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Shonen TCG · General
Reviewing
Union Arena
TL;DR: Union Arena card rarities explained. Base hierarchy: Common (C), Uncommon (U), Rare (R), Super Rare (SR), then special parallel and alternate-art treatments above SR as the chase tier. Parallels are cosmetic only, functionally identical to standard versions. Chase the special-parallel SRs of popular characters for value. Each single-IP set may add its own top-tier treatments. Buy singles for specific cards.
Union Arena's rarity system is straightforward at its base but adds special treatments at the top that drive collector value.
| Rarity | Tier | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Common (C) | Base | Bulk, includes staples |
| Uncommon (U) | Base | Bulk, includes staples |
| Rare (R) | Mid | Solid deck cards |
| Super Rare (SR) | High | Strong cards, mid-value chase |
| Special parallel / Alt-art | Top | The chase tier, highest value |
The key point: parallels and alt-arts are cosmetic only. They play identically to their standard versions, so the chase tier is about collecting and aesthetics, not power.
GODEEPER: Want to know how rarity affects deck cost for competitive play? The tournament guide covers deckbuilding economics. Union Arena Tournament Guide 2026
Every Union Arena set shares this foundation.
Common (C). The most frequent pulls. Near-zero individual value, but do not dismiss them: many competitive staples are printed at Common. A budget deckbuilder leans heavily on commons that happen to be strong.
Uncommon (U). Slightly less frequent than commons. Like commons, they include playable cards. Bulk for collectors, building blocks for players.
Rare (R). The first tier with consistent deck relevance and modest value. Many archetype-defining cards sit at Rare. A solid R can be both a competitive staple and an affordable acquisition.
Super Rare (SR). The top base rarity. SRs are usually the strongest or most iconic cards in a set, with foil treatment and higher value. Competitively important SRs are the cards you actively buy for decks; iconic SRs double as collector targets.
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TCG Deck Analyst
Former card game tournament organiser turned analyst. Covers One Piece TCG meta, deck efficiency, and card valuation. Builds spreadsheets for decks most people just play.
Disclaimer
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Above SR sit the special treatments that drive a set's collector market.
What they are. Special parallel and alternate-art versions of cards (usually SRs) with enhanced foil, alternate artwork, or signature treatments. These are the rarest pulls in any set.
Cosmetic, not functional. This is the most important thing to understand: a parallel or alt-art card plays exactly like its standard version. It has the same name, the same text, and the same competitive function. You are paying for the look, not the power.
Why they vary by set. Because Union Arena releases self-contained single-IP sets, each set can introduce its own top-tier treatments. The Bleach set's chase cards may use a different special style than the Solo Leveling set's. Always check a specific set's rarity reveal to know its chase tier.
Special parallel and alternate-art SRs are the chase tier. They play identically to standard versions; the premium is for foil, alternate art, and signature treatments, not power.
Union Arena packs follow a guaranteed-floor structure with higher rarities at lower rates.
The guaranteed floor. Each pack guarantees a minimum rarity, ensuring you always get some value above straight commons. Above that floor, rarities appear at progressively lower rates.
SR and chase frequency. Standard SRs appear at a moderate rate, often around one per box or a few per box depending on the set. Special parallels and alt-arts are the rarest, typically not every box. Chasing a specific top-tier card through packs is unreliable and expensive.
The singles lesson. As with any TCG, if you want a specific chase card or competitive staple, buying the single is far more cost-effective than opening packs hoping to hit it. Open packs for the experience and broad collection; buy singles for targeted acquisition.
Match your buying to your goal.
For competitive play:
For collecting:
The dual-demand sweet spot: A card that is both a competitive staple AND has a desirable alt-art is supported by two demand pools, making it the most stable value. These are the cards worth prioritizing if you want your collection to hold value.
Cards that are both competitively played and have desirable alt-art versions hold value best, supported by both player and collector demand across the single-IP sets.
If you come from another card game, the system will feel familiar with a few twists.
Versus One Piece TCG: Both use a base Common-to-SR hierarchy with special chase treatments above. One Piece TCG has SEC (Secret Rare) and Manga Rare as distinctive top tiers; Union Arena's top tiers are parallel and alt-art SRs that vary by IP set. Both keep chase cards cosmetic-only for competitive function.
Versus Pokemon: Pokemon's alt-art and special illustration rares are a close analog to Union Arena's parallels: both are cosmetic chase cards that play identically to standard versions.
The single-IP wrinkle: Union Arena's biggest difference is that each set is one anime. This means rarity treatments and chase styles change between IPs, and collector demand is driven heavily by which anime you love. A Bleach fan and a JJK fan chase entirely different cards.
Understanding rarity is not just about chasing the prettiest cards; it directly shapes what your deck costs to build.
Competitive cost lives in the middle. The cards that actually win games are spread across Rare and Super Rare, with many staples at Common and Uncommon. A competitively complete deck is rarely expensive purely from rarity, because the strongest cards are not always the rarest. This is good news for budget players.
The chase tier is optional cost. Special parallels and alt-arts add cost only if you want them. Since they are cosmetic, a tournament player can run all-standard versions and lose nothing competitively. The price gap between a standard SR and its alt-art version is pure aesthetics.
Where the money goes. When a Union Arena deck is expensive, it is usually because one or two specific SRs are both competitively essential and in high demand, not because of the chase parallels. Identify those key cards and you know where your budget will concentrate.
The smart budget approach. Buy standard versions of everything you need to play, skip the parallels unless you want the look, and prioritize the Commons and Uncommons that happen to be staples. This keeps a competitive Union Arena deck genuinely affordable while leaving the cosmetic chase as a separate, optional collecting goal.
GODEEPER: Ready to build a deck once you know the rarities? The tournament guide covers deck construction and format rules. Union Arena Tournament Guide 2026
Q: What are the Union Arena rarities? A: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Super Rare, plus special parallel and alt-art treatments above SR as the chase tier.
Q: What is the rarest card type? A: Special parallel and alternate-art SRs with foil, alternate art, or signature treatments. They appear once across several boxes.
Q: Do parallels affect gameplay? A: No. Parallels are cosmetic only and play identically to standard versions. The premium is for the look.
Q: Which rarities are worth chasing? A: Special-parallel SRs of popular characters for value; standard SRs and Rares for decks. Do not overlook strong commons.
Q: Are rarities the same across sets? A: The base hierarchy is consistent, but each single-IP set may add its own special treatments and chase styles.
Q: How do pull rates work? A: Each pack guarantees a rarity floor, with higher rarities at lower rates. SR and parallels are rarest, not every box.
Q: Singles or packs for rares? A: Buy singles for specific cards; it is more cost-effective. Open packs for experience and broad collection.
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