Holofoil - Bulbapedia, The Community-driven Pokémon Encyclopedia

Maybe your like

Holofoil cards (also known as Holographic Foil, Foil, Holo, Reverse Holo, Reverse foil or Holographic) are a special type of card from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Most are Pokémon cards. They are identical to their normal counterpart aside from a Holofoil effect in the picture (Holofoil) or the card background (Reverse Holofoil). A small amount of Rare () cards within each expansion are Holofoil. They may be pulled from Booster packs as the rare card, but is not guaranteed. They are rarer compared to non Holofoil rare cards.

As of the Japanese Black & White collection expansion sets, a new form of rarity symbol was implemented, instead of utilizing shapes to symbolize rarity, it was replaced by letters, so replaces on Rare cards, which are all Holofoil.

As of the English Scarlet & Violet expansion set, all Rare cards are now Holofoil.

In most of the English versions of Japanese sets, cards that were originally only holofoil are given non-holofoil counterparts. The e-cards are an exception to this, as even the Japanese versions of the sets had holofoil and non-holofoil versions of cards. Only the non-holofoil versions had dot codes that could be read with the e-Reader. This was apparently because the holofoil caused complications with the dot codes. When holofoil cards have non-holofoil counterparts, the non-holofoil cards are the more common of the two, even though both are marked with the same rarity. As such, they are numbered differently within sets and generally considered different cards in terms of collectability. In play, however, the cards operate the same, and thus are viewed mostly as the same.

Both crystal and pearl figures from the Pokémon Trading Figure Game appear to be based upon this concept. However, unlike the cards, the figures are not numbered differently.

For a full list of cards with Holofoil prints, see here.

1 Holofoil Patterns
- 1.1 Starlight
- 1.2 Cosmos
- 1.3 Tinsel
- 1.4 Sheen
- 1.5 Cracked Ice
  - 1.5.1 Sword & Shield Series
- 1.6 Crosshatch
- 1.7 Water Web
- 1.8 Sequin
  - 1.8.1 Sun & Moon series
  - 1.8.2 Sword & Shield series
- 1.9 Pixel
2 Reverse Holofoil
- 2.1 Reverse Holofoil Patterns
- 2.2 Reverse Holofoil Designs by Type
  - 2.2.1 Emerging Powers - Steam Siege
  - 2.2.2 Sun & Moon - Cosmic Eclipse
  - 2.2.3 Sword & Shield - Crown Zenith
3 Notes
4 See also

Holofoil Patterns

This article is incomplete.Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: details on the holo patterns used for cards in the Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet series

Starlight

Starlight Holofoil was the pattern used for Holo cards in Base Set, and was used for the Jungle and Fossil sets.

Starlight Holofoil

Cosmos

Main article: Cosmos Holofoil (TCG)

Cosmos Holofoil was introduced for all Holo cards in Base Set 2 and was used for all Holo cards until Call of Legends, along with various promotional cards. It consists of dots and circles of different sizes spread across the image of the Pokémon. In EX Delta Species, the Holofoil rare design changed exclusively for δ Delta Species Pokémon, with the card border and Pokémon itself featuring a plain Holofoil treatment.

Tinsel

Tinsel Holofoil was used on standard Holo cards between Black & White until Legendary Treasures, along with various promotional cards. It consists of horizontal stripes across the image. In Japanese Holofoil cards of these sets, the border of the card also has a tinsel Holofoil effect.

International Tinsel Holofoil

Japanese Tinsel Holofoil

Sheen

Sheen Holofoil is used for all Holo cards from XY, and on various promotional cards. There are differences in the pattern depending on the language of the card; Japanese Holofoil cards refract light in a diagonal direction from bottom left to top right across the entire card; Korean Holofoil cards have the same effect and direction, but only cover the image of the Pokémon; and international releases have the same effect as Japanese cards, but only cover the image, and the direction is from bottom right to top left.

International Sheen Holofoil

Japanese Sheen Holofoil

Cracked Ice

Occasionally called Broken Glass or Shards, Cracked Ice Holofoil was first used for the exclusive version of the featured card in Theme Decks from the Platinum Series. Its use has continued in Theme Decks throughout the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series and into the Sword & Shield Series. Cracked Ice Holofoil has also been seen on a number of promotional cards included in Blister Packs from Platinum onwards. Certain cards, such as the English printing of Frost Rotom from Rising Rivals, display the Cracked Ice Holofoil over everything but the image of the Pokémon.

Sword & Shield Series

Cracked Ice holofoil cards

No.	Card name	Rarity	Promotion
015/202	Rillaboom	—	Sword & Shield Theme Decks
036/202	Cinderace	—	Sword & Shield Theme Decks
059/202	Inteleon	—	Sword & Shield Theme Decks
139/192	Zacian	—	Rebel Clash Theme Decks
140/192	Zamazenta	—	Rebel Clash Theme Decks
044/192	Galarian Darmanitan	—	Darkness Ablaze Theme Decks
098/192	Galarian Sirfetch'd	—	Darkness Ablaze Theme Decks
025/192	Charizard	—	Vivid Voltage Theme Decks
039/185	Drednaw	—	Vivid Voltage Theme Decks

Cracked Ice Holofoil

Crosshatch

Crosshatch Holofoil is generally used only for cards awarded at Play! Pokémon events. The crosshatch effect is often applied to the background of the card, as in a Reverse Holo card.

Crosshatch Holofoil

Water Web

Water Web Holofoil is the standard Holofoil pattern used for cards from Sun & Moon expansion to Cosmic Eclipse. It consists of a wavy pattern similar to flowing water.

Water Web Holofoil

Sequin

The Sequin holofoil was first introduced in August, 2017, and is exclusively used for General Mills promotional cards, including the General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs, General Mills Let's Go, Kanto! Mini Packs and the latest General Mills 25th Anniversary Mini Packs.

Sequin Holofoil

Sun & Moon series

Sequin holofoil cards

No.	Card name	Rarity	Promotion
01	Rowlet	—	General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs
02	Litten	—	General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs
03	Popplio	—	General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs
04	Pikachu	—	General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs
06	Rockruff	—	General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs
42	Cosmog	—	General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs
40	Jangmo-o	—	General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs
86	Pikachu	—	General Mills Sun & Moon Mini Packs
101	Eevee	—	General Mills Let's Go, Kanto! Mini Packs
18a	Charmander	—	General Mills Let's Go, Kanto! Mini Packs
01	Bulbasaur	—	General Mills Let's Go, Kanto! Mini Packs
40	Pikachu	—	General Mills Let's Go, Kanto! Mini Packs
86	Cubone	—	General Mills Let's Go, Kanto! Mini Packs

Sword & Shield series

Sequin holofoil cards

No.	Card name	Rarity	Promotion
010	Gossifleur	—	General Mills 25th Anniversary Mini Packs
011	Wooloo	—	General Mills 25th Anniversary Mini Packs
012	Morpeko	—	General Mills 25th Anniversary Mini Packs
013	Galarian Ponyta	—	General Mills 25th Anniversary Mini Packs
039	Pikachu	—	General Mills 25th Anniversary Mini Packs
040	Hatenna	—	General Mills 25th Anniversary Mini Packs

Pixel

Pixel or Confetti Holofoil is used primarily for cards in the McDonalds Collection sets but was also featured on the Celebrations Classic Collection.

Pixel Holofoil

Reverse Holofoil

Reverse Holofoil cards are an alternative print of the cards in a set. Since Legendary Collection, one Reverse Holofoil card has been included in each booster pack. In contrast to a regular Holofoil card where the effect is applied to the picture, a Reverse Holofoil usually has the effect applied to the entire card apart from the picture, or the picture uses an alternative holo pattern, in addition to possible background patterns. A Reverse Holofoil counterpart is usually available for every card in a set, excluding Ultra Rare and Secret Rare cards, and any full-art cards.

1st Edition cards were last printed in Neo Destiny, and were ceased to be made at this point mainly due to 1st Edition prints regularly having delays, causing them to be received after the Unlimited print runs had arrived at retail. To replace these and to appeal to collectors, Legendary Collection was the first set to include Reverse Holographic cards. Wizards of the Coast used Magic: The Gathering as a basis and made a Reverse Holographic card for every single card in the set, with each booster pack containing one Reverse Holographic card, with only a few exceptions. This trend continued with all Wizards of the Coast expansions, and carried over with Nintendo's occupation of the TCG, appearing in all main expansions to the modern day.

Reverse Holofoil Patterns

This section is missing one or more images.Please feel free to add any missing images to this section. Needed images can be uploaded to the Bulbagarden Archives. Reason: images of all Reverse Holofoil patterns, for each type (including Trainers and Special Energy), for Emerging Powers to Steam Siege, Sword & Shield to Crown Zenith, and Scarlet & Violet onwards.

The designs of Reverse Holographic cards have changed substantially since their introduction, with many sets featuring unique patterns.

Legendary Collection featured a "fireworks" design over the entire body of the card, aside from the card's artwork.
Expedition Base Set to EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua featured a flat holographic finish over every aspect of the card aside from its art.
- Both the Holofoil and non Holofoil rare cards had identical Reverse Holographic counterparts in Expedition Base Set (apart from the card number). Wizards of the Coast rectified this in Aquapolis and Skyridge by numbering the Holofoil cards differently (e.g., H12) and not producing Reverse Holofoils for these cards.
EX Hidden Legends's holographic pattern differed substantially from previous sets. It placed its holographic pattern inside the card's artwork, featuring an array of energy symbols placed behind the Pokémon. In the case of Rare cards, an additional foil stamp matching the Pokémon's type appeared as a faint foil symbol in the attack box.
EX FireRed & LeafGreen, similar to the prior set, featured an energy symbol holo pattern in the picture window, with a Poké Ball shape appearing as a faint foil symbol in the attack box on Rare cards.
EX Team Rocket Returns featured the same pattern as EX FireRed & LeafGreen, but with the addition of the set logo in the bottom right corner of the card's artwork. On Rare cards, Reverse Holo printings would also have gold Holofoil over the HP text, the Pokémon name, and a silver rarity symbol. This continued off and on until the start of the Diamond and Pearl era.
EX Deoxys featured a "wheel" holo pattern and the set logo in the bottom right of the card's artwork.
EX Emerald features a Poké Ball and stars holo pattern and the set logo in the bottom right of the picture window.
EX Unseen Forces features a similar pattern to EX Emerald, but with a 3D Poké Ball pattern instead and the usual set logo in the bottom right of the picture window.
EX Delta Species to EX Power Keepers feature a plain holographic Reverse Holo pattern similar to Expedition Base Set, however this pattern appears within the background of the cards' artwork (excluding the Pokémon itself) instead of on the body of the card. Additionally, the set logos are stamped in the bottom right of the artwork.
- The Reverse Holofoil versions of regular Rare Holofoils still have gold Holofoil over the HP text, the Pokémon name, and a silver rarity symbol. Unlike previous sets, not all regular Rares receive gold Holofoil text if they are printed as a Reverse Holo. Reverse Holo versions of the Rare Holofoils also may feature a holo, gold card border in sets such as EX Dragon Frontiers and EX Holon Phantoms, but this is not always the case.
- EX Dragon Frontiers displays the same plain holographic Reverse Holo Pattern, however instead of appearing on the background of the cards' artwork, it appears on the Pokémon themselves, similar to Shining cards.
Diamond & Pearl to Black & White return to featuring a plain holographic effect to the background of the card.
Emerging Powers to Steam Siege feature the card's respective Type symbol in the background of the card (Poké Balls for Trainer cards, and a variant of the Colorless symbol for Special Energy cards). Steam Siege's dual-type Pokémon cards use both types' designs on either side of the split in the background.
Plasma Storm, Plasma Freeze, and Plasma Blast again feature a plain holographic design for Team Plasma cards only.
Primal Clash, Roaring Skies, and Ancient Origins use the plain holographic design for Ancient Trait cards, but only on the area with the Pokémon's name and on the bottom quarter of the card, where the Weakness, Resistance, and Pokédex entry are.
Double Crisis uses the plain holographic design for all cards except Team Aqua's Kyogre and Team Magma's Groudon, which do not have Reverse Holofoil versions.
Evolutions returns to featuring the plain holographic design for all cards.
Sun & Moon to Cosmic Eclipse use an updated design similar to the one used from Emerging Powers to Steam Siege, but with a large version of the card's Type symbol (or Poké Ball) on the left side of the card.
Sword & Shield to Crown Zenith use a "tile" design with the Type symbol or Poké Ball inside each "tile."[Note 1]
Scarlet & Violet to Black Bolt & White Flare use a more intricate tile design that incorporates type symbols of different sizes. The set symbol is black-on-white, as opposed to white-on-black on non-Reverse Holo cards.[Note 1]
- Ancient and Future cards use the plain holographic design.
Mega Evolution onwards returns to featuring the plain holographic background.

Legendary Collection Reverse Holofoil

Expedition Base Set Reverse Holofoil

EX Hidden Legends Reverse Holofoil

EX FireRed & LeafGreen Reverse Holofoil

EX Team Rocket Returns Reverse Holofoil

EX Deoxys Reverse Holofoil

EX Emerald Reverse Holofoil

EX Unseen Forces Reverse Holofoil

EX Delta Species Reverse Holofoil

EX Legend Maker Reverse Holofoil

Diamond & Pearl Reverse Holofoil

Reverse Holofoil Designs by Type

Emerging Powers - Steam Siege

Grass type

Fire type

Dragon type

Trainer card

Sun & Moon - Cosmic Eclipse

Grass type

Fire type

Water type

Lightning type

Psychic type

Fighting type

Darkness type

Metal type

Fairy type

Dragon type

Colorless type

Trainer card

Special Energy card

Sword & Shield - Crown Zenith

Grass Type

Fire Type

Water Type

Lightning Type

Psychic Type

Fighting Type

Darkness Type

Metal Type

Colorless Type

Trainer Card

Notes

↑ 1.0 1.1 This set uses a mirror foil base for reverse "holofoil" cards, technically making the name inaccurate as they lack any of the colour scattering expected from holofoil cards.

Holofoil - Bulbapedia, The Community-driven Pokémon Encyclopedia

Contents

Holofoil Patterns

Starlight

Cosmos

Tinsel

Sheen

Cracked Ice

Sword & Shield Series

Crosshatch

Water Web

Sequin

Sun & Moon series

Sword & Shield series

Pixel

Reverse Holofoil

Reverse Holofoil Patterns

Reverse Holofoil Designs by Type

Emerging Powers - Steam Siege

Sun & Moon - Cosmic Eclipse

Sword & Shield - Crown Zenith

Notes

See also

What Are The Rarities Of Pokémon TCG Cards?

Pokémon TCG Card Rarity Explained | What Are Rare, Ultra, Secret ...

How To Understand Pokemon Card Rarity - TechRaptor

Rarity - Bulbapedia, The Community-driven Pokémon Encyclopedia

Pokémon TCG Card Rarity Explained Properly - Cardbase

Holo Or Reverse Holo? What's The Difference? - Coded Yellow

What Are Pokémon Cosmos Holo Cards? - Coded Yellow

Pokemon TCG Rarity Guide - DigitalTQ

Top 15 Most Rare And Expensive Pokémon Cards - Dicebreaker

Holographic Pokémon Card Guide - Sleeve No Card Behind

Identifying Early Pokémon Cards - The Relentless Dragon

Are Reverse Holo Pokemon Cards Worth Money?

Pokemon Card Values: How Much Are Your Cards Worth? - ONE37pm

Contact