Tyranitar
Quick take
- One of the more atmospheric Illustration Rares in early Scarlet and Violet
- A required full-art pull for Paldea Evolved master sets
- Tyranitar's fanbase keeps the single trading actively
- Nurikabe art trades a battle pose for a quiet sunset scene
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Paldea Evolved
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 222/193 · $75.44 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyA landscape-style Tyranitar IR that earns its spot in any Paldea Evolved master set
Tyranitar always pulls weight in the secondary market. It's a fan-favorite pseudo-legendary from the Johto era, and that demand follows it onto almost every modern card. This Illustration Rare from Paldea Evolved is the chase version, sitting in the secret-numbered slot beyond the main set count.
“One of the more atmospheric Illustration Rares in early Scarlet and Violet”
For master set builders, this is a card you plan around. The IR slot in any Scarlet and Violet set is one of the harder full-art tiers to fill from packs, and a popular Pokemon means the singles market stays active. You'll see steady listings, which helps. A clean copy of a well-liked IR still costs real money relative to the bulk of the set.
The artwork is the main draw. Nurikabe leans into mood here, framing Tyranitar against a warm sky instead of a generic action pose. That choice is what separates a forgettable IR from one collectors actually hunt.
By the numbersMarket analysis
This sits in the upper-middle tier of Paldea Evolved. It's not the top card in the set, which belongs to the Special Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares, but it lands well above the Double Rares and commons. Expect a comfortable mid-pack price for a popular Illustration Rare.
Prices for popular Scarlet and Violet IRs tend to settle after the print run winds down, then drift based on how loved the Pokemon is. Tyranitar's broad fanbase gives this one a steadier floor than a less-known character would get. Check the live price on this page for the current read.
Treat this as a collector hold rather than a flip. Popular Pokemon on good art age well, and Tyranitar checks both boxes. The IR rarity is more common than the SIR or Hyper tiers, so don't expect explosive moves. Graded gem copies are where any real premium lives.
Graded PSA 10 and CGC 9.5 copies carry a clear premium over raw near-mint, which is normal for modern IRs where surface and centering trip up a lot of cards. Raw copies trade for a fraction of a top-grade slab.
In Scarlet and Violet sets, you can expect any Illustration Rare roughly once every twelve packs. For comparison, any Double Rare lands about one in five packs, any Ultra Rare about one in fifteen, any Special Illustration Rare around one in ninety, and Hyper Rares anywhere from one in three hundred to one in seven hundred. Those numbers are for hitting any card of that rarity. Pulling this specific Tyranitar runs far longer, since Paldea Evolved has many Illustration Rares competing for the slot, which pushes the odds for one named card well into the hundreds of packs. For most collectors, buying the single is the sane path.
Illustration Rares are the accessible full-art tier. They give you the alternate-art look without the SIR or Hyper Rare price ceiling, which makes a popular one like Tyranitar a sweet spot for master set builders working a budget.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Nurikabe debuted in the Pokemon TCG with Sword and Shield Brilliant Stars in 2022 and has built a reputation for character-driven scenes. Other well-liked work includes the Sandile Illustration Rare in Scarlet and Violet, the Kricketune Illustration Rare from Crown Zenith, and Aerodactyl V from Lost Origin. They post art under the handle nurikabenuri.
Tyranitar stands on rocky high ground as the sky burns through warm sunset tones. A flock of birds streams past behind it, which gives the scene a sense of scale and motion you don't always get from an armored ground-pounder. The framing reads as a quiet moment instead of a battle pose, and that contrast is the whole point of the card.
This is a full-art Illustration Rare with the textured holo treatment used across the Scarlet and Violet IR tier. The art runs edge to edge with the modern silver IR frame, and the secret card number 222 sits above the 193-card main set total.
Most Tyranitar cards go for raw menace. This one slows down and lets the monster share the frame with the sky and the birds. That restraint, plus a genuinely popular Pokemon, is why this IR holds attention better than a lot of its set-mates.
BackgroundAbout Tyranitar
Tyranitar debuted in Generation 2 as the pseudo-legendary of the Johto region, evolving from Larvitar through Pupitar. It's a Rock and Dark type in the games, a high-stat heavy hitter, and a longtime competitive and fan favorite. That reputation carries straight into the card market, where Tyranitar prints reliably draw collectors.
- ›Pseudo-legendary status from the Johto generation
- ›Strong, intimidating design that has aged well across two decades
- ›Consistent competitive and in-game relevance in the main series
- ›Broad nostalgia among collectors who grew up with Gold and Silver
- ›One of the original pseudo-legendaries introduced in Pokemon Gold and Silver
- ›A recurring high-rarity subject across multiple TCG eras
In the TCG, this Tyranitar is a Stage 2 Darkness attacker rather than a staple meta card. Its real value is as a collectible. Most of the demand here comes from the artwork and the character, not from tournament play.
Own it wellCollector guide
Like most modern IRs, this card is vulnerable to edge whitening on the silver border and to surface scratches on the holo. Centering is the other common issue. Inspect corners and the back swirl before buying raw, and look at the card under angled light to catch print lines and scuffs.
Grade only clean, well-centered copies. The PSA 10 premium over raw is meaningful, but IR surfaces are picky, so a 9 can wipe out the math. If you're keeping it for a master set rather than resale, a raw near-mint copy in a sleeve and toploader is perfectly fine. Read the grading guide →
Sleeve it in a penny sleeve inside a toploader or one-touch, and keep it out of direct light and humidity. The textured holo shows handling fast, so minimize how often you take it out of protection. See the storage guide →
Buy the single rather than chasing it from packs. The odds on one specific IR are brutal. Look for listings with clear, well-lit photos of all four corners and the back. For a graded copy, stick to PSA or CGC and confirm the cert before paying a slab premium. See the singles buying guide →
Modern IRs are far less faked than vintage chase cards, but still buy from reputable sellers. Check that the holo pattern and texture match known copies, confirm the secret card number and IR frame, and make sure the back swirl and coloring look right under light.
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Collectors generally rate this as one of the better-liked IRs in early Scarlet and Violet, helped by Tyranitar's fanbase and the calmer, scenic composition. It tends to show up on want lists for both Tyranitar line collectors and Paldea Evolved master set builders.
The card gets steady attention as a popular pseudo-legendary IR rather than a viral chase. Discussion centers on the art direction and on Tyranitar being a reliably collectible Pokemon across sets.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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