Pokémon Card Rarity Symbols: Chart of Every Symbol

• 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.

Pokémon card rarity symbols are printed in the bottom-left or bottom-right corner, next to the card number. As CGC lists them (article updated March 26, 2026):

• Black circle: common
• Black diamond: uncommon
• Black star: rare
• Black star with the word PROMO: promo card, often given away at events
• Two black stars: double rare
• Two silver stars: ultra rare
• One gold star: illustration rare
• Two gold stars: special illustration rare
• Three gold stars: hyper rare
• Two pastel stars, one pink and one green: Mega Attack cards, introduced in January 2026 with the Ascended Heroes set

CGC says the five star-count symbols were added with the Scarlet & Violet expansion to end confusion between official rarities and fan-dubbed ones. In the Mega Evolution era, CGC describes Mega Hyper Rare cards as fully embossed in gold, with pull rates as low as 1 in 1,260 packs.

• Holo: the foil shine sits only inside the art box (CGC).
• Reverse holo: the foil covers the whole card except the art box (CGC). Since Scarlet & Violet, each pack holds one holo and two reverse holos (Wikipedia).
• Secret rare: the card number is higher than the set's printed total, such as 110/108; CGC calls these the rarest cards in a set.
• Japanese cards: letters instead of shapes, C, U, R, RR, SR and UR from lowest to highest (Wikipedia). The first 1996 Japanese Base Set print has no rarity mark at all. See our Japanese card value page.

It sets a starting point, but print and grade move the price far more. Three cards from PriceCharting (2026-09-25) show it:

• Same symbol, different print: Base Set Charizard carries the same rare star in every print, yet it is $436.95 raw as Unlimited and $9,526.88 as 1st Edition.
• Same card, different grade: Evolutions Nidoking holo is $4.99 raw and $4,444.98 in PSA 10.
• Stamp beats symbol: the regular Evolutions Charizard is $69.99 raw; the same card with a prerelease staff stamp is $1,500.

Use the symbol to find the card's rarity tier, then check the print, any stamps and the condition before looking up a price. Our Pokémon card value guide walks through the steps.