Pokémon TCG: All Card Rarities Explained

As with other collectible card games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game assigns each of your cards a rarity, with each card’s availability in boosters decreasing as its rarity increases. Over time, the Pokémon TCGThe game’s rarity system has evolved to become more complicated, which can leave some people confused about the specific rarities of certain cards and what they mean. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to find out the rarity of any Pokémon card, and the system as it stands today can also be fully explained with few problems.

Rarity dictates much of how a collection of Pokémon cards is growing, and it is naturally much more difficult to obtain rarer cards without trading them or buying them directly on the secondary market. Furthermore, it is far from a coincidence that even the most recent Pokémon TCG Mandatory cards from sets often consist of rarer cards, with this higher rarity often tied to more impressive artwork and more powerful play potential. As such, a lot of time and effort can be invested in building a master collection of Pokémon TCG cards, especially as more and more exclusive cards are released.

Every Rarity in the Pokémon TCG

From common to hyper rare

The lower end of the Pokémon TCGThe rarity scale is also the most straightforward, starting with Common cards. Common cards make up a large part of any setrepresenting the most basic Pokémon. Uncommon cards feature evolved Pokémon and Trainer cards, while Rare cards feature particularly notable Pokémon, such as Legendaries. However, there are many other subcategories of Rare cards, each with their own defining characteristics. These cards are often among the most powerful cards in a given set, feature variant art, or both. The complete list of current rarities is as follows:

Each booster guarantees a card of at least base Rare rarity, meaning that the Rare subcategories (which can replace a booster’s Rare or Reverse Holo cards) are arguably the true prizes of any set. The last six of these subcategories are Secret Rare cards and exceed the official number of cards for their expansion. For example, if a set numbered its cards at 100, the Secret Rares list would start at card number 101. It should also be noted that both Shiny rarities are currently exclusive to Paldean Destinations expansion.

There are also some cards that fall outside the standard rarity scale. For example, Basic Energy cards have no rarity assigned to them. Additionally, Black Star Promos are promotional cards that exist separately from an expansion and as a result, they follow their own numbering system. However, they are released alongside expansions and are typically included as bonus cards with the purchase of some Pokémon TCG products. Notably, these exclusive cards can vary greatly, from cards that are nearly indistinguishable from regular cards to stunning Full Art cards.

How card rarity has changed over the years

More rarities were introduced over time

Originally, the Pokémon TCGThe rarity system was much more concise. Cards in original Basic set can be Common, Uncommon, Rare, or Rare Holofoil. Cards with holofoil treatment were naturally rarer than standard Rare cards, although as of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Series that makes all cards Rare Holos, this is naturally no longer the case. The introduction of Rare card subcategories is also strongly related to the introduction of more powerful Pokémon variants, most notably the Pokémon TCGvarious forms of Pokémon V.

It should be noted that Cards with their own unique mechanics have had their own designated special rarities in the pastvery similar to the Pokémon TCGthe company’s current series of ACE SPEC cards do. While all Pokémon V can be considered Ultra Rare, for example, they are more technically Holo Rare V, Holo Rare VMAX, and so on. With the standardization of rare holographic cards, the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet The series has simplified this into the current Ultra Rare rarity, as well as making several other changes.

As the last era of Pokémon TCG, the Scarlet and Violet The series aligned the rarity scale of the English version with the original Japanese version. Notably, Ultra Rare cards have been changed from denoting non-standard mechanics to the current range of Full Art Pokémon and Supporter cards. At the same time, the Double Rare rarity was also introduced to denote more basic, non-Full Art Pokémon ex cards, which previously would have fallen into the Ultra Rare category, as addressed in the Sword and Shield series.

Does rarity affect the value of cards?

Many factors determine the value of a Pokémon card

Naturally, the rarity of a card can play an important role in its value, with the most expensive Pokémon The cards are also typically among the rarest in any set. One can easily expect Secret Rares in particular to fetch a higher price than other cards, with prices typically rising in response to how rare that particular card is. However, some cards are priced higher not only because of their rarity, but also because of their theme; for example, the fan-favorite Pokémon Charizard appears on many valuable cards.

Ultimately, A card’s official rarity isn’t always a perfect indicator of how expensive it is on the secondary market. From attractive subject matter to vintage cards that fade over time and even misprints, there are many factors involved in determining which are the rarest. Pokémon cards, which in turn can greatly affect their value. However, a card’s official rarity can always provide a basis for determining value, especially for recent expansions that have not yet experienced the effects of time.

How to know the rarity of your Pokémon card

Clearly visible symbols make it easy to determine rarity

The rarity of a Pokémon TCG the card can be easily distinguished by the rarity symbol found at the bottom of the cardto the right of the card set number. The precise position of this symbol has changed over time, originally being found in the lower right corner. However, on modern cards it can be found along with other identifying information in the lower left corner of the card. Notably, in the case of promotional cards, this symbol is replaced by a black star superimposed with the word “PROMOTION.” All other current rarity symbols are as follows:

Of course, just as the rarity scale has changed over time, so have the symbols used. Most notably, before the Scarlet and Violet Series, Ultra Rare cards (such as Pokémon V) were indicated by white stars instead of the current two silver stars. However, this rarity symbol is not used on new cards, and as the TCG progresses, these older cards and their associated rarities will slowly stop being used in competitive environments.

The rarities of the cards Pokémon Trading Card Game They are much more numerous than they were when the game debuted, and the rarity system has been changed several times over the years. However, the basics of TCG rarities are as easy to understand as they’ve ever been, with an increasing level of rarity accompanied by clear defining symbols. As a result, identifying the rarity of any card in any set is very simple, to the point that people can tell when a card is a lucky find with just a glance.