Pokémon Card Rarity Chart: Symbols & Rare Cards
How do you identify Pokémon card rarity? Use this Pokémon card rarity chart: match the rarity symbol, collector number and printed tier to spot rare Pokémon cards from Common through SIR and Hyper Rare.
Looking for a Pokémon card rarity chart, rarity symbols, or help spotting rare Pokémon cards? rateTCG groups the catalog by modern rarity tier (SIR, Ultra Rare, IR, Hyper Rare…). Open each category for examples, estimated pull rates, and Amazon boxes where those rarities appear.
8 rarity tiers
A Pokémon TCG rarity is how often a card appears in booster packs of an expansion. rateTCG groups the catalog by modern tiers (Double Rare through SIR); expectations on product pages are modeled by rateTCG, not an official The Pokémon Company sheet.
- Premium chase
SIR — Special Illustration Rare (rarity list)
Top tier on the Pokémon card rarity list: SIR cards with full-card artwork; values can exceed several hundred pounds or dollars.
SIRView rarity list → - Illustration
Illustration Rare (IR)
IR cards on the modern rarity chart: extended full-art illustrations, highly valued by collectors.
IRView rarity list → - Ultra Rare
Ultra Rare — premium rarity tier
Ultra Rare ex, V, VSTAR and GX cards — a core category in any Pokémon TCG rarity list.
URView rarity list → - Double Rare
Double Rare
Shiny ex and V cards with silver or gold accents. More common than Ultra Rare but still valuable.
RRView rarity list → - Hyper Rare
Hyper Rare
Distinctive textured gold style. Extremely rare and highly demanded by collectors.
HRView rarity list → - Mega Hyper
Mega Hyper Rare
Rarest tier in the Mega Evolution set. Extremely low pull rate.
MHRView rarity list → - ACE SPEC
ACE SPEC Rare
Powerful Trainer Item cards limited to one per deck. Exclusive to Prismatic Evolutions.
ACEView rarity list → - Rare
Rare (★) — base rare tier
Black-star Rare cards: the entry point on the Pokémon rarity chart for holo pulls in most packs.
★View rarity list →
Pokémon TCG rarities explained
Every Pokémon TCG card has a rarity symbol at the bottom (circle = Common, diamond = Uncommon, black star = Rare). Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet added modern Pokémon rarities: Double Rare, Ultra Rare, Illustration Rare (IR), Special Illustration Rare (SIR), Hyper Rare and Mega Hyper Rare.
Higher rarity means lower pull rate and usually higher resale value. Use our pull calculator to estimate how many packs you need for a target rarity in a specific set.
Pokémon Card Rarity Chart
Use this Pokémon card rarity chart as a quick reference from Common through Secret / Hyper Rare style hits in current Scarlet & Violet and Mega Evolution sets:
| Rarity symbol | Rarity name | How to identify it | Appearance | Approximate rarity | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● circle | Common | Black circle under the card text | Matte, standard art frame | Most packs have several | Basic Energy support, early set fillers |
| ◆ diamond | Uncommon | Black diamond symbol | Matte or light holo depending on era | Common in every booster | Trainers, mid-evolution Pokémon |
| ★ star | Rare | Black star (★) rarity mark | Often holo Pokémon | Usually 1 rare+ path per pack era | Set holos, classic Rare ★ cards |
| Printed Double Rare | Double Rare | English label on card / catalog filter | Shiny ex / V style with silver-gold accents | Common among modern “rare” pulls | Many Scarlet & Violet ex cards |
| Printed Illustration Rare | Illustration Rare (IR) | Extended art + IR label | Full-bleed illustration | Scarcer than Ultra Rare in many models | Popular character IRs |
| Printed Special Illustration Rare | Special Illustration Rare (SIR) | Full-card art + SIR label | Premium illustrated chase | Low pull rate; top modern chase | Eeveelution SIRs, Charizard SIRs |
| Printed Ultra Rare | Ultra Rare | Full-art frame + Ultra Rare label | Full-art ex, V, VSTAR, GX | Mid-scarce; strong demand | ex full arts, VSTAR full arts |
| Printed Hyper Rare | Hyper Rare | Gold textured finish + Hyper Rare label | Gold / rainbow textured look | Very scarce | Gold Trainer / Pokémon Hyper Rares |
| Beyond set number / gold | Secret Rare (collector term) | Number higher than printed set size, or gold secret finish | Often overlaps Hyper Rare / gold secrets | Among the scarcest retail hits | Gold secrets, Mega Hyper Rare in ME sets |
How to Tell If a Pokémon Card Is Rare
How do you identify Pokémon card rarity? Start with three checks: the rarity symbol, the set number, and the printed rarity name on modern holos and full arts. That combo tells you whether you are holding a common, a Rare ★, or a chase SIR.
- Look at the rarity symbol at the bottom of the card (circle, diamond, or star on standard prints).
- Read the collector number (for example 025/198) and compare it to the set size; numbers above the set count often mark secret-style cards.
- On holos and full arts, read the printed English rarity (Double Rare, Ultra Rare, Illustration Rare, SIR, Hyper Rare).
- Spot alternate / special illustration frames: extended art and full-card art almost always sit above a plain Rare ★.
- Confirm the expansion on the set code so you do not mix language prints or reprint rarities.
Pokémon Card Rarity Symbols Explained
Pokémon rarity symbols are the fastest way to sort a binder. Match the mark on the card to the meaning below, then open the matching rarity page on rateTCG for live examples.
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ● | Common | Most Energy and early Pokémon in a set |
| ◆ | Uncommon | Many Trainers and mid-stage Pokémon |
| ★ | Rare | Classic holo Rare in a booster pack |
| Double Rare (text) | Modern shiny ex / V tier | Scarlet & Violet era ex cards |
| Ultra Rare (text) | Full-art competitive or collector hit | Full-art ex or VSTAR |
| IR / SIR (text) | Illustration chase tiers | Extended art IR or full-page SIR |
| Hyper Rare (text) | Gold textured ultra-scarce hit | Gold Hyper Rare Trainer or Pokémon |
What Is The Rarest Pokémon Card Rarity?
Print rarity and market price are not the same. The rarest rarity on the chart is usually Special Illustration Rare, Hyper Rare or Mega Hyper Rare in current English sets, but a cheap Double Rare can still outsell a dull Hyper Rare if demand is weak.
- Print scarcity: how often the slot appears in boosters (SIR / Hyper Rare sit near the bottom of the chart).
- Financial value: Cardmarket and auction demand for the specific Pokémon, art and grade.
- Most chased modern rarities: SIR for art collectors, Hyper Rare / Mega Hyper Rare for gold finish hunters, ACE SPEC when the Trainer effect matters.
- A rarity tier is not automatically valuable: Common Charizard nostalgia reprints and unwanted gold Trainers prove the gap every week.
Explore further
Go from rarity symbols to real cards, sets and value guides. Calculator and pull rates help once you know the tier.
rare Pokémon cardsvaluable Pokémon cardsPokémon card guidePokémon setsCard searchCalculatorPull rates
Rarities aligned with the Pokémon TCG API (pokemontcg.io); pull rates estimated on rateTCG. pokemontcg.io ·
FAQ: Pokémon card rarity chart
How do I know if my Pokémon card is rare?
Check the rarity symbol, the collector number, and any printed rarity name on holos or full arts. Stars, SIR labels and numbers above the set count are the clearest rare signals.
What do Pokémon card rarity symbols mean?
Circle means Common, diamond means Uncommon, and a black star means Rare. Modern chase cards usually print names such as Double Rare, Ultra Rare, Illustration Rare, SIR or Hyper Rare instead of only a shape.
What is the rarest Pokémon card rarity?
In today’s English retail sets, Special Illustration Rare, Hyper Rare and Mega Hyper Rare are among the scarcest pull slots. Exact rates still depend on the expansion.
What does an R or SR mean on Pokémon cards?
On many Japanese or translated lists, R means Rare and SR means Super Rare / Secret Rare style tiers. English modern cards more often print Ultra Rare, SIR or Hyper Rare in full words.
Are all rare Pokémon cards valuable?
No. Rarity describes pull frequency. Value follows demand, art, condition and language. Many Rare ★ cards stay cheap; some SIRs sell for hundreds.
Is there a Pokémon rarity chart for 2026?
Yes. The Pokémon Card Rarity Chart on this page maps Common through Secret / Hyper Rare style hits. Open each rarity tile for catalog examples and estimated pulls.