The complete Pokemon TCG rarity system decoded, from Common to Secret Rare and everything in between.
Last updated: 2026-06-03
Every Pokemon TCG card has a base rarity level indicated by a symbol on the card. Common cards are marked with a black or white circle and are the most frequently pulled cards in any set. They include Basic Pokemon and basic Trainer cards. Uncommon cards have a black or white diamond symbol. They include mid-tier Pokemon, evolution cards, and most Trainer cards. Rare cards have a black or white star symbol. They include fully evolved Pokemon, powerful Trainer cards, and most Special Energy cards. In the Black and White and XY eras, Rares had no foil treatment by default. In the Sun and Moon era, all Rares became Holofoil by default. The distribution in a typical pack is roughly 7 Common, 3 Uncommon, and 1 Rare or better (in the 10-card format).
Holofoil cards have a reflective foil pattern covering the card artwork. In early sets, Holofoil was exclusive to Rare cards and indicated the most desirable pulls. Modern sets guarantee at least one Holofoil or better per pack, either as a standard Holofoil Rare or a Reverse Holofoil card. Reverse Holofoil cards have the standard card art but a foil pattern on the card frame and text box. The Reverse Holofoil slot has replaced the Uncommon slot in modern packs, meaning every pack contains one Reverse Holofoil of any rarity from Commons to Ultra Rares. Reverse Holofoil cards are collectible but typically less valuable than their standard Holofoil counterparts. Some collectors prioritize completing Reverse Holofoil master sets, which require collecting every card in both normal and Reverse Holofoil versions.
Ultra Rare cards are the primary chase cards in modern Pokemon TCG sets. They have textured foil patterns and feature specific Pokemon types. In the Black and White era, Ultra Rares were Full Art versions of Supporter cards and EX Pokemon. In the XY era, Mega Evolution Full Arts and Mega Evolution Secret Rares expanded the category. The Sun and Moon era introduced Rainbow Rare Full Arts with multicolored foil. The Sword and Shield era brought Alternate Art cards with full-illustration artwork that extends to the card frame, making them among the most sought-after cards in the hobby. The Scarlet and Violet era features Gold Rare Pokemon ex, Special Illustration Rares (full-illustration Pokemon ex), and Hyper Rare Gold cards. Ultra Rares typically have pull rates of 1 in 6-8 packs, with Alternate Arts and Special Illustration Rares being significantly rarer at 1 in 40-80 packs.
Secret Rare cards have a card number higher than the set's official total. For example, a set with 200 cards might have Secret Rares numbered 201-220. Secret Rares in the Black and White era included Shiny Pokemon (Shiny Rare category) and Gold Star cards. The XY era introduced Gold Secret Rare items and Energy cards. The Sun and Moon era expanded Secret Rares with Gold borders, Rainbow Rare versions of GX and Tag Team cards, and Gold Trainer cards. The Sword and Shield era introduced Gold VSTAR, Gold VMAX, and Radiant Secret Rares. The Scarlet and Violet era features Gold Hyper Rare Pokemon ex and gold item cards. Secret Rares are the rarest cards in each set, with typical pull rates of 1 in 20-40 packs. Some special sets like Hidden Fates and Shining Fates have higher Secret Rare pull rates of 1 in 10-15 packs.
Each Pokemon TCG era introduced unique rarity types. The Wizards era (Base Set through Skyridge) had only Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Holofoil Rare, though promo cards and 1st Edition stamps created their own rarity categories. The EX era introduced ex Pokemon with full-art foil. The Diamond and Pearl era introduced LV.X with textured foil. The Platinum era added Arceus cards. The HGSS era brought LEGEND cards (two-piece cards that combine to form a complete image). The Black and White era introduced Full Art EX and Full Art Supporter cards. The XY era added Mega Evolution, BREAK evolution, and the first Secret Rare Energy cards. The Sun and Moon era brought GX, Tag Team, Rainbow Rare, and the first Alternate Art cards. The Sword and Shield era expanded with VMAX, VSTAR, Radiant, Trainer Gallery, Galarian Gallery, and Character Rare cards. The Scarlet and Violet era introduced Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and Hyper Rares.
Card grading significantly affects a card's value. Professional grading services like PSA, Beckett (BGS), and CGC evaluate cards on a 1-10 scale based on centering, corners, edges, and surface condition. A PSA 10 (Gem Mint) card can be worth 3-10 times the raw (ungraded) value for modern cards, and 10-50 times for vintage cards. Key factors for grading eligibility include no scratches on the Holofoil, perfect centering (60/40 or better), sharp corners with no whitening, and no print lines. Cards for grading should be immediately sleeved and top-loaded upon pulling. Common cards worth grading include high-value Vintage Holos (Charizard Base Set, 1st Edition cards), modern Alternate Arts, and rare Secret Rares. PSA population reports show how many copies of each card have been graded, with lower populations generally indicating higher scarcity for high-grade copies.
Rarity symbols are located at the bottom right of the card, near the set number. Circle = Common, Diamond = Uncommon, Star = Rare. A black or white star means Rare, while a star with a Holofoil pattern or additional formatting indicates better rarity. In modern sets, Ultra Rares have a distinct card number format (e.g., 150/100 for Secret Rares). The set abbreviation and card number are printed below the card art. In the Scarlet and Violet era, rarity categories are also indicated on the card by the card border color: silver borders for standard, black borders for ex Pokemon, and gold borders for Hyper Rares. Understanding rarity symbols helps when price-checking cards, building collections, and evaluating trade value. Online reference sites like Bulbapedia maintain complete rarity guides for every set.
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