Holo vs Reverse Holo: What's the Difference and Which Is Worth More?
On a holo card, the artwork shines. On a reverse holo, everything except the artwork shines: the border, the text box and the background. They are separate printings of the same card, and they sell at different prices, so you need to know which one you have before you price it.
How to tell them apart
Tilt the card under a light:
- Holo: the picture in the art window has the rainbow foil; the rest of the card is flat.
- Reverse holo: the art window is flat; the frame and text area have the foil, often in a pattern.
- Non-holo: nothing shines.
Full-art cards are a different thing again: the whole card is foil and textured.
Which cards come in which finish?
In modern sets, commons and uncommons come in a normal version and a reverse holo version, which takes one slot in each pack. Regular rares are holo, and also have a reverse holo version. Ultra rares (ex cards, full arts, illustration rares) have just one finish.
In older sets (1999–2002), holo rares were the chase cards; reverse holos arrived in 2002.
Which is worth more?
It depends on the card. Reverse holos of commons and uncommons are usually worth more than the normal version because there’s one per pack instead of several. Between a holo rare and its reverse holo, either can be higher. Some sets also include special reverse holo patterns that sell for much more than the standard reverse.
The only reliable answer is to look up the exact finish. TCGplayer and Cardmarket list each finish as a separate price.
How PokeScan handles finishes
When you scan a card, PokeScan shows the price of every finish that card exists in, side by side, so you can match it to the copy in your hand. When you save a card to your collection, you pick the finish, and your total uses that finish’s price.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reverse holo rare?
Not especially: most modern packs contain at least one. A reverse holo of a popular Pokémon or a special pattern can still be worth more than the normal card.
How do I know if my card is holo or reverse holo without a light?
Look at the art window. If it has a foil sheen, it’s holo; if the border and text area have the sheen instead, it’s reverse holo.