Pokémon card rarity list — all TCG rarities
The Pokémon TCG card rarity list runs from Common to SIR: on rateTCG, each tier (Ultra Rare, IR, Hyper Rare…) opens catalog cards, estimated pull rates and Amazon boxes from the same set. Symbol and set number are how you tell if a Pokémon card is rare.
Looking for a Pokémon card rarity list, a Pokémon rarity chart, or wondering how to know if a Pokémon card is rare? rateTCG groups cards by modern rarity tier (SIR, Ultra Rare, IR, Hyper Rare…). Open each category for examples, estimated pull rates, and Amazon boxes where those rarities appear.
8 rarity tiers
A Pokémon TCG rarity is how often a card appears in booster packs of an expansion. rateTCG groups the catalog by modern tiers (Double Rare through SIR); expectations on product pages are modeled by rateTCG, not an official The Pokémon Company sheet.
- Premium chase
SIR — Special Illustration Rare (rarity list)
Top tier on the Pokémon card rarity list: SIR cards with full-card artwork; values can exceed several hundred pounds or dollars.
SIRView rarity list → - Illustration
Illustration Rare (IR)
IR cards on the modern rarity chart: extended full-art illustrations, highly valued by collectors.
IRView rarity list → - Ultra Rare
Ultra Rare — premium rarity tier
Ultra Rare ex, V, VSTAR and GX cards — a core category in any Pokémon TCG rarity list.
URView rarity list → - Double Rare
Double Rare
Shiny ex and V cards with silver or gold accents. More common than Ultra Rare but still valuable.
RRView rarity list → - Hyper Rare
Hyper Rare
Distinctive textured gold style. Extremely rare and highly demanded by collectors.
HRView rarity list → - Mega Hyper
Mega Hyper Rare
Rarest tier in the Mega Evolution set. Extremely low pull rate.
MHRView rarity list → - ACE SPEC
ACE SPEC Rare
Powerful Trainer Item cards limited to one per deck. Exclusive to Prismatic Evolutions.
ACEView rarity list → - Rare
Rare (★) — base rare tier
Black-star Rare cards: the entry point on the Pokémon rarity chart for holo pulls in most packs.
★View rarity list →
Pokémon TCG rarities explained
Every Pokémon TCG card has a rarity symbol at the bottom (circle = Common, diamond = Uncommon, black star = Rare). Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet added modern Pokémon rarities: Double Rare, Ultra Rare, Illustration Rare (IR), Special Illustration Rare (SIR), Hyper Rare and Mega Hyper Rare.
Higher rarity means lower pull rate and usually higher resale value. Use our pull calculator to estimate how many packs you need for a target rarity in a specific set.
Pokémon rarity chart (modern TCG)
Use this Pokémon rarity chart as a quick reference — from most common chase slots to the scarcest hits in current sets:
- Common (●) / Uncommon (◆) — not usually called “rare” in collecting.
- Rare (★) — baseline rare slot in many packs.
- Double Rare — shiny ex/V style hits; fairly common in Scarlet & Violet era.
- Ultra Rare — full-art ex, V, VSTAR, GX; strong collector demand.
- Illustration Rare (IR) — extended art; less common than Ultra Rare.
- Special Illustration Rare (SIR) — top chase tier for many modern sets.
- Hyper Rare / Mega Hyper Rare — textured gold-style ultra-rare hits.
- ACE SPEC Rare — powerful Trainer cards (limited in Prismatic Evolutions and similar sets).
How to know if a Pokémon card is rare
To tell if a Pokémon card is rare, check the symbol at the bottom-right (or bottom-left on older prints) and the set number (e.g. 025/198). Holo, full-art and special illustration cards also show an English rarity label (Ultra Rare, SIR, etc.) — match it to our list above or open the card page on rateTCG.
- Black circle — Common (usually not a “rare” collector card).
- Black diamond — Uncommon.
- Black star — Rare (★): the classic rare tier in booster packs.
- Text on holo / full-art cards — Double Rare, Ultra Rare, IR, SIR, Hyper Rare (exact pool varies by set).
- Set code + number — confirms the expansion; the same artwork can exist in different rarities.
Explore further
Cards offers free search. Where to find points to boxes for a specific chase. Calculator and Pull rates help budget once you know the tier.
CardsWhere to findCalculatorPull ratesExpansions
Rarities aligned with the Pokémon TCG API (pokemontcg.io); pull rates estimated on rateTCG. pokemontcg.io ·
FAQ — Pokémon card rarity list
What is the Pokémon card rarity list?
It is every rarity tier in the TCG, from Common and Uncommon to Rare (★), Double Rare, Ultra Rare, Illustration Rare, SIR, Hyper Rare and set-specific types like ACE SPEC. This page links each tier to real cards in the rateTCG catalog.
Is there a Pokémon rarity chart for 2026?
Yes — see the chart section on this page for a top-to-bottom view of modern rarities. For exact pull odds, open a rarity category and check estimated rates per sealed product.
How do I know if a Pokémon card is rare?
Look at the rarity symbol and set number. If the card is holo or full-art, read the printed rarity name (e.g. Ultra Rare). Compare with our rarity blocks or the in-depth guide linked from this page.
What are the rarest Pokémon card rarities?
In modern sets, Special Illustration Rare (SIR), Hyper Rare and Mega Hyper Rare are among the scarcest. Pull rates vary by set — always check the specific expansion.
Are Pokémon rarities the same in every language?
Yes. The rarity level is identical on English, French, Spanish and Japanese cards; only the printed language changes. Symbols and set numbers are the standard way to compare cards worldwide.