stars will likely age better over time. Many Ultra Prism Secret Rares already peaked in value years ago. Brilliant Stars is just starting its growth trajectory.
The Charizard V in particular seems poised for massive gains based on trends for alternate art Charizards. Long term, Brilliant Stars has very strong investment potential.
Conclusion – The Secret Rares of Brilliant Stars Deliver Big Value
While the pulls may be infrequent, there‘s no doubt that the Secret Rares make Brilliant Stars one of the most exciting modern Pokémon TCG sets.
The Alternate Art Charizard V alone creates massive hype. Early sales exceeding $500 prove this Charizard will likely keep appreciating over time.
Popular cards like Cynthia‘s Ambition and Shaymin VSTAR command great value as well. And over time, even the cheaper Secret Rares have room to gain value due to their scarcity.
For collectors, investing in Brilliant Stars boxes provides that thrilling Secret Rare chase. Despite tough odds, the payoff is massive.
Even as new sets release, the Secret Rares of Brilliant Stars will hold a special place for years to come. They encompass the magic that makes collecting Pokémon cards so rewarding.