# How many Illustration Rares are in Surging Sparks?

> Surging Sparks has 34 Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares.
>
> Source: https://www.nomekop.app/faqs/how-many-illustration-rares-in-surging-sparks — NOMEKOP, an independent Pokémon TCG binder tool
> (not affiliated with Nintendo / The Pokémon Company). Figures as of June 2026.

**Surging Sparks has 34 Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares.**

## Illustration Rares in Surging Sparks

Illustration Rares (IR) and Special Illustration Rares (SIR) are the full-art, scene-style cards collectors chase hardest. Surging Sparks packs 34 of them into its 252 cards: 23 standard IRs and 11 larger-art SIRs. That puts the full-art count at roughly 13% of the set — a meaningful share of why Surging Sparks is fun to open.

## The Surging Sparks full-art cards to hunt

- [Pikachu ex (#238)](/card/sv8-238) — Special Illustration Rare (~$358.36)
- [Latias ex (#239)](/card/sv8-239) — Special Illustration Rare (~$194.45)
- [Milotic ex (#237)](/card/sv8-237) — Special Illustration Rare (~$142.91)
- [Hydreigon ex (#240)](/card/sv8-240) — Special Illustration Rare (~$43.41)
- [Latios (#203)](/card/sv8-203) — Illustration Rare (~$38.23)

## Star Pokémon with full-art cards in Surging Sparks

The marquee Pokémon getting the IR/SIR treatment here, with their prints:

- **Pikachu** — Pikachu ex (#57), Pikachu ex (#219), Pikachu ex (#238), Pikachu ex (#247)
- **Latias** — Latias ex (#76), Latias ex (#220), Latias ex (#239)
- **Milotic** — Milotic ex (#42), Milotic ex (#217), Milotic ex (#237)
- **Hydreigon** — Hydreigon ex (#119), Hydreigon ex (#223), Hydreigon ex (#240)
- **Latios** — Latios (#203)

These cards drive much of Surging Sparks' secondary-market value and help push a full master set to 417 cards. The standout is Pikachu ex (#238), around $358.36.

## IR vs SIR in Surging Sparks

If you're prioritising, the 11 Special Illustration Rares are the scarcer, pricier tier — full-bleed art and lower pull rates — while the 23 standard Illustration Rares are more attainable but still some of the best-looking cards in Surging Sparks. Together those 34 full-art cards are the heart of the set's chase and the reason a master set climbs to 417 cards.

Figures are from the pokemontcg.io dataset (TCGplayer pricing), as of June 2026.