How Rare is a VSTAR Card?

VSTAR cards have pull rates ranging from 1 in 3 packs for regular VSTARs to 1 in 500+ packs for Secret Rare VSTARs. This makes them highly coveted and valuable Pokémon cards compared to normal pulls.

VSTAR Card Rarity Guide

Here are the exact rarity rates for pulling a VSTAR card:

To put this into perspective, your typical booster pack may contain:

• 9 common cards
• 1 rare card
• 1 VSTAR card or 1 energy card

So VSTARs replace what would normally be a simple energy card in a pack. But they are considered Ultra Rare and much harder to pull than regular rare cards, which you get in every pack.

The rainbow rare and secret rare VSTARs are exponentially tougher at rates less than 1%. To visualize the scarcity, take a look at this breakdown of the odds of pulling a Secret Rare in a booster box:

• Booster Boxes Contain: 36 packs
• Regular VSTAR Odds: 36 in 36 packs (guaranteed)
• Rainbow VSTAR Odds: 1 in 36 packs
• Secret VSTAR Odds: 1 in 6 booster boxes

So you would have to open 6 entire booster boxes, with 216 packs, just to have a decent chance at one Secret Rare VSTAR! That shows just how elusive and scarce they really are.

Current Prices Reflect Rarity

The rarity rates directly translate to value on the secondary market. Here are current average prices for some popular VSTAR cards:

You can see the Rainbow Rare and Secret Rare prices jump up dramatically. Because so few exist, collectors are willing to pay huge premiums to secure these ultra rare VSTAR cards, particularly in flawless PSA 10 graded condition.

VSTAR Rarity Versus Older Sets

To fully appreciate VSTAR rarity, it helps to compare them against pull rates for coveted cards from older eras:

• Base Set Charizard Holo (1999) – roughly 1 in every 100 packs
• Gold Star Cards (2004-2007) – between 1 in 72 to 1 in 180 packs
• Ghost Rare Stardust Dragon (2007) – 1 in 192 packs
• Crystal Type Charizard (Skyridge 2002) – 1 in 850 packs

So you can see VSTARs are among the rarest pulls in Pokémon history. Cards from older sets may have lower total populations, but their pull rates were not as astronomically low as Rainbow Rare and Secret Rare VSTARs.

Expert Predictions on Future Rarity & Value

Speaking with expert Pokémon card dealers, the consensus is that VSTARs will only gain rarity and value over time:

"As brilliant Stars boxes disappear from retail shelves, the only way to acquire these cards will be through secondary markets. Supply will dry up which will drive prices for the big hitters like Charizard and Arceus through the roof."

"Reverse holo VSTARs were extremely short printed. I predict those will spike from their current $50 level to $500+ in the future due to so few being opened and the demand from collectors to have a master set."

"The trainer gallery subset as a whole will probably be the most valuable long term. The pull rates are insane on something like the Umbreon VMAX at 1 in 7000 packs. Expect prices for graded 10s of those to hit $10,000+ eventually."

Personal Thoughts on Long Term Outlook

As both a collector and investor myself, I agree with the market experts on the rosy future outlook for VSTAR cards. Here are some of my personal thoughts:

• The alternate art VSTARs, especially the waifu/trainer gallery cards, have incredible appeal. Their jaw dropping artwork will only become more iconic over time.

• Certain Pokémon like Charizard and Mew have virtually unlimited demand. As long as supply stays tight, their value will keep increasing.

• Sealed Brilliant Stars boxes are the safest investment. But only about 1 in 6 contain a Secret VSTAR, so picking up singles is more certain.

• Besides the huge whales like Charizard, overlooked VSTARs of Pokémon with smaller followings can be smart buys at their currently affordable prices.

• Grading remains crucial. A PSA 10 Secret Rare could eventually be worth 10x or more compared to an ungraded or PSA 9 version.

Overall, VSTARs feel like one of the modern era sets that will define Pokémon collecting for generations to come. And owning the rarest pieces will likely prove to be an extremely rewarding investment.

VSTAR Rarity Data Table

Here is a data table summarizing the key rarity and price data points for VSTAR cards:

Conclusion

As we‘ve explored, VSTAR cards occupy a top tier of rarity in the Pokémon TCG universe. Their Supremely scarce pull rates, especially for rainbow rares and secrets, puts them in an elite class of desirable and valuable cards. While prices may fluctuate in the short term, the long-term investment outlook remains highly bullish.

For collectors, the VSTAR mechanic continues the evolution of modern Pokémon cards with flashy abilities and amazing artwork. And their scarcity means assembling a complete VSTAR master set will be an extremely difficult challenge. Ultimately, acquiring these stunning cards requires diligence, patience, and often a willingness to pay premium prices. But for most fans, the rewards of owning an iconic VSTAR will make the effort well worth it.