Pokemon Card Rarities Explained (Symbols + Pull Rates)

When the very first set of Pokémon cards came out in 1999, there were only 4 rarity types: Common, uncommon, rare and holo rare. Fast forward two and a half decades and 100+ sets, and the range of rarity types has expanded significantly.

Pokémon cards, from shiny holographic to super low pull-rate secret rares, come in a wide range of rarities, each adding to their value and desirability in the market. What makes one card more coveted than another? How do you identify a rare rare gem in your own collection? 

The thrill of discovering a super rare card in your booster packs never fades, whether you are a long-time collector/player or someone rediscovering the magic of Pokémon TCG, so let’s take the time to recognise the subtle differences in each rarity type.

The basic rarity types

The basic rarity types indicate how common or difficult it is to find a particular card in booster packs. Below is a breakdown of the 5 basic rarity types:

Common (●)

These are the most frequently found cards in any pack. They typically feature lower-powered Pokémon, and you’re likely to encounter many duplicates in a collection. Common cards are marked with a small black circle at the bottom of the card. 

Uncommon (◆)

Slightly harder to find than Common cards, Uncommon cards often feature more powerful Pokémon or useful Trainer cards. These are marked with a black diamond at the bottom of the card. 

Rare (★)

Rare cards are harder to obtain from booster packs and typically showcase stronger or fully evolved Pokémon. These cards are identified by a black star symbol at the bottom. However, the rare category is more complex than it seems, with over 10 different variants. These include double rare, ultra rare, hyper rare, special illustration rare, and many others, each with unique features and varying pull rates that affect their rarity. We’ll explore these variants in more detail later in the article.

Holo Rare (★H)

These are a step above regular rare cards, with the Pokémon’s image given a shiny, holographic effect. Holo Rares have the same black star symbol as Rares but are much more sought after due to their appearance and scarcity.

Promo (★Promo)

These cards are typically given away as part of special promotions, such as through pre-release events, tournaments, exclusive packaging, or collaborations with other brands. They are often used to promote specific Pokémon-related events, products, or even movies. These will not be found in single booster packs but are sometimes included in booster boxes.

Pokémon Rarity Chart

Foil Cards

Foil cards are special versions of regular cards that feature a shiny, reflective surface, making them more visually striking and often more valuable to collectors. 

Holofoil (Holographic) Cards

Holofoil cards are probably the most recognisable type of foil in the Pokémon TCG. The artwork on these cards features a subtle, reflective surface, making the Pokémon stand out against the standard card background. 

Take, for example, the Base Set Charizard. Its holographic treatment is a key reason why it remains one of the most sought-after cards in the game’s history.

Reverse Holofoil (Reverse Holographic) Cards:

Reverse holofoil cards, on the other hand, flip the script. These cards have a shiny effect on everything except the Pokémon artwork itself. It’s a different approach, offering a variation on traditional holofoil cards. 

A notable example might be the Reverse Holo Pikachu from the Sword & Shield series, where the background and borders shimmer while the artwork remains untouched.

Over the years, various sets have introduced different pattern designs, such as the Starlight pattern with starry sparkles or the Cosmos pattern featuring dots and circles. There’s also Tinsel, with its horizontal stripes, and the popular Cracked Ice effect that makes the card look like shattered glass.

Full Art Holofoil

Full Art Holos are highly collectible cards where the artwork covers the entire surface of the card. The holofoil effect is spread across the entire surface, and they are typically found in the rare or ultra-rare categories, including powerful cards like EX, GX, V, and Vmax. 

Because of their impressive artwork and rarity, they are prized by both collectors and competitive players. Examples of popular Full Art Holo cards include the Full Art Marnie Trainer and the Charizard GX Full Art.

The Rare Category

There are a total of 11 variants of rare Pokémon cards, each with different pull rates. The Pokémon Company has experimented a lot with different type of cards over the last decade. They sometimes retired a rarity type only to re-introduce it a few years later. It was hard to track for a while but they organised the rarity tier a lot better at the start of the Scarlet & Violet series. Here’s the breakdown:

Double Rare (RR)

In modern Pokémon TCG, double rare cards are a mid-level rarity that typically features a holographic Pokémon Ex. These cards often have dynamic artwork, but they are not full-art cards like some higher rarities.

Double Rare cards are marked with two black stars (★★) in the bottom left corner of the card.

Pull Rate:

The odds of getting a double rare card in your booster pack is about 16%, or 1 in every 6 packs!

Ultra Rare (UR)

They are a step up from standard Holo Rare and Double Rare cards, showcasing Pokémons or Trainers in full-art designs along with holographic effects and textured detailing on the card.

Ultra Rare cards are marked with two shiny foil stars in the bottom left corner of the card. On their Japanese counterparts, they are denoted with a “S”.

Pull Rate:

You have about a 6% chance of pulling an ultra rare card per pack, that’s an average of 1 in every 15 packs opened. 

Shiny Rare (SR)

Shiny Rare cards are special versions of Pokémon in their Shiny forms, which are alternate-colour variants of the regular Pokémon. The artwork on those cards focuses on the twinkling gold stars and a distinct white background which resemble the exciting moment of encountering a Shiny Pokémon in the Nintendo games.

Shiny Rare cards are typically indicated by one hollow golden star in the bottom left corner of the card. On their Japanese counterparts, they are denoted with a “SR”.

Pull Rate:

The odds for this type of card are higher than usual, at around 25%. On average, you should get 1 in 4 booster packs in the “Paldean Fates” set.

Shiny Ultra Rare (SUR)

In the Paldean Fates set, Shiny Ultra Rare cards are shiny versions of Ultra Rare cards. These cards feature shiny Pokémon on a white background, accented by golden holographic stars. Unlike Shiny Rares, Shiny Ultra Rares have a full-art design, and their collection number exceeds the official number of cards in the set. For example, Shiny Mew EX from Paldean Fates has a collection number of 261/091, classifying it as a Secret Rare.

Shiny Ultra Rare cards are typically indicated by two hollow golden stars in the bottom left corner of the card. On their Japanese counterparts, they are denoted with a “SSR”.

Pull Rate

The odds of finding a shiny ultra rare card in the ‘Paldean Fates’ Pokémon card set are approximately 1 in 13 booster packs. This translates to a 7.7% chance of pulling a shiny ultra rare from each individual pack.

Illustration Rare (IR, also known as alt art cards)

A new rarity level introduced in the Scarlet & Violet series, these cards showcase beautiful, full-art illustrations that often portray Pokémon in natural environments or involved in everyday activities. It’s great to see artists having the freedom to really express themselves through these designs. 

Illustration Rare cards are very popular not just for their rarity, but for their artistic value, making them a true highlight in any binder or display. These cards are also classified as Secret Rares, as their numbers exceed the official count of the collection

You can identify an Illustration Rare card by looking for a single gold star in the bottom left corner. On the Japanese versions, these cards are marked with an “AR” symbol instead.

Pull Rate:

The pull rate data from the latest Pokémon TCG set suggest that you can expect to find an illustration rare card every 13 booster packs, so there is about a 7.8% chance in each pack you open.

Special Illustration Rare (SIR)

Special Illustration Rare cards are considered the crown jewels of chase cards in the modern Pokémon Trading Card Game. While they are slightly less rare than Hyper Rare cards (which we will discuss in the next paragraph), they are often more sought after by collectors and tend to hold greater market value compared to any other rarity category.

The difference with Illustration Rares is that they feature pokémon ex, legendary pokémons or trainers. SIR cards usually have a more premium foil treatment. This can include special patterns, textures, or etching that make the card stand out even more. Their collection number also sits outside the official card count for the set so they qualify as “Secret Rares”.

You can identify a Special Illustration Rare card by looking for two gold stars in the bottom left corner. In the Japanese versions, these cards are marked with a “SAR” symbol instead.

Pull Rate:

In modern sets, Special Illustration Rare cards appear with a frequency of 1.11%, which equates to approximately 1 in 90 booster packs. This makes them the second most rare cards to pull in Pokémon TCG.

Hyper Rare (HR)

These cards feature a distinctive golden foil pattern that covers the entire card face, giving them a shimmering, prismatic appearance. Hyper Rares typically showcase full-art versions of powerful Pokémon-GX, Pokémon-V, Pokémon VMAX, as well as basic energy, items, or important Trainer cards. 

While the original artwork remains intact, all colours are replaced with the golden effect. I’ve always wondered why they chose this golden design, especially since many counterfeit Pokémon cards also use gold foil. That being said, Hyper Rares are among the rarest cards in a set, though not necessarily the most valuable as I don’t think many people relate to that style. That title belongs to SIR cards.

You can identify a Hyper Rare card by looking for three gold stars in the bottom left corner. On the Japanese versions, these cards are marked with a “UR” symbol instead.

Pull Rate:

In Stellar Crown, the pull rate for this type of card is about 1 for every 137 booster packs, that’s roughly a 0.7% chance of finding one when opening a pack. These are the smallest odds in the entire Pokémon TCG.

Amazing Rare

This special rarity tier was introduced in 2020 during the release of the “Vivid Voltage” set. It’s a very small set of cards, only 9 are available in total. You’ll notice that those cards are denoted with a white “A” with a multi-colored background printed on at the bottom left corner and their art style is very ‘artsy’ with the feature Pokémon being surrounded by a rainbow splash. Here’s the complete list: Celebi, Raikou, Zacian, Zamazenta, Jirachi, Rayquaza, Reshiram, Kyogre, and Yveltal. 

Another thing that makes these cards a little more unique is that they require a combination of different Energy types to use their powerful attacks, which makes deck-building around them a bit more complex but rewarding.

Pull Rate:

According to data compiled by /u/cardzardgaming, there is approximately a 5% chance of pulling an Amazing Rare card from a Vivid Voltage booster pack, equating to roughly 1 guaranteed Amazing Rare per 20 packs. However, the entire set of Amazing Rare cards can currently be purchased online for under $30. 

Despite their out-of-the-ordinary design, these cards haven’t gained the popularity that The Pokémon Company likely anticipated. It remains to be seen if this rarity type will make a return in the future. Stay tuned!

Rainbow Rare

Rainbow Rare Foil Cards are a subset of hyper rare cards and feature a vibrant rainbow-coloured holofoil effect that spans the entire surface of the card. First introduced in the Sun & Moon expansion series, they are considered the predecessors to the Golden Hyper Rare cards featured in the newest sets.

Ace Spec Cards (AS)

ACE SPEC Pokémon cards are a special kind of Trainer or Energy card introduced in the Black & White—Boundaries Crossed set. ACE SPEC cards often feature extremely powerful effects and that’s why you can only have one of them in your deck. 

You can easily identify ACE SPEC cards by their distinctive, vibrant pink-centred design, which makes them stand out among other Trainer cards. Additionally, their rarity is marked by a small pink star symbol on the bottom, left of the card. 

Pull Rate:

In Stellar Crown, the pull rate for this type of card is about 1 for every 20 booster packs, or about a 5% chance per opening.

Gallery Cards

Gallery cards are a special subset within the Ultra Rare category, identifiable by a single white star located in the bottom left corner of the card. These cards have gained significant popularity in the Pokémon community due to their unique design. 

Typically, Pokémon and Trainers appear on separate cards, but in Trainer Gallery cards, they are depicted together, creating a captivating and dynamic scene that highlights their connection. This distinctive feature has made Gallery cards a sought-after addition to any collection, celebrated for their unique artwork and the fun storytelling they bring to life.

Reverse Holo Master ball Cards

Initially introduced in Japan’s popular ‘151’ set, the reverse holos with a special Poké Ball pattern occasionally and very rarely featured a Master Ball design instead. This scarcity immediately captured the attention of collectors, elevating these cards to a chase rarity.

In the English “Prismatic Evolutions” set, this exciting feature continues. While standard reverse holos in the set showcase a Poké Ball pattern, a select number of non-holo Pokémon cards have a much rarer Master Ball patterned reverse holo counterpart. These special cards have been seeded into booster packs at a rate of approximately one per 20 packs, making them a thrilling find for any collector.

Unlike the Japanese ‘151’ set where Master Ball holos were guaranteed once per booster box, their appearance in “Prismatic Evolutions” packs is based on random chance, adding a new layer of excitement and rarity to the hunt.

Holo Swirl Cards

Before the release of the Diamond & Pearl series, holographic cards typically used the “Cosmo” pattern, characterised by a starry, cosmic design. Occasionally, this pattern included a swirl, which didn’t appear on every holo card, making those with a swirl more rare and sought after. 

Once hardcore collectors became aware of this, holo swirl cards became a coveted target. Even rarer are cards featuring two swirls! The Typhlosion card shown below, for instance, can sell for up to 40% more than the standard version.

First Edition Cards

During the early days of Pokémon card production, when Wizards of the Coast was still responsible for manufacturing, the first print run of each set was distinguished by a special marking. These initial cards were adorned with a black, circular “Edition 1” stamp, setting them apart from subsequent printings.

Needless to say, this unique identifier quickly caught the attention of collectors, leading to increased demand for these early cards. The scarcity and historical significance of first edition Pokémon cards are reflected in their typically high market values.

Shadowless cards

Whilst we are on the subject of vintage cards… In the collector’s market, shadowless cards are a highly prized variant exclusively found within the very first Pokémon Base Set. These cards are extremely rare cards because they lack a drop shadow around the bottom and right of the illustration box where the Pokémon is featured. 

This subtle difference distinguishes them from later re-print runs. Interestingly, many collectors speculate that shadowless cards resulted from an unintended printing variation, as the final design was meant to include the drop shadow to give more depth to the card’s design. This theory adds to their mystique and value.

Misprint / Miscuts / Misspelt / Error cards 

In recent years, there has been a decline in quality control due to increased demand, mass production pressures, and the more complex designs of modern card sets. As a result, it’s not uncommon to find error cards in packs, such as misprints, miscuts, spelling mistakes, or other production flaws. These cards are often considered exceptionally rare and highly sought after by hardcore collectors.

Anatomy of a Pokémon booster pack

Now that you know the different types of cards you can find in the Pokémon TCG, let’s break down what to expect in a standard English pack. Since the Scarlet & Violet series launch, each pack typically contains 10 cards. However, special sets or promotional packs, like Trick or Trade, may differ. 

Here’s the breakdown of rarities you’ll find in a standard pack:

• 4 Common cards.
• 3 Uncommon cards.
• 3 Foil cards: This includes 2 reverse holos (where the card’s background is shiny but the artwork remains normal and will usually be versions of common or uncommon cards) and 1 rare card with holographic artwork, also known as holo rare in the community.
• 1 Basic Energy card: Essential for playing the trading card game and for use in tournaments.
• 1 Code card: This can be redeemed online for a digital version of the cards or other in-game bonuses.

Can you get duplicate cards in a booster pack?

The Pokémom Company tries to minimise the chances of duplicates within a single pack to maintain excitement and variety. You might pull the same card as in you might get a common Pikachu as well as its reverse holo version in the same pack. This is less likely to happen with rarer cards, as those have stricter distribution rules within a pack.

What are the odds of getting rare cards in a booster pack?

Pull rates can be tricky to measure consistently, as we rely on data from collectors that tends to vary with each set. TCGPlayer typically releases their data on each new set when it’s launched. 

For instance, here’s what they discovered for the Stellar Crown set:

• Double Rare: 1 in 6 packs (17%)
• Ultra Rare: 1 in 15 packs (6.8%)
• ACE SPEC Rare: 1 in 20 packs (5%)
• Illustration Rare: 1 in 13 packs (7.8%)
• Special Illustration Rare: 1 in 90 packs (1.1%)
• Hyper Rare: 1 in 137 packs (0.73%)

What’s the rarest Pokémon card in the world?

The rarest card in the world is undoubtedly the PSA 10 Illustrator Pikachu, valued at an astounding $5,275,000. With only 41 known copies in existence, this card was originally awarded as a prize in the 1998 Pokémon Illustrator Contest. It features artwork by Atsuko Nishida, the original illustrator of Pikachu.

Does the rarity type of a card influence its market value?

While a card’s rarity type is a key factor in determining its market value, other aspects like card condition, the pull rate, the art and design of the card demand, and the popularity of the Pokémon or trainer featured will also play a role. 

It’s important to note that a card’s rarity tier doesn’t always guarantee a higher price—some special illustration rares, for instance, can be more expensive than hyper rares simply because the community prefers the artwork or design. Popularity and aesthetics can sometimes outweigh traditional rarity in determining value.

How to determine the value of my rare Pokémon cards

There are multiple sources you can use to find out how much your rare cards are worth. You could try to search for the card name in popular marketplaces like eBay, TCGPlayer or CardMarket. You may also want to submit a post on the PokemonCardValue subreddit which I like because people may also give you their feedback on whether or not the card is grading worthy! 

How do promotional cards fit into the rarity classification of Pokémon cards?

Promo cards are a little different than normal cards. Some may be quite common if they’re widely distributed, while others might be extremely rare due to limited production or distribution. It really depends on how they were distributed, how many were produced, the popularity of the Pokémon featured, and any special artwork or holographic effects. 

How do digital versions of Pokémon cards compare in rarity to physical cards?

Every physical card also exists in the digital version of the game. When you buy a real booster pack, you’ll receive a code card that unlocks a corresponding digital booster pack. The pull rate for rare cards in these digital packs is intended to mirror that of the physical packs. 

However, the game employs a credit system where players can earn credits by completing tasks and participating in gameplay. These credits can then be exchanged for specific cards, including the rarest ones typically found in booster packs. 

While this system offers convenience, it makes the acquisition of rare digital cards feel less rewarding. That being said, it draws a parallel with the real world where you can also purchase very rare cards if you have the financial means to do so!