Card ValueReverse holo vs holo: how to tell them apart
Two cards with the same name and number, and one costs several times as much as the other. Often the reason is the variant. Here is how to tell normal, holo and reverse holo apart in seconds.
- Holo: the artwork is foil, the rest of the card is not.
- Reverse holo: everything except the artwork is foil, the picture itself stays matte.
- Both variants have their own prices. Which one is worth more depends on the card, not on the shine.
The three variants at a glance
Many cards in a set are printed in several finishes. Name, number and rarity symbol are identical, the only difference is the foil:
| Normal | Holo | Reverse holo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is the foil? | Nowhere | In the artwork | On the whole card except the artwork |
| Which cards? | Commons, uncommons and, in older sets, rares | Holo rares, the rare cards with a star | Commons to rares of a set, usually not the ex and full art cards |
| Rarity or attribute? | Regular print | A rarity of its own (per Cardmarket) | An attribute of the same card, not a rarity (per Cardmarket) |
| Symbol | As printed | Star | Same symbol as the normal version |
How to tell in 10 seconds
- Tilt the card under a light. A desk lamp or daylight by the window is enough. Foil shows rainbow colours or a sparkle pattern as you tilt it.
- Look at the artwork. If the picture itself sparkles while text box and border stay matte, it is a holo.
- Look at the border and text box. If everything around the picture shines, even behind the text, and the picture is matte, it is a reverse holo.
- If the whole card shines, artwork included, and the surface is often textured, you are holding a full art, Illustration Rare or similar card. That is a rarity of its own, marked by silver or gold stars. See the guide on rarity symbols.
- Do not rely on the symbol. A reverse holo carries the same rarity symbol as the normal card. A reverse holo of a common still shows a circle.
Which is rarer, holo or reverse holo?
There is no general rule, and the percentages that circulate online are rarely backed by anything. The principle is simple: the holo is the rare card of the pack, while reverse holos exist for many cards in a set, commons included. For prices that means it depends on the individual card.
A real example from the 151 set shows that the reverse version can even be worth much more than the holo:
Cardmarket data as of September 30, 2026, retrieved via the TCGdex database. Prices change daily.
On the other hand, many reverse holos of common cards stay in the cents. When you value a collection, never apply a flat rule. Look up the price of the right variant for each card.
Special patterns: Poké Ball, Master Ball and more
Some sets have reverse holos with a special foil pattern, such as the Poké Ball and Master Ball patterns in 151 and Prismatic Evolutions. These patterns turn up less often than regular reverse holos and are traded separately. If your reverse holo has such a pattern, check the price for exactly that version.
How Cardmarket and TCGplayer list the variants
Cardmarket treats reverse holo as an attribute that sellers tick when listing a card. Regular holofoil, on the other hand, is a rarity, and Cardmarket calls mixing the two up the most common mistake when listing Pokémon cards. That is why the Cardmarket price data has two sets of values per card: a regular one and a foil one. For Pokémon, the foil values are the reverse holos. On the product page you filter by the reverse holo attribute.
TCGplayer in the US lists separate prices for Normal, Holofoil and Reverse Holofoil.
Card Value shows a toggle for the variants that exist for the scanned card, and the price follows. For the regular print the app uses the regular Cardmarket values, for reverse holo the foil values, plus the matching TCGplayer price in dollars. The app does not tell special patterns like Poké Ball or Master Ball apart, so check those prices directly on Cardmarket.
What about Japanese cards?
According to Cardmarket, Japanese sets typically do not have reverse holos. If a Japanese card shines, the foil usually belongs to the rarity of the card itself. Japanese singles also have their own product pages on Cardmarket.
Pick the variant when you scan
The most common mistake when valuing a collection is the wrong variant. Card Value recognises the card by name and collector number and then shows every variant that exists. Tap the one that matches your copy and you see the Cardmarket price for exactly that finish.
Frequently asked questions
Is reverse holo a rarity?
No. Cardmarket explicitly treats reverse holo as an attribute of a card, not as a rarity. A reverse holo carries the same rarity symbol as the normal version.
Is a reverse holo worth more than a holo?
It depends on the card. For Gengar 094/165 from 151 the reverse holo was clearly above the regular holo print on September 30, 2026, while many reverse holos of common cards stay in the cents. Always check the price of the exact variant.
Does every card have a reverse holo?
No. In Western sets, reverse holos usually exist for the commons to rares of the regular set list. ex cards, full arts and Illustration Rares usually have no reverse version, and Japanese sets typically have no reverse holos at all.
How do I spot a reverse holo without a second card to compare?
Tilt the card under a light. If the border and text box shine while the picture stays matte, it is a reverse holo. If only the picture shines, it is a holo.
How do I pick the variant in Card Value?
After a scan the app shows a toggle with the variants that exist for the card. Tap the right one and the Cardmarket price switches instantly.