Pokemon Rarity Symbols: What Every Symbol Means

October 27, 2026 · Updated October 28, 2026 · 7 min read

Pokemon rarity symbols sit at the bottom of the card, next to the card number: a circle means common, a diamond means uncommon, and a star means rare. Since Scarlet and Violet, more stars mark the scarcer slots: two black stars for a Double Rare, two silver for an Ultra Rare, and one to three gold stars for Illustration, Special Illustration, and Hyper Rares. This guide covers every symbol, what it tells you, and how to tell if a Pokemon card is rare enough to be worth checking.

Key takeaways

• Circle is common, diamond is uncommon, a black star is rare. Basic Energy cards have no rarity symbol.
• Scarlet and Violet sets added two black stars (Double Rare), two silver stars (Ultra Rare), and one, two, or three gold stars (Illustration, Special Illustration, and Hyper Rare).
• Mega Evolution sets added a gold star with a black border for Mega Hyper Rare and pink and green stars for Mega Attack Rare.
• A card numbered above the set's total, like 120/084, is a secret rare.
• The symbol shows how hard a card was to pull, not what it's worth. Always check sold prices.

What do the Pokemon rarity symbols mean?

Every card from a booster pack set has a rarity symbol in the bottom corner, beside the card number. Here's what each one means, per Bulbapedia's rarity page (Bulbapedia, Rarity):

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Common, uncommon, and rare

These three have been on cards since the first sets. Bulbapedia notes that every English booster pack has at least one rare and usually three uncommons, with commons filling the rest. Before Scarlet and Violet, a black star could be a plain rare or a holo rare; the star alone doesn't tell you which. Since Scarlet and Violet, every rare in a booster pack is holo.

The Scarlet and Violet stars

Scarlet and Violet changed the scale to match the Japanese one, but kept symbols instead of letters. Two black stars mark a Double Rare (a regular Pokemon ex). Two silver stars mark an Ultra Rare (full art Pokemon ex and Supporters). Gold stars mark the chase cards: one for an Illustration Rare, two for a Special Illustration Rare, and three for a Hyper Rare, usually a gold card.

Shiny, ACE SPEC, and Mega Evolution symbols

Shining Fates marked its Shiny Vault cards with a star and "SH." Paldean Fates used a single hollow gold star for Shiny Rare and two hollow gold stars for Shiny Ultra Rare. ACE SPEC cards carry a pink star. The Mega Evolution series added a gold star with a black border for Mega Hyper Rare, and pastel pink and green stars for Mega Attack Rare, the pop art style Mega cards.

Promos and Japanese cards

Promo cards have a black star promo mark in place of a rarity symbol. Japanese cards use letters instead of symbols (C for common, U for uncommon, R for rare, and so on), and a card's rarity can differ between Japanese and English releases.

Ultra rares before Scarlet and Violet

Before 2023, most ultra rare cards used the same black star as other rares and showed their status in the card itself. The name or frame tells you: Pokemon-ex in the EX era, LV.X in Diamond and Pearl, LEGEND and Prime in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Pokemon-EX and Mega Evolution in Black and White and XY, GX in Sun and Moon, and V, VMAX, and VSTAR in Sword and Shield. Full art and rainbow versions of those cards, often numbered above the set total, are the chase cards of their sets.

How do the holo patterns differ by era?

The holo pattern on a rare also tells you its era, which helps when the set symbol is worn. Bulbapedia lists the main patterns:

• Starlight: Base Set, Jungle, and Fossil, a pattern of stars of different sizes.
• Cosmos: most sets from Base Set 2 to Call of Legends, dots and circles. It's still used on many promos.
• Tinsel: the Black and White era, horizontal stripes.
• Sheen: XY to Steam Siege, light running diagonally across the art.
• Water-Web: Sun and Moon, a wave pattern.
• Vertical stripes: Sword and Shield to Crown Zenith.
• Mirage: Scarlet and Violet onward, with silver holo borders on holo rares.

A Cracked Ice pattern shows up on some theme deck and promo cards and a few secret rares, so it isn't tied to one era.

How do you tell if a Pokemon card is rare?

1. Find the symbol. It's at the bottom of the card, next to the card number.
2. Read the number. If the first number is bigger than the second, like 120/084, the card is a secret rare, printed outside the set's main list.
3. Look for holo and special printing. Holo artwork, full art, textured or gold cards, and stamps like 1st Edition all point to a scarcer card.
4. Check the era. Older sets used a single black star for every rare. A Gold Star card from 2004 to 2007 is marked with a small star after the Pokemon's name, and those cards are scarce; our rare Pokemon cards guide covers them.
5. Check sold prices. Search eBay sold listings or PriceCharting for the set and number. That's the only way to know what a rare card is worth.

Does a higher rarity always mean a higher price?

No. Higher rarities are harder to pull, so they're usually worth more, but demand decides the price. Pitch Black (July 2026) shows it well: the same Pokemon, Mega Darkrai ex, comes at four rarities, and the most expensive raw copy isn't the rarest symbol (PriceCharting, Pitch Black):

PriceCharting, October 2026. The Special Illustration Rare outsold the Mega Hyper Rare raw, while the Mega Hyper Rare led in PSA 10. Collectors pay for art and character as much as for the symbol. The Pitch Black card guide has the full price list.

Which Pokemon rarity symbols are worth checking first?

When you sort a stack of modern cards, pull these out first:

• Any gold star, one, two, or three.
• A gold star with a black border (Mega Hyper Rare).
• Any card numbered above the set total.
• Two silver stars (Ultra Rare) and the pink and green Mega Attack Rare stars.

For older cards, pull every holo star rare, every card with a 1st Edition stamp, and anything from Base Set without a drop shadow. The guides to 1st Edition Pokemon cards and shadowless cards explain those.

How can you keep track of what your rare cards are worth?

Sorting by symbol tells you which cards to look up. TCG Marquee keeps them priced: prices refresh every day for each card's printing and condition, and on the Pro plan for slabs by grading company and grade. You can add cards by scanning them with your phone.

What it doesn't do: it isn't a sales history archive, so for the individual sales behind a price, use eBay sold listings or PriceCharting. TCG Marquee is in open beta.

FAQ

What does the star on a Pokemon card mean?

One black star means rare. Two black stars mean Double Rare, two silver stars Ultra Rare, and one to three gold stars mean Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare, or Hyper Rare.

What is the rarest Pokemon rarity symbol?

In current sets, three gold stars (Hyper Rare) and the Mega Hyper Rare gold star with a black border are the hardest pulls. Rarity still isn't price: check sold listings for your card.

What does a diamond mean on a Pokemon card?

Uncommon. Most Trainer cards and many evolved Pokemon are uncommon, and most packs have three.

What does it mean if the card number is higher than the set total?

It's a secret rare, printed outside the set's main list, like Pitch Black's 120/084 Mega Darkrai ex. These are usually the scarcest cards in a set.

Do Japanese Pokemon cards use the same rarity symbols?

No. Japanese cards print letter codes instead of symbols, and the same card can have a different rarity in Japanese and English. Look up Japanese cards by their own set and number.