Understanding Pokemon Card Rarity
Rarity is the foundation of Pokemon card value. But the rarity system has grown increasingly complex over the years, with special treatments, alternate arts, and secret rares that go far beyond the basic common/uncommon/rare system. Here's everything you need to know.
Basic Rarity Symbols
Every Pokemon card has a rarity symbol at the bottom right:
- Circle: Common — The most basic cards, typically energy and basic Pokemon
- Diamond: Uncommon — Slightly harder to pull, includes many Stage 1 Pokemon and basic trainers
- Star: Rare — The baseline "rare" tier, includes holo cards and many ex/V/VSTAR Pokemon
Ultra Rare and Beyond
Beyond the basic star rare, there's an entire hierarchy of higher rarities:
Holo Rare
Standard rare cards with holographic artwork. The holofoil covers the picture box. Still relatively common in modern sets — roughly 1 in 3 packs contains a holo rare.
Full Art
Cards where the artwork extends to the edges with no border. These have a textured, premium feel. Full art Pokemon ex and trainer cards are major chase cards.
Ultra Rare
A catch-all term for cards above standard rare. Includes full art, secret rare, and special treatment cards. Identified by a silver or special rarity symbol.
Secret Rare
Cards numbered above the official set count (e.g., card 201/200). These include rainbow rare (full rainbow holofoil), gold rare (metallic gold), and special treatments. Very low pull rates.
Alternate Art (Alt Art)
Unique artwork variants of standard cards, often with different illustrations showing personality or story moments. These are the most sought-after modern cards and have extremely low pull rates — often 1 in 300-600 packs depending on the card.
Special Illustration Rare (SIR)
The Scarlet & Violet era's equivalent of alt arts. Stunning full-art illustrations with premium foil treatments. These define modern chase cards.
Pull Rates Explained
Pull rates tell you how likely you are to open a specific rarity in a pack:
- Common: 3-4 per pack
- Uncommon: 2-3 per pack
- Rare (Holo): 1 in 3 packs
- Ultra Rare (Full Art): 1 in 12-20 packs
- Secret Rare: 1 in 40-80 packs
- Alt Art / SIR: 1 in 100-600 packs (varies by card)
These rates vary by set. Some sets have better pull rates than others.
Rarity vs. Value
Higher rarity generally means higher value, but it's not a perfect correlation. A rare Charizard can be worth more than a secret rare from a less popular set. Value depends on:
- The Pokemon (Charizard > random Pokemon)
- The artwork quality
- The set's popularity
- Supply (how many were printed)
- Meta relevance for competitive play
Set Symbols and Identification
Each Pokemon TCG set has a unique symbol shown at the bottom of every card. This is essential for identifying which set a card is from. Browse all sets and their symbols on PokemonHunter's set pages.
Learn more about card values in our price guide article and find the most valuable cards of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the star mean on a Pokemon card?
A star symbol indicates a rare card. This is the baseline rare tier. Cards can be rarer than this (ultra rare, secret rare, alt art), but they all start with the star designation.
What is the rarest Pokemon card rarity?
Special Illustration Rare (SIR) and Alternate Art cards are the rarest standard pulls, with rates as low as 1 in 600 packs. Beyond that, promo cards with limited distribution (like the Illustrator Pikachu with only 39 copies) are the rarest of all.
Are reverse holo cards rare?
Reverse holo (where everything except the artwork is holographic) is relatively common — you typically get one per pack. They're "rare" in the technical sense but not valuable unless it's a popular Pokemon.
What's the difference between ultra rare and secret rare?
Ultra rare is a broad category for premium cards above standard rare. Secret rares are a specific type of ultra rare that are numbered above the set's official count (e.g., 203/198). Secret rares typically have rainbow or gold foil treatments.