Have you ever opened a Pokémon booster pack, spotted a shiny card and immediately wondered how rare it was?
You are definitely not alone.
When you first begin collecting Pokémon cards, terms such as Double Rare, Illustration Rare and Hyper Rare can make the hobby feel much more complicated than it needs to be. Fortunately, every card contains small clues that can help you understand what you have found.
One of the most useful clues is the rarity symbol near the bottom of the card.
In this guide, we will look at the rarity symbols used on English-language Scarlet & Violet-era Pokémon cards, what each one means and why rarity is only one part of what can make a card special.
A quick note before we begin: Pokémon rarity systems have changed over time. Older sets and cards released in different languages or regions may not follow exactly the same system described here.
Where is the rarity symbol?
On modern English Pokémon cards, look near the bottom-left corner of the card.
Alongside information such as the expansion code and collector number, you should find a small symbol or cluster of symbols. Depending on the card, this might be a circle, a diamond, a black star, foil stars or gold stars.
Do not worry if it looks tiny. Once you know where to look, checking the rarity symbol quickly becomes part of the fun of opening and sorting cards.
The three classic rarity symbols
Let’s begin with the symbols most collectors encounter regularly.
Circle: Common
A circle represents a Common card.
Common cards make up a large part of most sets and booster-pack openings. They may not be difficult to find, but they can still feature wonderful artwork, useful attacks or a Pokémon that holds a special place in your collection.
A card does not need to be expensive or difficult to pull to be worth keeping.
Diamond: Uncommon
A diamond represents an Uncommon card.
As the name suggests, these appear less frequently than Common cards. Evolution cards and Trainer cards are often found at this level, although the exact contents vary from set to set.
Black star: Rare
A single solid black star represents a Rare card.
This is where many new collectors begin to feel that extra flicker of excitement while sorting through a pack. A Rare card may feature a memorable Pokémon or an important addition to a set, although the rarity symbol alone does not guarantee that the card will be shiny or especially valuable.
The circle, diamond and solid black star continue to represent Common, Uncommon and Rare cards in the Scarlet & Violet rarity system. [pokemon.com]
Understanding the higher Scarlet & Violet rarities
The Scarlet & Violet series expanded the system with several additional rarity categories. Instead of relying only on one symbol, these cards use different combinations and finishes of stars.
Two black stars: Double Rare
Two solid black stars represent a Double Rare card.
In the Scarlet & Violet series, this category is used for Pokémon ex, including Tera Pokémon ex. [pokemon.com]
These are exciting pulls, particularly for collectors who enjoy powerful Pokémon, striking card designs or building decks around Pokémon ex.
Two foil stars: Ultra Rare
Two shiny foil stars represent an Ultra Rare card.
This category includes more exclusive full-art foil versions of Pokémon ex and certain Supporter cards. [pokemon.com]
Full-art cards usually allow the illustration to take over much more of the card, making them popular with collectors who prioritise artwork and visual presentation.
One gold star: Illustration Rare
One shiny gold star represents an Illustration Rare card.
Illustration Rares are alternate-art versions of Common, Uncommon or Rare Pokémon. They use full-card foil illustrations that can show the Pokémon’s personality, surroundings or a small moment from its world. [pokemon.com]
For collectors who choose cards because of their artwork, this can be one of the most enjoyable parts of a modern expansion.
An Illustration Rare does not simply show you what a Pokémon looks like. The artwork can make the Pokémon feel like part of a much larger scene.
Two gold stars: Special Illustration Rare
Two shiny gold stars represent a Special Illustration Rare card.
These are alternate-art cards featuring Pokémon ex or Supporter cards. Like Illustration Rares, they use detailed full-card foil illustrations designed to highlight the character and its environment. [pokemon.com]
These are often the cards people are hoping to see when they slowly reveal the final card in a booster pack.
Three gold stars: Hyper Rare
Three shiny gold stars represent a Hyper Rare card.
The official Scarlet & Violet rarity guide describes Hyper Rares as full-art foil cards with gilded borders and accents. It also explains that cards in this category were previously known as Secret Rares. [pokemon.com]
They are immediately recognisable when you see them, thanks to their dramatic gold presentation.
What about reverse holo or parallel foil cards?
This is where things can become slightly confusing.
A card can have a foil pattern while still retaining its normal rarity symbol. In the Scarlet & Violet series, these are described as parallel foil cards. The foil pattern surrounds the card artwork, and the expansion-code box changes from a black box with white text to a white box with black text. [pokemon.com]
That means a shiny finish does not automatically place a card in one of the higher star-based rarity categories.
When identifying a card, consider both:
the rarity symbol;
the foil treatment;
the collector number;
the expansion code;
and the overall card design.
These details work together to identify the exact printing you have.
Does a higher rarity mean a more valuable card?
Not automatically.
Rarity describes how the card is categorised within its expansion, but it does not tell the entire story. A card’s desirability can also be affected by factors such as:
the featured Pokémon or character;
the popularity of the artwork;
the card’s condition;
its usefulness in the game;
demand from collectors;
and how easily copies are available.
It is better to think of the rarity symbol as an identification tool, not a guaranteed price tag.
If you want to investigate a card further, start by checking its Pokémon name, expansion code and collector number. Those details will help you make sure you are researching the correct card rather than a similar-looking version.
Rarity versus personal value
One of the best things about collecting Pokémon cards is that there is no single correct way to build a collection.
A three-gold-star Hyper Rare may be an incredible pull, but a Common Eevee can still be more meaningful if it fills an empty space in your collection, has artwork you love or reminds you of a particular opening.
For a collection journey based on finding every Pokémon or every version of a favourite Pokémon, even the simplest card can represent real progress.
The rarity symbol tells you how the card is classified.
You decide what makes it special.
A quick rarity-symbol checklist
When you examine a Scarlet & Violet-era English card, use this quick guide:
Circle: Common
Diamond: Uncommon
One black star: Rare
Two black stars: Double Rare
Two foil stars: Ultra Rare
One gold star: Illustration Rare
Two gold stars: Special Illustration Rare
Three gold stars: Hyper Rare
These symbols and categories are set out in the official explanation of the Scarlet & Violet card redesign. [pokemon.com]
Final thoughts
Learning the rarity symbols makes opening, sorting and cataloguing Pokémon cards much easier, but it can also make the experience more engaging.
The next time you open a booster pack, try not to rush straight to the shiniest card. Look at the symbols, check the collector numbers and see how the cards have been classified.
You might discover that the smallest mark on the card tells you something new about your pull.
And remember: the rarest card in your collection does not have to be your favourite.
Join the conversation
Pick up the nearest Pokémon card and look near the bottom-left corner.
Which rarity symbol can you see, and is that card part of one of your collecting goals?
