If you've spent any time in the trading card hobby, you've heard the term "chase card" thrown around at card shows, in pack opening videos, and across collector forums. But what exactly makes a card a chase card, and why do collectors obsess over them?
In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about chase cards — what they are, why they matter, and how to make sure your most valuable pulls stay in pristine condition.
What Is a Chase Card?
A chase card is the card (or cards) in a set that collectors are most eager to pull from booster packs. They're called "chase" cards because people are literally chasing them — buying pack after pack, box after box, hoping to pull that one card.
Chase cards typically share a few common traits:
- Extremely low pull rates — often 1 in several hundred or even thousand packs
- Featuring popular characters or players — think Charizard in Pokemon, Black Lotus in Magic: The Gathering, or a rookie card of a rising sports star
- Special art treatments — full art, alternate art, hyper rare, or illustration rare variants
- High secondary market value — chase cards can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars immediately after release
Chase Cards Across Different TCGs
Pokemon TCG
Pokemon is arguably the biggest driver of chase card culture in the modern era. Every new set has a handful of cards that the community designates as the "chases." Recent examples include:
- Illustration Rare and Special Art Rare cards — introduced in the Scarlet & Violet era, these full-panel artworks by guest illustrators have become some of the most coveted pulls in the hobby
- Charizard in almost any form — Charizard cards have been chase cards since 1999, and that shows no sign of stopping. The Mega Charizard X ex from Phantasmal Flames (109/094) is a perfect recent example
- Gold Secret Rares — typically the hardest cards to pull in any given set
Magic: The Gathering
MTG has its own rich history of chase cards, though the culture looks a little different:
- Serialised cards — one-of-one numbered printings that command enormous prices
- Retro Frame and Borderless variants — premium treatments of powerful cards
- Mythic Rares from high-powered sets — cards that shape competitive formats immediately become chase targets
Sports Cards
In the sports card world, chase cards revolve around:
- Rookie cards of breakout athletes — the earlier and rarer the print, the better
- Autographed and patch cards — game-worn memorabilia embedded in the card
- Numbered parallels — /10, /5, and 1/1 cards are the ultimate chase
Why Chase Cards Hold Their Value
Not every chase card stays valuable forever, but the ones that do tend to share these characteristics:
- Iconic character or player — Charizard, Pikachu, Michael Jordan, and Lionel Messi cards will always have demand
- Limited supply — low print runs and difficult pull rates keep supply constrained
- Condition sensitivity — because so few exist in perfect condition, mint copies command premium prices
- Nostalgia factor — cards tied to beloved franchises or memorable moments hold emotional value that translates into dollar value
How to Protect Your Chase Cards
Pulling a chase card is exhilarating — but that excitement can quickly turn to regret if the card gets damaged before you can store it properly. Here's what to do the moment you pull something valuable:
Step 1: Sleeve It Immediately
Keep penny sleeves on hand whenever you're opening packs. The second you identify a chase card, slide it into a sleeve to protect the surface from fingerprints and scratches.
Step 2: Top Load It
A top loader provides rigid protection that prevents bending, dinging, and corner damage. Standard 35pt top loaders fit most standard trading cards perfectly.
Step 3: Store It Properly
Loose top loaders bouncing around in a shoebox aren't ideal. A purpose-built top loader binder keeps your cards organised, protected, and easy to browse. Unlike standard binders that only fit sleeved cards, top loader binders are designed specifically to hold cards already in top loaders — so you get double the protection without having to remove your cards from their rigid cases.
Step 4: Consider Grading
If your chase card is in mint condition and has strong market value, professional grading from PSA, CGC, or BGS can significantly increase its worth. Proper storage before submission is critical — grading companies will note any damage, and even minor surface scratches from poor storage can mean the difference between a 9 and a 10.
The Thrill of the Chase
At the end of the day, chase cards are what make pack opening exciting. They're the reason collectors line up for new releases, the reason unboxing videos get millions of views, and the reason the trading card hobby continues to grow year after year.
Whether you're chasing a Charizard, a serialised MTG mythic, or a rookie auto, the key is to protect what you pull. The cards you chase today could be worth significantly more tomorrow — but only if they're stored properly.
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