Pokémon Card Rarity Symbols Explained (2026)

Every Pokémon card carries a rarity symbol near the card number. Since the Scarlet & Violet series began in 2023, the English game has used a rarity scale that mirrors the Japanese one, while keeping symbols rather than letter codes. The Mega Evolution series, which began in 2025, kept that scale and added two new rarities.

What do the rarity symbols on Pokémon cards mean?

The symbol beside the card number shows its rarity. A circle is Common, a diamond Uncommon and a black star Rare. Two black stars mean Double Rare, two silver stars Ultra Rare, and one, two or three gold stars Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare and Hyper Rare. Mega Evolution sets added two more.

The Japanese codes are close equivalents rather than exact matches. Bulbapedia notes that several of them (AR, SAR, SR, UR) were used differently in older Japanese sets, so a code on an older Japanese card does not always line up with the English rarity of the same name. For cards from Scarlet & Violet onwards the column above is a reliable guide.

Which special rarities appear only in some sets?

A few rarities belong to particular sets. ACE SPEC Rares are one-per-deck Trainer and Energy cards with a pink star. Shiny Rares appear in Paldean Fates, Black White Rares only in Black Bolt and White Flare, and Futuristic Rares so far only in 30th Celebration and promos.

• ACE SPEC Rare (pink star): powerful Trainer and Energy cards, limited to one per deck. From Temporal Forces to Prismatic Evolutions they could replace the first Reverse Holo in a pack.
• Shiny Rare (one hollow gold star) and Shiny Ultra Rare (two hollow gold stars): shiny-coloured Pokémon in Paldean Fates, which could replace the first Reverse Holo.
• Black White Rare (one black and one white star): only in Black Bolt and White Flare.
• Futuristic Rare (a coloured star): metallic-look Pokémon ex on a futuristic background, so far only in 30th Celebration and promos.

Where are the rare cards in a Pokémon booster pack?

Usually at the back. A modern English pack has 10 game cards: four Commons, three Uncommons, two reverse holo slots that can be replaced by higher rarities, and a final rare slot holding a Rare, Double Rare or Ultra Rare. Bulbapedia's pack layout is:

• 4 Commons and 3 Uncommons.
• Reverse Holo slot 1: a reverse holo card, occasionally replaced by a special rarity in some sets (ACE SPEC Rare, Shiny Rare or Shiny Ultra Rare).
• Reverse Holo slot 2: a reverse holo card, sometimes replaced by an Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare, Hyper Rare, Mega Hyper Rare or Mega Attack Rare.
• Rare slot: a Rare, Double Rare or Ultra Rare.
• Plus a Basic Energy and a code card that do not count towards the 10.

So the "hits" usually appear at the back of the pack. If you open packs to sell or grade the cards, sleeve the rares straight away.

How do you read the bottom of a Pokémon card?

Three marks along the bottom identify a modern card: the set symbol with its regulation-mark letter, the card number written as number over set total (for example 010/132), and the rarity symbol. The set symbol and number together pin down the exact card, so include both whenever you look one up.

1. 1.

   Set symbol and regulation mark

   A small icon for the expansion, with a letter beside it. The icon tells you which set the card is from; the letter is the regulation mark (explained below).

2. 2.

   Card number

   Written as number / set total, for example 010/132. This identifies the exact card. Always include it when you search sold listings or ask for an offer.

3. 3.

   Rarity symbol

   The circle, diamond or stars described above.

If the first number is higher than the set total (for example 140/132), the card is one of the set's "secret" cards, numbered beyond the main list. Bulbapedia counts Ascended Heroes, for example, as 295 cards: 217 in the main list plus 78 secret cards. A number above the total is always worth a closer look.

What are the pull rates for Pokémon cards?

The Pokémon Company does not publish pull rates for English sets. The only official information is the structure of a pack. Every pull rate you see online is an estimate from people opening lots of packs and counting.

One of the larger samples is TCGplayer's count for the first Mega Evolution set, from more than 5,000 packs, as reported by Wargamer. It found a Mega Hyper Rare in about 1 in 1,260 packs, a Special Illustration Rare in about 0.99% of packs (roughly 1 in 101) and an Illustration Rare in about 10.9% (roughly 1 in 9). These are one retailer's counts for one set, not official odds.

What is the regulation mark on a Pokémon card?

Next to the set symbol on modern cards there is a small letter, the regulation mark. It is not a rarity. It tells players whether a card is legal in the Standard tournament format. Bulbapedia lists the 2025–26 Standard format as regulation mark G or later, and 2026–27 as H or later. Ascended Heroes cards, for example, carry the J mark.

Does a higher rarity always mean a card sells for more?

A higher rarity usually means fewer copies, but price also depends on which Pokémon or Trainer is on the card, the artwork, demand from players, and condition. Two Special Illustration Rares from the same set can sell for very different amounts. To work out what a particular card sells for, use the method in our valuing guide. To keep a hit in top condition, see how to store cards, and if it is a candidate for grading, read is it worth grading?.

Want to know what is inside each product before you buy? See our product types guide, or browse our singles, where every card is photographed as sold. If you pull a hit you do not want to keep, you can ask us for an offer through sell your cards.