Pokémon Card Rarity Guide: Every Symbol Explained
Last updated: August 20, 2026
Rarity is a rough proxy for how many of a card exist: booster packs contain mostly low-rarity cards and only one or two higher-rarity slots, so it's usually the fastest signal for whether a card is worth a closer look. Here's every tier, symbol, and term you'll run into.
The current rarity tiers (Post March 2023)
Every set released since Scarlet & Violet began (March 2023) uses this same nine-tier system. Below, each tier is illustrated with a real printing and the icon so you can see exactly what each rarity symbol looks like on a real card.
Common
Uncommon
Rare
Double Rare
Ultra Rare(UR)
Illustration Rare(IR)
Special Illustration Rare(SIR)
Hyper Rare(HR)
Promo
Older cards use a different system (Pre March 2023)
Rare1999–2023
Holo Rare1999–2023
Same symbol, but Holo Rares are a holofoil card
Rare Holo EX2003–2007
Rare Holo Lv.X2007–2009
Rare Prime2010
Rare BREAK2015–2016
Rare Holo GX2017–2019
Radiant Rare2022–2023
Each of these six rarities all use a plain white star
Rare Holo Star2004–2006
Pokémon LEGEND2010
Both of these rarities use a gold star
Amazing Rare2020
Exclusive to 2024
Shiny Rare and Shiny Ultra Rare only ever appeared in a single set, Paldean Fates, so you won't run into them anywhere else.
Shiny Rare2024 only
Shiny Ultra Rare2024 only
Terms you'll hear that aren't official rarities
Collectors use several descriptive terms for how a card looks or is numbered. These aren't official rarity tiers printed on the card, and a single card can carry several of these labels at once.
Full Art
A card (usually Ultra Rare or higher) whose artwork covers the entire card instead of sitting in a boxed frame.
Marnie, #200/202
Alternate Art
A Full Art card with unique artwork that doesn't appear on any other printing of that card.
Umbreon VMAX, #215/203
Rainbow Rare
A nickname for Secret Rare cards with a rainbow foil gradient, common in the Sun & Moon and Sword & Shield eras. Modern Hyper Rares use a gold treatment instead, so you won't find a true Rainbow Rare in current sets.
Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, #184/181
Does rarity determine value?
It's the strongest single signal, but not the whole story. Age, popularity, and how a specific set was printed all matter too. A Common from a 25-year-old set can be worth more than a brand-new Ultra Rare, and some sets are printed entirely at Holo Rare or higher, which resets what "rare" even means within that set. The fastest way to skip the guesswork is to just scan the card with Scan 'Em All and see its live value instantly.
Skip the guesswork
Scan any card with Scan 'Em All and get its exact rarity, set, and live price instantly.
Get Scan 'Em AllFAQ
How many Pokémon card rarities are there?
The Pokémon Company's official database lists 21 rarities across the game's 25+ year history, but modern cards printed since March 2023 use nine frequently-seen tiers: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Double Rare, Ultra Rare, Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare, Hyper Rare, and Promo.
What is the rarest Pokémon card rarity?
Hyper Rare is the rarest regular booster-pack rarity in current sets, marked with three gold stars and a gold card border. Promos aren't part of this hierarchy at all, since they're not distributed in packs.
What makes a card a Secret Rare?
A card is a Secret Rare when its printed card number is higher than the set's advertised total, like 223/197 in a 197-card set. It's a designation based on numbering, not a specific rarity symbol, so a Secret Rare can also be a Special Illustration Rare, Hyper Rare, or another tier at the same time.
Does a foil card mean it's rare?
No. Reverse Holo cards apply a foil pattern to Common, Uncommon, and Rare cards without changing their rarity, so a shiny finish alone doesn't tell you a card is rare. The rarity symbol still does.
