10 Hardest Articuno Pokémon Cards to Pull
Ranked by estimated pull rates from English booster packs.
Articuno’s icy Kanto form and Galarian form lead to very different artwork. Full-art and alternate-art V cards sit alongside older special printings. This guide compares their estimated English odds and keeps each collector number, finish and evidence label separate.
Pull rates are estimates—see how this ranking works.
Estimated odds, limited coverage. This uses the same estimates as our pull-rate calculators, including labelled rough models and very-low-confidence assumptions. It does not establish the hardest Articuno ever printed; nearby estimates may not represent a real difference in difficulty.
How the ranking works ↓We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through our eBay links. Card images are artwork references; edition stamps and foil finishes may differ.
Articuno pull rates at a glance
A larger pack figure means a lower estimated chance. Figures are rounded to two significant digits; matching rounded estimates share a rank.
| Rank | Card & set | Estimated packs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 = | Galarian Articuno V (Full Art) 169/198Chilling Reign · Holofoil | ~1 in 1,000Rough estimate |
| 1 = | Galarian Articuno V (Alternate Full Art) 170/198Chilling Reign · Holofoil | ~1 in 1,000Rough estimate |
| 3 | Articuno GX (Secret) 171/168Celestial Storm · Holofoil | ~1 in 720Very low confidence |
| 4 | Articuno GX (Full Art) 154/168Celestial Storm · Holofoil | ~1 in 450 |
| 5 | Galarian Articuno V (Secret) 181/172Brilliant Stars · Holofoil | ~1 in 400 |
| 6 | Articuno GX SV54/SV94Hidden Fates: Shiny Vault · Holofoil | ~1 in 370 |
| 7 | Articuno 148/147Supreme Victors · Holofoil | ~1 in 300Very low confidence |
| 8 | Articuno EX (Team Plasma) (132 Full Art) 132/135Plasma Storm · Holofoil | ~1 in 180Rough estimate |
| 9 = | Rocket's Articuno ex 96/109EX Team Rocket Returns · Holofoil | ~1 in 150 |
| 9 = | Articuno (4) 4/144Skyridge · Reverse Holofoil | ~1 in 150Rough estimate |
The hardest-to-pull Articuno countdown
#9 (joint) · Articuno (4)
Skyridge · 4/144 · English · Reverse Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 150 packs
Reverse Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$156.70 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
The e-Reader-style border is part of this Skyridge card’s visual identity. This estimate is for the reverse holo specifically; another finish can share the same artwork and collector number.
Where this estimate comes from
Assumes 1 effective ordinary reverse-holo slots per pack, shared equally across 150 eligible reverse printings. This simplifies special-card replacements and unequal print sheets; the slot allowance is a modelling assumption.
#9 (joint) · Rocket's Articuno ex
EX Team Rocket Returns · 96/109 · English · Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 150 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$450.00 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Gold Star tier uses the community 1-in-108-pack model. Here Comes Team Rocket! has uncertain individual odds and remains unavailable. Charmeleon is a box topper. Independent pack calculations do not reproduce print-sheet collation.
#8 · Articuno EX (Team Plasma) (132 Full Art)
Plasma Storm · 132/135 · English · Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 180 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$644.98 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Where this estimate comes from
Uses the median group frequency (2.8% per pack) from Boundaries Crossed, Dark Explorers, Dragons Exalted, Next Destinies, Black and White, divided among 5 cards in this set's group. Those sets are comparisons, not evidence for this set.
#7 · Articuno
Supreme Victors · 148/147 · English · Holofoil
Very low confidence. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 300 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$388.32 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Where this estimate comes from
Illustrative starting assumption: one Rare Secret group hit in about 100 packs, shared equally across 3 eligible cards. No measured rate supports this assumed frequency; use it only as a rough scenario.
#6 · Articuno GX
Hidden Fates: Shiny Vault · SV54/SV94 · English · Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 370 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$44.75 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Shiny Vault cards use Hidden Fates packs. Baby shiny, shiny GX and full-art Trainer categories occupy separate pools. Gold cards and foil Energy allocations remain unavailable. Independent pack calculations do not reproduce print-sheet collation.
#5 · Galarian Articuno V (Secret)
Brilliant Stars · 181/172 · English · Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 400 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$13.46 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Community opening frequencies; individual card estimates divide the category by its eligible card pool. Alternate-art allocations and ordinary reverse odds remain unavailable unless separately supported. Source sample: 1004 packs. Full-art/alternate-art categories and gallery cards are not combined. Independent pack calculations do not reproduce print-sheet collation.
#4 · Articuno GX (Full Art)
Celestial Storm · 154/168 · English · Holofoil
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 450 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$39.73 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Where this estimate comes from
The estimated rarity frequency is divided across the eligible cards in that pool, assuming equal individual chances. It is not a measured count of this particular card.
Community opening and sheet model. Full-art Pokémon have a separate pool; full-art Trainer, Rainbow and gold-sheet allocations are withheld when individual frequencies are uncertain. One dedicated Basic Energy slot per pack. Independent pack calculations do not reproduce print-sheet collation.
#3 · Articuno GX (Secret)
Celestial Storm · 171/168 · English · Holofoil
Very low confidence. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 720 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$70.97 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Where this estimate comes from
Illustrative starting assumption: one Rare Rainbow group hit in about 80 packs, shared equally across 9 eligible cards. No measured rate supports this assumed frequency; use it only as a rough scenario.
#1 (joint) · Galarian Articuno V (Alternate Full Art)
Chilling Reign · 170/198 · English · Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 1,000 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$69.27 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Where this estimate comes from
Uses the median group frequency (3.9% per pack) from Evolving Skies, Shining Fates, Astral Radiance, Champion's Path, Darkness Ablaze, divided among 39 cards in this set's group. Those sets are comparisons, not evidence for this set.
#1 (joint) · Galarian Articuno V (Full Art)
Chilling Reign · 169/198 · English · Holofoil
Rough estimate. Limited evidence; actual odds may vary greatly.
Estimated pull rate
About 1 in 1,000 packs
Holofoil · Estimated raw price
$12.36 USD
Price observed Nov 4, 2026 UTC
Galarian Articuno spreads its pale purple wings across a pink-and-orange full-art background. This is 169/198 from Chilling Reign; the alternate artwork at 170/198 remains a separate numbered chase.
Where this estimate comes from
Uses the median group frequency (3.9% per pack) from Evolving Skies, Shining Fates, Astral Radiance, Champion's Path, Darkness Ablaze, divided among 39 cards in this set's group. Those sets are comparisons, not evidence for this set.
How we compare Articuno pull rates
We compare the chance of pulling one exact card from one English pack of its release. A rarity’s overall hit rate is different from the odds of finding a particular Articuno within that rarity. Evidence ranges from reported community openings and print-sheet models to rough comparisons and assumed rarity frequencies. Each rough estimate carries its warning beside the odds; expand its explanation for the actual basis.
Japanese cards, guaranteed promos, deck cards and box toppers are outside this ranking. Vintage editions with shared odds take one position. Distinct pack-pulled finishes can qualify separately. Prices do not affect the order, and a missing price does not remove an otherwise eligible card.
Up to ten cards are selected automatically from available estimates, with any tie at the cutoff kept together. Estimates are rounded to two significant digits for comparison, not presented as precise measurements. New cards can enter when a matching printing and estimate are available; prices refresh with the catalogue. Descriptions stay with their card when the order changes.
Articuno pull-rate questions
Which Articuno card is hardest to pull?
Galarian Articuno V (Alternate Full Art) 170/198 (Chilling Reign, Holofoil) and Galarian Articuno V (Full Art) 169/198 (Chilling Reign, Holofoil) share the lowest estimated chance among the qualifying cards here: about 1 in 1,000 packs. This is the current model’s ordering, including any rough assumptions labelled above. It does not cover every Articuno ever released.
Will opening 1,000 packs guarantee the top-ranked card?
No. For the first card listed at rank 1, opening 1,000 independent packs gives an estimated 63.0% chance of at least one copy. The average waiting time is not a promise; actual packs and factory collation can behave differently from this model.
Is the hardest Articuno to pull also the most expensive?
Not necessarily. Artwork, demand, condition and how much product exists also matter to collectors. This guide ranks estimated pack odds. Our most expensive Articuno guide compares available raw prices instead.
Do a booster box or an Elite Trainer Box guarantee a Articuno?
These estimates do not establish any product-level guarantee. A named Articuno promo included in a product is separate from the random cards inside its booster packs. Use the exact-card calculator to explore pack quantities and its stated assumptions.
Why can a reverse-holo Articuno rank above a rarer-looking card?
This compares one exact printing. A large reverse-holo pool can make a particular card’s modelled chance small even when reverse holos overall are common. Most of these estimates assume equal chances within the pool. That does not prove this Pokémon is short-printed, and it does not describe the ordinary non-holo version.