Browse by rarity
Every Pokémon card rarity, ranked by total market value. Pick a rarity to see its most valuable cards.
Pokémon card rarity explained
Rarity is the single biggest clue to what a Pokémon card might be worth. It tells you how hard a card was to pull from a booster pack — and the harder it was, the higher its ceiling. This guide covers how to read a card's rarity, every modern rarity tier from common to grail, and why rarity alone never tells the whole story.
How to tell a card's rarity
Check the bottom corner of almost any English card for a small rarity symbol:
- ● Circle — Common
- ◆ Diamond — Uncommon
- ★ Star — Rare (a black star; a holographic finish makes it a Holo Rare)
- Higher set number than the total (e.g. #198/185) — a Secret Rare that sits beyond the main set
Modern sets layer extra tiers on top, signalled by the card's artwork and finish rather than a single symbol. Snap a card with our free scanner and it identifies the exact card, rarity and value for you.
Modern Pokémon card rarities, from common to grail
- Common & Uncommon — the bulk of every set; usually low value
- Rare & Holo Rare — one or two per pack; the holo foil lifts value
- Reverse Holo — a standard card with a shiny background pattern
- Ultra Rare — V, VMAX, VSTAR, ex and GX cards with bold full-card art
- Full Art & Illustration Rare — edge-to-edge artwork, harder to pull
- Special Illustration Rare — premium alt-art chase cards
- Secret Rare, Rainbow & Gold — the scarcest pulls, and often the most valuable
- Promo — special-release cards from events, boxes and tie-ins
Does rarity equal value?
Not on its own. Rarity sets a card's ceiling, but three other things decide where it lands: condition (a crisp card beats a scuffed one), grading (a PSA 10 can be worth many times the raw card), and demand (a popular Charizard outsells an obscure rare every time). Browse the most expensive Pokémon cards to see how the rarest and best-graded cards rise to the top.