Learn everything about what BWR means in Pokemon TCG in this complete guide, and how you can add them to your collection if you want some.
Just like other popular TCGs, Pokemon cards are often categorized into various rarities. We already covered a particular rarity before, so feel free to read our post about what SIR cards are.
But going back to the topic, you might have already encountered the acronym BWR as you visit your local shops or after checking any card marketplace about the most expensive cards in the Black Bolt and White Flare sets.
To satisfy your curiosity, we’ll give you a definitive answer to BWR’s meaning and its history.
More from PokeCardHQ:
- Top 5 Decks at the 2025 Pokemon TCG World Championships
- 5 Most Beautiful Mega Pokemon Cards From the Mega Evolution Set
- What Is a Master Set in Pokemon TCG
- What Are GX Cards in Pokemon TCG?
- What Is a Tera Pokemon in Pokemon TCG
BWR in Pokemon TCG
The term BWR stands for “Black White Rare,” a new type of Pokemon TCG rarity exclusive only to the Black Bolt and White Flare sets.
Pokemon TCG: Black Bolt and White Flare are the very first twin sets printed in English. Most twin sets were only printed in Japanese before, and they are often merged into a single set once they hit the English market.
Apparently, in the case of Black Bolt and White Flare, The Pokemon Company made an exception as they concluded the Scarlet & Violet era. And to make things even more memorable, they introduced unique cards featuring the two Legendary Unova Pokemon, plus the mythical Victini in BWR copies.
These cards are labelled as BWR due to their monochromatic designs, which follow the main theme of Pokemon’s 5th Generation of video games. The acronym most likely came from the Japanese prints, as instead of a set symbol, the letters BWR would be seen in the bottom left corner of the cards.
Once Black Bolt and White Flare enter the English market, BWR cards are recognized with their set symbols depicting two stars in black and white colors. Zekrom ex is printed in full black, Reshiram ex in full white, and Victini in full red.
BWR Pull Rates in Black Bolt and White Flare
Although some people might find these cards hard to look at, BWR cards are indeed considered chase cards not only because of their unique look but also due to their staggeringly low pull rates.
If you want to pull any type of BWR card, you’ll need to open 496 packs. For a specific BWR, the odds are even more stacked against you, since the chances are one in every 1400.
Now, keep in mind that these are only pull rates, and luck still plays a vital part in whether you’ll obtain a BWR or not. Some people pull a BWR in their first pack, while most people might need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of booster boxes.
Can I Play BWR Cards in Games?
If you’re a tournament participant and you want to flex your BWR in matches, using them is pretty much legal. However, as collectors, we won’t recommend using BWR cards in games, as they hold monetary value.
These cards are currently the most expensive ones out of all the Black Bolt and White Flare cards, and using them in games means you’ll need to shuffle and touch them regularly, which obviously worsens their condition over time.
In other words, playing your BWR cards compromises their value, which might plummet, especially if they sustained damage. As soon as you pull one, put it inside a card sleeve and then use a toploader for extra protection.
And of course, consider sending it to PSA or any reliable card grading service provider to have it authenticated and preserved.
Zekrom ex, Reshiram ex, and Victini are all available in non-full art cards, so use them in games instead of their prized BWR copies. Their rarity, after all, has nothing to do with how powerful they can be in the meta.
Final Thoughts
With all the information above in mind, you can now buy packs of Black Bolt and White Flare and see if you’re lucky enough to pull a BWR card!
Japanese packs of the said set tend to be cheaper, so if you want to maximize your chances, you can go for the Japanese cards instead. However, for English cards, you might get a BWR card that is much better in terms of quality and overall appearance.
While BWR cards aren’t as valuable as the Umbreon ex card from the Prismatic Evolutions, their prices are currently around half a grand, and they might even increase once the Black Bolt and White Flare become out of production.
We hope you learned so much from this article. What do you think of the BWR cards? Do they look cool? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Also, for more Pokemon TCG content, keep yourselves updated through PokeCardHQ!
