Rarity overview
Pokémon TCG Pocket card rarity is shown by the mark near the lower edge of the card. The broad order is ◆1–◆4, ★1–★3, Shiny 1–2, Crown, and Promo. Use the Card Dex to filter and compare each tier.
Why rarity changes how a card is received
In-game trades require both sides to use compatible rarity. CardWish therefore separates regular delivery, trades, and high-rarity card redemption.
Regular delivery: free daily delivery for ◆1–◆4 cards.
Trade: one free ◆1–◆4 trade per Player ID each day.
High-rarity card redemption: Star and Shiny cards require accumulated points and are completed through an in-game trade.
How high-rarity card redemption works
Successful claims earn points, with an additional bonus for claiming on consecutive days. When the threshold is reached, the claim page unlocks the high-rarity card catalogue. Selecting a reward spends the corresponding points.
Practical collecting advice
For deck building, complete the necessary ◆3 and ◆4 core cards first; higher-rarity versions can wait. Collectors can build points steadily and redeem them when the desired Star or Shiny card becomes available.
How to get each rarity: the complete map
Line up the four routes — pack opening, delivery, trade, and redemption — against the rarity tiers and you get this overview:
- ◆1–◆2: the bulk of what packs give you, and the tier where CardWish delivery is least likely to run dry. If your deck is missing basics, claiming them is the fastest fix.
- ◆3–◆4: packs can produce them, but chasing one specific card may take a lot of packs — which is exactly where CardWish delivery is most valuable. Claim the ex core you need directly and skip the pack luck entirely.
- ★1–★2 and Shiny: very low pull rates. CardWish cannot deliver these directly, but you can get them through points redemption: claim daily to build points, and once you reach the threshold, pick one from the reward catalogue and receive it through an in-game trade.
- ★3 and Crown: the game allows neither gifting nor trading for these — packs are the only way. This is also why no site can possibly “send you a Crown card”; treat any such promise as a scam.
- Promo: distributed only during specific events and usually impossible to make up later. Track upcoming windows on the event calendar.
Multiple artworks of the same card — what is going on?
Browsing the Card Dex, you will sometimes find two or three entries for the same card — identical name and rarity, different illustration. This is the official multi-artwork design: a card with the same name and effect is reprinted with new art within a set or across sets. In battle they are completely interchangeable; for collecting, each artwork is a separate entry, so completing the Dex means gathering every version. CardWish card pages label each entry “Version N” — when claiming or trading, double-check which artwork you actually want.
Rarity FAQ
Q: Can a Star card be delivered to me directly?
No. Regular delivery only covers ◆1–◆4; Star and Shiny cards go through points redemption, and Crown and ★3 cards do not even support trading.
Q: Do points expire or reset?
No. Points only go up (they are deducted when you redeem). Whenever you decide to chase a Star card, everything you saved is still there.
Q: If a redemption fails, are my points gone?
No. If a redemption fails partway (for example, the invitation expires unaccepted), the reserved points are refunded automatically and you can redeem again.
Q: Is the same-rarity rule a CardWish rule?
No — it is the game’s built-in trade restriction: diamonds trade for diamonds, stars for stars. Every CardWish delivery uses the game’s official mechanics, so it is bound by the same rule — which is exactly why Star and Shiny cards require a points threshold.