Pokémon card rarity symbols explained for kids
Look at the bottom of any new Pokémon card, next to the card number. You'll see a small symbol. That symbol tells you how rare the card is.
| Rarity | What it means |
|---|---|
| Common | The easiest cards to find. Look for a small circle near the card number. |
| Uncommon | A little harder to find. They have a diamond shape near the number. |
| Rare | Marked with a black star. Most packs have at least one rare card. |
| Double Rare | Two black stars. These are usually the big “ex” Pokémon cards. |
| Ultra Rare | Two silver stars. The picture often fills the whole card. |
| Illustration Rare | One gold star. These show a Pokémon in a beautiful scene, like a painting. |
| Special Illustration Rare | Two gold stars. Big, detailed pictures of the most powerful Pokémon and characters — some of the hardest cards to pull. |
| Hyper Rare | Three gold stars. Shiny gold cards, and one of the rarest kinds in a set. |
| ACE SPEC Rare | Special Trainer cards with an ACE SPEC label. You can only put one ACE SPEC card in a deck. |
| Shiny Rare | Shiny Pokémon — the same Pokémon in different, rare colours. |
| Mega Hyper Rare | The top rarity of the Mega Evolution sets. Very hard to find! |
Is a secret card one with a big number?
Yes! If the first number is bigger than the second, like 180/165, the card is a “secret rare”. These cards come after the main set and are harder to find.
Rare doesn't always mean valuable
A card can be rare and still not be anybody's favourite. The best card in your collection is the one you love most.
Young collectors: always ask a parent or carer before buying cards, trading online or sharing anything about yourself on the internet.