Pokémon card rarity symbols explained
What the circle, diamond and star symbols on Pokémon cards mean, how card numbers reveal secret rares, and how to spot hits fast on stream.
Pokémon TCG5 min read
Every Pokémon card carries a small symbol in its bottom corner that tells you how rare it is. Knowing the symbols means you can tell a hit from a common at a glance, which is handy when you are opening packs on stream and chat wants to know what you pulled.
Where to find the symbol
Look at the bottom left of the card, next to the card number. You will see the set symbol or code, the card number, and the rarity symbol.
The rarity symbols
| Symbol | Rarity | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| ● Circle | Common | The most frequent cards in a pack. |
| ◆ Diamond | Uncommon | A few in every pack. |
| ★ One black star | Rare | At least one per pack, in the rare slot. |
| ★★ Two black stars | Double Rare | Often the “ex” cards in a set. |
| ★★ Two silver stars | Ultra Rare | Full-art cards of Pokémon or Trainers. |
| ★ One gold star | Illustration Rare | Full-card artwork, often of a regular Pokémon. |
| ★★ Two gold stars | Special Illustration Rare | Among the top chase cards of a set. |
| ★★★ Three gold stars | Hyper Rare | Gold cards, among the rarest in the set. |
The card number tells you something too
The number is written as the card's position over the size of the main set, for example 045/191. When the first number is higher than the second, such as 201/191, the card is a “secret” rare beyond the main set list, and these are usually the rarest cards of all.
Reverse holos
A reverse holo has shine everywhere except the artwork. It keeps the rarity symbol of the normal version, so a reverse holo common still shows a circle. Every pack includes at least one reverse holo.
Using this on stream
- Glance at the corner as you turn each card, so you can call out hits without looking them up.
- Before a stream, share the set's chase cards so viewers know which symbols to get excited about.
- Sleeve and top-load every gold-star card on camera, straight away.
For more terms, see our TCG stream glossary, and for products, Pokémon TCG products explained.
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