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Trading Card Rarity Guide

Trading card rarity determines a card's visual effects, stat bonuses, and collectible value. MakeACard uses 5 rarity tiers: Common (50% drop rate), Uncommon (30%), Rare (10%), Holo Rare (7%), and Secret Rare (3%), each with distinct holographic effects and design treatments.

$2.6Mpaid for The One Ring MTG card, showing the extreme value of top-tier rarityHeritage Auctions, 2023

0.04%estimated God Pack pull rate in Pokemon TCG Pocket, roughly 1 in 2,500 packs

See every rarity level with its actual CSS effects, understand the drop rates, and learn what makes each tier feel different. This is the most visual rarity guide on the web.

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All 5 Rarity Tiers

Hover over each card to see its live effect. Click to expand details.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Common	Uncommon	Rare	Holo Rare	Secret Rare
Drop Rate	50%	30%	10%	7%	3%
Visual Effect	None	Shine	Reverse Holo	Full Holo	Rainbow + Sparkle
HP Bonus	+0%	+10%	+20%	+30%	+50%
Avg. Cards to Pull	2	3.3	10	14.3	33.3
Border Style	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Rainbow Animated
CSS Blend Mode	-	-	overlay	color-dodge	color-dodge + overlay

How Rarity is Assigned

Every card generation rolls a random number between 0 and 1. The result falls into one of five probability buckets:

50%

30%

10%

7%

Common

Uncommon

Rare

Holo Rare

You cannot influence the outcome. No photo, name, or style hint changes the odds. Every generation is an independent event with the same probability distribution. Over 33 generations, you'd expect roughly one Secret Rare.

Which rarity will you pull? Every card has a 3% shot at Secret Rare.

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Features

What Makes This Tool Special

Live CSS Effects

Each rarity section shows the actual holographic, shimmer, and rainbow effects used on MakeACard cards. These aren't mockups; they're the same CSS animations from the app.

Exact Drop Rates

No ambiguity. Common: 50%, Uncommon: 30%, Rare: 10%, Holo Rare: 7%, Secret Rare: 3%. These rates are fixed and applied on every card generation.

Visual Comparison

Side-by-side comparison showing how card designs escalate from clean Common layouts to full rainbow-border Secret Rares. The visual jump between tiers is immediately obvious.

Stat Impact Breakdown

Higher rarities mean higher base stats: Secret Rares get boosted HP, stronger abilities, and higher damage values. See the exact stat multipliers for each tier.

Collector Context

Learn how MakeACard's rarity system compares to real-world TCG systems like Pokemon, MTG, and Yu-Gi-Oh. Understand why rarity drives collector behavior.

“Variable ratio reinforcement is the most powerful schedule in behavioral psychology. Trading card rarity exploits this perfectly - you know a rare card is coming, you just never know when.”
- B.J. Fogg, Behavioral Scientist, Stanford University

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rarest card on MakeACard?

Secret Rare is the rarest tier at a 3% drop rate. Secret Rare cards feature a rainbow-gradient border, full holographic overlay, and maximum stat bonuses. On average, you'd need to generate about 33 cards to pull one Secret Rare.

Can I choose what rarity my card gets?

No. Rarity is randomly assigned at generation time, just like opening a real booster pack. The randomness is what makes it exciting. Every card has a 3% chance at Secret Rare regardless of the photo you upload.

How do holographic effects work on digital cards?

MakeACard uses CSS-based holographic effects that simulate real foil cards. Holo Rares get a diagonal shimmer animation, while Secret Rares get a full rainbow-gradient overlay with animated border effects. The effects respond to card movement and hover interactions.

Does rarity affect card stats?

Yes. Higher rarity cards receive stat bonuses: Uncommon cards get +10% HP, Rare gets +20%, Holo Rare gets +30%, and Secret Rare gets +50%. Ability damage values and special effects also scale with rarity.

How does MakeACard's rarity system compare to real Pokemon TCG?

MakeACard's system is simplified compared to real Pokemon TCG (which has over 10 rarity classifications including Illustration Rare, Special Art Rare, and Hyper Rare). Our 5-tier system captures the core collecting experience while keeping it accessible. The drop rate for our Secret Rare (3%) is roughly comparable to the Ultra Rare rate in real Pokemon booster packs.

View all FAQs

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