Pokémon Card Rarity Symbols Explained: Circle, Diamond, Star and More
What the circle, diamond and star symbols on Pokémon cards mean, how modern rarities like Double Rare and Special Illustration Rare work, and how to spot secret rares.
Updated September 30, 2026
Every Pokémon card has a small rarity symbol printed next to its card number at the bottom. It tells you how often the card appears in booster packs. Here is what each symbol means.
The three basic symbols
| Symbol | Rarity | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ● Circle | Common | Several in every pack. |
| ◆ Diamond | Uncommon | A few per pack. |
| ★ Star | Rare | At least one rare or better in most packs. Holo rares also use a star, with shiny artwork. |
Modern rarities (Scarlet and Violet era)
Newer sets use extra stars and colors to show special cards:
| Symbol | Rarity |
|---|---|
| One black star | Rare |
| Two black stars | Double Rare (for example Pokémon ex) |
| One gold star | Illustration Rare |
| Two silver stars | Ultra Rare (full art cards) |
| Two gold stars | Special Illustration Rare |
| Three gold stars | Hyper Rare (gold cards) |
Some special sets add their own rarities, like shiny cards. The popular 151 set, for example, includes Special Illustration Rares such as Charizard ex 199/165.
Pikachu
58/102 · Base Set
$12.88
Charizard ex
199/165 · 151
$354.07
Charizard ex
223/197 · Obsidian Flames
$99.38
Umbreon VMAX
215/203 · Evolving Skies
$2,214.79
Live market prices, updated daily. Tap a card for all versions and its price history.
Secret rares: check the card number
If the first number is higher than the second, like 215/203, the card is a secret rare: it is numbered beyond the main set. A famous example is Umbreon VMAX 215/203 from Evolving Skies. Older sets often used a plain star for secret rares, so the number is the best clue.
Promo cards
Promo cards come from special products, events or boxes instead of regular booster packs. They show a black star with the word PROMO and a promo number instead of a normal rarity symbol.
What rarity symbols do not tell you
- Finish: the same card can come as a normal, holo or reverse holo version. Reverse holo cards have a shiny card surface but normal artwork, and they are priced separately.
- Edition: the 1st Edition stamp on early cards is not a rarity symbol, but it changes the value a lot. See 1st Edition vs Shadowless.
- Value: a higher rarity usually means a higher price, but popularity and condition matter just as much. A popular rare can be worth more than an unpopular ultra rare.
The fastest way to know what you have is to scan your cards. You will see the exact card, its set and its current price.
