Pokémon TCG Rarity Guide: How to Tell How Rare Your Cards Are

Pokémon TCG Rarity Guide: How to Tell How Rare Your Cards Are

How Do You Know If Your Pokémon Card Is Rare?

With billions of Pokémon cards printed and hundreds of sets released over the years, figuring out how rare your cards are can feel overwhelming. But once you know what to look for, it becomes second nature. There are three key things to check: the rarity symbol, the card type, and the set number.

Rarity Symbols

Every Pokémon card has a small rarity symbol printed in the bottom corner, next to the set number. Here are the four universal symbols:

  • ⚫ Circle — Common
  • 🔷 Diamond — Uncommon
  • ⭐ Star — Rare
  • ⭐ Star + "PROMO" — Promo card (not pulled from packs — given at events or included as box toppers)

Scarlet & Violet Rarity Symbols

Starting with the Scarlet & Violet era, The Pokémon Company introduced five additional rarity symbols to bring more clarity to the hobby:

  • ⭐⭐ Two Black Stars — Double Rare
  • ⭐⭐ Two Silver Stars — Ultra Rare
  • 🌟 One Gold Star — Illustration Rare
  • 🌟🌟 Two Gold Stars — Special Illustration Rare
  • 🌟🌟🌟 Three Gold Stars — Hyper Rare

Mega Evolution Rarity Symbols

The Mega Evolution era introduced an exciting new rarity tier — Mega Hyper Rares. These cards are fully embossed in gold and feature front-facing Pokémon in their Mega Evolved forms. They are among the rarest cards in the entire Pokémon TCG, with pull rates as low as 1 in 1,260 packs!

A second type of Mega rare was introduced with Ascended Heroes (January 2026) — Mega Attack cards. These stunning full-art cards feature Mega Pokémon alongside the kanji of their signature attacks, reminiscent of the classic XY-era cards. They are identified by a unique rarity symbol of two pastel-coloured stars (one pink, one green).

Holo, Reverse Holo & Full Art Cards

Beyond rarity symbols, the finish of a card also affects its value:

  • Holo — The Pokémon's art box has a holographic shine. Only certain cards in a set have holo variants, making them harder to pull.
  • Reverse Holo — The holographic foil covers the entire card except the art box. Most cards in a set have a reverse holo variant, so they're more common than regular holos.
  • Full Art — Introduced in the Black & White era, full art cards display the Pokémon's artwork across the entire card with no art box. These are always holographic and typically ultra rare or higher.

Ultra Rare Card Types

Over the years, Pokémon has introduced many ultra rare card types. Here's a quick breakdown of the most notable ones:

  • Pokémon-ex / LV.X — From the EX Ruby & Sapphire and Diamond & Pearl eras. Identified by lowercase "ex" or "LV.X" after the name.
  • Pokémon EX / GX — From Black & White through Sun & Moon. Capital "EX" or "GX" after the name. GX cards have a once-per-game GX attack.
  • Pokémon V / VMAX / VSTAR — From the Sword & Shield era. V cards can evolve into VMAX (boosted HP and attacks) or VSTAR (a once-per-game VSTAR Power).
  • Pokémon ex (Scarlet & Violet) — The modern reintroduction of ex cards. Can Terastallize into Tera Pokémon ex, which take no bench damage.
  • Mega Evolution Pokémon ex — The latest card type, featured in the Mega Evolution series including Chaos Rising. These powerful cards bring Mega Evolved Pokémon back to the TCG in a big way.

Secret Rare Cards & Set Numbers

Every Pokémon card has a set number printed in the bottom corner (e.g. 025/198). Secret rare cards have a set number higher than the total set count — for example, 210/198. This is why they're called "secret" rares. They are the hardest cards to pull in any set.

Secret rare cards include:

  • Rainbow Rare cards
  • Gold Rare cards
  • Illustration Rare cards (alt art)
  • Special Illustration Rare cards
  • Mega Hyper Rare cards
  • Mega Attack Rare cards

So, How Rare Is Your Card?

To summarise: check the rarity symbol first, then look at the card type and finish, and finally check the set number. A card with a gold star rarity symbol, full art illustration, and a set number above the set total? That's a serious pull — and potentially very valuable.

If you're ever unsure about a card's value, feel free to reach out to us at SecretRareVault — we're always happy to help fellow collectors!

Happy collecting, Trainers. ⚡

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