If you want to understand exactly how rare your Pokémon cards are, the rarity symbol is your best friend. Whether you are sorting your binder, analysing your latest booster box pulls, or researching potential chase cards, knowing what each rarity means helps you identify value, scarcity, and collectability instantly.
In this complete guide, Beam Card Shop walks you through every Pokémon rarity symbol, from the classic circle and diamond to Illustration Rares, Hyper Rares, Shiny Rares and Secret Rares. With this overview, you can confidently evaluate your cards and recognise the special ones the moment you see them.
What is rarity in Pokémon cards?
Rarity indicates how frequently a specific card appears in booster packs. Common cards show up in almost every pack, while Ultra Rares, Illustration Rares and Hyper Rares appear far less often, sometimes only once or twice per booster box.
Rarity helps you:
- Identify the importance of your pulls
- Understand why some cards become chase cards
- Compare card value within a set
- Recognise variations across Pokémon generations
- Build a well-informed collection
Although rarity doesn’t guarantee monetary value, it is the foundation of how collectors categorise and evaluate their Pokémon cards.
How many rarities are there?
The Pokémon TCG originally used only Common, Uncommon and Rare.
Modern sets, however, introduce multiple additional rarity tiers, each with unique artwork, foil patterns, and pull rates.
Today’s standard Pokémon sets include:
- Common
- Uncommon
- Rare
- Double Rare
- Ultra Rare
- Illustration Rare
- Special Illustration Rare
- Hyper Rare
You can’t miss promo cards, but they don’t fit in the rarity hierarchy, because they are not distributed in booster packs.
Pokémon rarity symbols and meaning
Because rarity can vary widely by era, having a Pokémon card rarity chart is essential for any collector.
Infrequent Rarities
These rarities appear less frequently across sets and often represent special mechanics, unique foil effects, or era-specific design choices. While they may not always include a dedicated rarity symbol, collectors identify them through artwork, set history, and pull rates.
Shiny (Ultra) Rare
Shiny Pokémon show an alternative colour palette compared to their standard form. Their rarity can vary significantly by set. In products like Hidden Fates and Shining Fates, Shiny Pokémon formed the backbone of the collection, with some Shiny Ultra Rares ranking among the most opened chase cards of their era. Because Shiny Pokémon appear in lower print quantities and have strong collector appeal, their long-term value tends to remain stable, especially for popular species such as Charizard, Umbreon, or Greninja.
Holo Rare
Holo Rares are the foundation of Pokémon rarity. These cards feature a holographic foil pattern behind the Pokémon artwork and have existed since the Base Set (1999). Although not as scarce as modern Illustration or Hyper Rares, certain vintage Holo Rares, for example Base Set Charizard, Jungle Snorlax, or Neo Genesis Lugia, can reach extremely high prices when kept in pristine condition. Modern Holo Rares usually guarantee one per booster pack, but older sets did not include this guarantee, making vintage Holos significantly harder to pull.
Amazing Rare
Amazing Rares were introduced in Vivid Voltage and immediately stood out because of their vibrant, splash-like rainbow artwork that extends outside the illustration frame. These cards featured Legendary Pokémon such as Rayquaza, Jirachi and Zamazenta, and were printed in low quantities. Although the Amazing Rare mechanic ended with the Sword & Shield block, these cards remain attractive to collectors because of their unique foil pattern, design, and short-lived production window.
Rare Holo EX, Rare Holo GX, Rare Holo Lv.X, Rare Prime, Legend, ACE SPEC, Radiant, Rare BREAK
Each of these categories represents a different era of the Pokémon TCG:
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EX / GX / Lv.X: Powerful Pokémon from the mid-2000s to late-2010s, often featuring full-card holographic layouts and strong competitive abilities.
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Prime (HeartGold & SoulSilver): Known for their intense close-up artwork and reflective borders.
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Legend (two-card Pokémon): Oversized artworks split across two cards, a concept not repeated in modern sets.
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ACE SPEC: Extremely powerful Trainer or Pokémon cards limited to one per deck, making them prized in competitive play.
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Radiant Pokémon: Introduced in the final sets of Sword & Shield, featuring beautiful glitter-style holofoil and limited to one per deck.
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BREAK cards: Horizontal evolution cards with gold foil introduced during the XY era.
These rarity types often define their respective generations and remain essential for collectors completing older-era binders.
Prism Rare
Prism Stars feature diagonal prism-foil patterns and were introduced during the Sun & Moon era. Powerful and visually unique, Prism cards were limited to one per deck in competitive play, which also made them desirable for players. Because Prism Rares only existed for a short period, their collectability continues to grow.
Fun fact
The Pokémon TCG was never intended to become a worldwide collecting phenomenon. In the late 1990s, Japanese promo cards were produced in extremely limited quantities, some given only to tournament champions, magazine subscribers, or school clubs. These include cards like the 1997 Pikachu Trophy variants and early CoroCoro promos. Many of these cards now sell for record-breaking prices at major auctions, making them some of the rarest Pokémon items ever created.
Unofficial Rares
Although they do not have their own dedicated rarity symbols, these categories are widely recognised in the collecting community for their low pull rates, premium artwork, and long-term desirability. They are often the cards that end up as chase cards for modern sets.
Secret Rare
Secret Rares go beyond the official set numbering (e.g., 205/198). They typically include golden item cards, rainbow variants, special Pokémon, and sometimes alternate art cards. Secret Rares appear at very low pull rates and are often considered key highlights of a set.
Full Art
Full Art cards extended the Pokémon artwork across the entire card, replacing the traditional white background. This design style revolutionised modern collecting and became a staple from the Black & White era onward. Full Arts are known for textured foil, high printing quality, and strong collector demand.
Alternate Art
Alternate Arts feature completely original scenes, often telling a visual story, such as a Pokémon sleeping, exploring, or interacting with its environment. Due to extremely low pull rates and unforgettable artwork, Alternate Arts from Evolving Skies, Fusion Strike or Lost Origin remain some of the most sought-after cards in modern history.
Gold Rare
Gold Rares include gold foil Pokémon, Item cards, and stadiums. Their distinctive metallic finish makes them stand out immediately. These cards typically represent some of the highest rarity tiers in a set and frequently hold long-term value due to their premium visual design.
Rainbow Rare
Rainbow Rares convert Full Art cards into colourful, textured rainbow variants. Although Pokémon stopped producing Rainbow Pokémon cards in the Scarlet & Violet era, they remain iconic among Sword & Shield collectors. Cards like Rainbow Charizard VMAX or Rainbow Pikachu VMAX are still major centrepieces in many collections.
Pokémon rarity symbols
Below you find the complete reference guide collectors rely on when evaluating their cards. Whether you’re checking a recent pull or analysing a vintage binder, these symbols help you determine rarity at a glance.
1 Circle = Common
Common cards appear in almost every booster pack and make up the majority of each set’s card list. You will often find basic Pokémon, early evolution stages, or simple Trainer cards in this category. Although they are not rare, they are essential for completing set numbers and building structured decks. Many collectors begin their binder organisation by sorting these first.
1 Diamond = Uncommon
Uncommon cards are slightly harder to pull than Commons and often include important evolution Pokémon or mid-level Trainer cards. They form the backbone of many competitive decks, making them more valuable than their frequency suggests. For collectors, Uncommons help complete full set pages and often feature more detailed artwork. You will typically find two or three per booster pack.
1 Star = Rare (or higher)
Rare cards are the standard “hit” you expect in every booster pack, usually one per pack. They often feature stronger Pokémon, more detailed artwork, or holo variants. While not always high in monetary value, Rares play a crucial role in both collecting and competitive play. Their consistent presence makes them an essential part of evaluating your pulls.
2 Black Stars = Double Rare
Double Rares were introduced in the Scarlet & Violet era and are most commonly associated with Pokémon ex. These cards offer enhanced artwork, higher playability, and a noticeable step up in power compared to standard Rares. You can expect fewer Double Rares per booster box, making them more meaningful pulls. Collectors often chase these when building modern play-ready decks.
2 White Stars = Ultra Rare
Ultra Rares include premium Pokémon with textured or full-art-style foil, depending on the set era. They stand out immediately thanks to their shine, design and popularity, especially among newer collectors. Ultra Rares tend to deliver stronger card abilities and more dynamic artwork. These cards are memorable pulls that generally hold solid long-term interest.
1 Gold Star = Illustration Rare
Illustration Rares highlight the artistic creativity of the Pokémon TCG, featuring full-art illustrations that focus on atmosphere and personality. These cards often show Pokémon in natural settings or doing something charming, making them favourites among art collectors. Their pull rate is noticeably lower than Ultra Rares, adding to their appeal. Many of today’s most iconic modern artworks fall into this category.
2 Gold Stars = Special Illustration Rare
Special Illustration Rares expand the Illustration Rare concept into fully detailed, cinematic scenes with storytelling elements. These cards are some of the biggest chase cards in every modern set due to their low pull rate and breathtaking artwork. You will typically find just one or two per booster box, if you are lucky. They often become lasting collector staples and can appreciate in value over time.
3 Gold Stars = Hyper Rare
Hyper Rares sit at the top of the rarity hierarchy and include gold cards, ultra-premium Pokémon, or high-impact item cards. Their textured foil and metallic finish make them some of the most visually striking pulls you can find. With extremely low pull rates, Hyper Rares add real excitement to any booster box opening. Collectors often consider them long-term anchor pieces in their binders.
1 Black ‘Promo’ Star = Promo card
Promo cards are exclusive releases found only in sealed products such as tins, boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes and special event bundles. Because they are not pulled from booster packs, their value often depends on the popularity of the product and the featured Pokémon. Promo cards can range from simple holo prints to high-tier Full Arts or even Alternate Arts. Many promos end up becoming unexpectedly sought-after years later.
1 Rainbow ‘A’ = Amazing Rare
Amazing Rares were introduced during the Sword & Shield era and instantly stood out due to their vibrant, rainbow-splash foil that extends beyond the card frame. These cards feature Legendary Pokémon and offer a visual style not found in any other rarity. Because they were only printed for a short time, collectors continue to value their uniqueness. Their limited print window makes them attractive additions to modern binders.
1 Empty Gold Star = Shiny Rare
Shiny Rares showcase alternate-colour Pokémon, a concept beloved by collectors since the early days of the franchise. These cards often carry special foil treatments that highlight the Shiny design. Pull rates are typically lower than standard Rares, adding extra excitement to every Shiny discovery. Popular species like Gardevoir, Mew, or Charizard tend to become quick collector favourites.
2 Empty Gold Stars = Shiny Ultra Rare
Shiny Ultra Rares take the Shiny concept one step further with enhanced artwork, premium foil textures and significantly lower pull rates. These cards are among the most desirable in Shiny-focused sets such as Shiny Treasure ex or Shining Fates. Their combination of rarity, colour variation and special art makes them standout hits in any opening session. For many collectors, these are the highlight cards worth grading.
Frequently asked questions
Are foil cards rare?
Not necessarily. Foil cards can appear at Common, Uncommon and Rare levels, meaning the shine alone does not indicate scarcity. Many sets include Reverse Holo versions of every card, which means even the lowest-tier cards can exist as foil variants. What truly defines rarity is the symbol printed next to the card number, not the holographic effect. When evaluating your pulls, always use the rarity symbol first and the foil pattern only as a secondary factor.
How valuable are rare cards?
A card’s value is influenced by several elements: set popularity, artwork quality, competitive viability, grading potential and long-term collectability. For example, a Rare Holo from a lesser-known set might be worth less than a Special Illustration Rare from a highly anticipated release like Scarlet & Violet: 151. Cards such as Hyper Rares and certain Alternate Arts often stay valuable due to low pull rates and unique artwork. Condition also plays a major role, grading a near-perfect card can significantly increase its worth. Always research individual card demand if you’re considering selling or investing.
My card has no rarity symbol?
If your card features no rarity symbol at all, it may come from an older generation of Pokémon cards that used different formatting. Many promo cards from tins, collection boxes or events also omit the standard rarity marker. Theme deck-exclusive cards are another common example, as these are not designed to be opened from booster packs. In some modern products, non-standard or demo cards may also lack symbols. To identify such cards correctly, always cross-check the set logo, the card number and the product it originated from.