Rarity Symbols on Pokémon Cards: How to Read Them

• A circle symbol = Common
• A diamond symbol = Uncommon
• A star symbol = Rare
• A star with the word 'PROMO' = a promo card
• Bulbapedia's own description of the three basic rarity tiers matches CGC's
• Reverse Holo: the holofoil effect covers the entire card face except the artwork box
• Regular Holo: the holofoil effect appears only inside the artwork box
• Secret Rare: the card number is higher than the set's printed total
• Double Rare (a new tier added for ex cards): introduced in Scarlet & Violet
• Illustration Rare
• Hyper Rare
• ACE SPEC Rare: a deck can only include one card of this rarity

• Regulation mark letters (D/E/F/G/H): The regulation mark is a letter indicating tournament legality, not a rarity symbol; rarity symbols sit near the card number in the bottom right/left corner and take the form of a circle, diamond, or star.

The circle/diamond/star basic rarity symbol system has been used continuously since Base Set in 1999; starting with Scarlet & Violet (2023), several additional 'star-count' rarity tiers were added on top of it (Double Rare, Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare, Ultra Rare, Hyper Rare, and others).

• Bottom-left or bottom-right corner: the set symbol and the collector number (e.g. 4/102) tell you the set; older cards have no symbol at all, which itself narrows them to Base Set.
• Left of the number: a 1st Edition stamp, if present, sits below the art on WOTC-era cards.
• Regulation mark (a letter in a box near the bottom, D through H so far) dates modern cards to a two-year window.
• Back of the card: the blue Poké Ball back has changed little since 1999; a washed-out, blurry or wrongly colored back is the first sign of a fake.

Lay the card flat on a dark surface in daylight, straight on, with the whole card in frame, then a close-up of the bottom edge where the set symbol, number and any edition stamp sit. Tilt holo cards under the light for a second shot to show the foil pattern. Photograph the back too. The app reads the card and set; the edition and rarity checks above tell you which version you have.