The small symbol next to the card number tells you a Pokémon card’s rarity within its set. A black circle is Common, a black diamond is Uncommon and a black star is Rare. From the Scarlet & Violet Series onwards, extra star symbols mark the higher rarities: two black stars, two silver stars, and one, two or three gold stars, according to The Pokémon Company’s guide to the Scarlet & Violet card changes.
The Mega Evolution Series added one more tier on top, the Mega Hyper Rare. Here is how to read each symbol on a current English card and how to double-check it.
Pokémon card rarity symbols at a glance
This table covers the symbols used on English Pokémon TCG cards from the Scarlet & Violet Series and the current Mega Evolution Series.
| Symbol | Rarity | What you usually find there |
|---|---|---|
| Black circle | Common | Everyday Pokémon, Trainer and Energy cards |
| Black diamond | Uncommon | Slightly harder cards to find in packs |
| One black star | Rare | Rare cards in the main set list |
| Two black stars | Double Rare | Pokémon ex in their standard frame |
| Two silver stars | Ultra Rare | Full-art foil Pokémon ex and some Supporters |
| One gold star | Illustration Rare | Full-art alternate art of regular Pokémon |
| Two gold stars | Special Illustration Rare | Full-art alternate art of Pokémon ex or Supporters |
| Three gold stars | Hyper Rare | Full-art foil cards with gilded borders and accents |
| Gold star with a black outline | Mega Hyper Rare | Gold-etched Mega Evolution Pokémon ex |
Colour matters more than the number of stars. Two black stars (Double Rare) and two gold stars (Special Illustration Rare) are very different cards, so look closely at the colour before anything else.
Where to find the rarity symbol on a card
On current English cards the rarity symbol sits at the bottom of the card, next to the collector number, such as 160/132. The first number is the card’s place in the set and the second is the size of the main set list. A card numbered higher than the set total is part of the extra cards beyond the main list: the official Pokémon TCG card database entry for Mega Lucario ex 188/132 lists that card as a Mega Hyper Rare.
On parallel foil cards from the Scarlet & Violet Series, The Pokémon Company says the expansion code box is white with black text instead of black with white text, which helps you tell a parallel foil apart from the regular print.
Common, Uncommon and Rare: the black symbols
The three solid black symbols have not changed with the new series. The Pokémon Company says they still mark rarity for many types of cards in an expansion, including parallel foil cards. In other words, a shiny parallel foil version of a Common card still carries a black circle.
Double Rare and Ultra Rare
Double Rare (two black stars)
Double Rare is where you will find Pokémon ex in their standard frame, including Tera Pokémon ex in the Scarlet & Violet Series. These cards have a foil border with a star-like sheen, according to The Pokémon Company.
Ultra Rare (two silver stars)
Ultra Rare covers full-art foil versions of Pokémon ex and some Supporter cards. The Pokémon Company’s Mega Evolution launch press release (26 September 2025) adds that the Mega Evolution expansion brought a new Ultra Rare art style for Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, which may show a silhouette of the regular Pokémon, and introduced Ultra Rare Item, Stadium and Pokémon Tool cards for the first time.
Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare and Hyper Rare
Illustration Rare (one gold star)
Illustration Rares are alternate-art versions of Common, Uncommon and Rare Pokémon, drawn as full-art foil scenes that often show the Pokémon’s personality or surroundings. Collectors often call them “alt arts”.
Special Illustration Rare (two gold stars)
Special Illustration Rares do the same for Pokémon ex and Supporter cards: full-art foil illustrations built around the character.
Hyper Rare (three gold stars)
Hyper Rares were previously known as secret rares. The Pokémon Company describes them as full-art foil cards with gilded borders and accents.
Mega Hyper Rare: the newest tier
Mega Hyper Rare arrived with the Mega Evolution expansion, the first English set of the Mega Evolution Series, released on 26 September 2025. The official card database lists Mega Lucario ex 188/132 at this rarity. These are gold-etched cards of Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, and CGC’s rarity symbol guide describes their symbol as a gold star ringed in black.
The tier has continued in later sets. The Pokémon Company’s Mega Evolution: Pitch Black product showcase confirms a Mega Hyper Rare card featuring Mega Darkrai ex in that expansion, released on 17 July 2026. Check the official card list for each set rather than assuming every expansion has one.
Japanese and Asian-language cards
Japanese and other Asian-language Pokémon cards are separate releases with their own set names, card numbers and rarity markings, and a card’s rarity can differ between editions. Use the card search for the edition you hold: pokemon-card.com for Japanese cards, the Asia card search for English cards sold in Singapore and the region, and the Pokémon TCG card database for international English cards.
How to use rarity when you collect or trade
- Read the colour of the stars first, then count them.
- Check the collector number against the official card database for that edition. The number, rarity and illustrator should all match.
- Remember that rarity is about the print, not the Pokémon. The same Pokémon can appear as a Double Rare, an Ultra Rare and a Special Illustration Rare in one set.
- Look after condition as well as rarity. Our trading card condition guide explains NM, LP and MP.
The Pokémon Company does not publish pull rates for these rarities, so we won’t guess them.
FAQs
What do the stars on a Pokémon card mean?
Stars show rarity within the set. One black star is Rare, two black stars Double Rare and two silver stars Ultra Rare. Gold stars mark the alternate-art and premium tiers: one for Illustration Rare, two for Special Illustration Rare and three for Hyper Rare. A gold star outlined in black marks a Mega Hyper Rare in the Mega Evolution Series.
What is a Mega Hyper Rare Pokémon card?
A Mega Hyper Rare is the newest Pokémon TCG rarity, marked with a gold star outlined in black. It debuted in the Mega Evolution expansion in September 2025 with gold-etched Mega Evolution Pokémon ex such as Mega Lucario ex 188/132. The Pokémon Company does not publish pull rates, so the printed rarity is the reliable guide, not a guessed number per box.
What is the difference between an Illustration Rare and a Special Illustration Rare?
Both are full-art foil alternate-art cards. An Illustration Rare, marked with one gold star, shows a regular Common, Uncommon or Rare Pokémon in a full scene. A Special Illustration Rare, marked with two gold stars, does the same for Pokémon ex and Supporter cards. Check the star count and colour beside the card number to tell them apart.
Are Hyper Rares the same as secret rares?
Yes, in practice. The Pokémon Company says Hyper Rare cards were previously known as secret rares. In the Scarlet & Violet and Mega Evolution Series, they carry three gold stars and are full-art foil cards with gilded borders and accents. To confirm a card’s rarity, look it up by collector number in the official Pokémon TCG card database.
Do Japanese Pokémon cards use the same rarity symbols?
Not always. Japanese and other Asian-language cards are separate releases with their own set names, card numbers and rarity markings, and a card’s rarity can differ between editions. To check a Japanese card, use the official card search on pokemon-card.com. For English cards released in Asia, use the Asia card search on asia.pokemon-card.com.