03/11/2026
For those of you wanting to get into Pokémon cards, here’s a quick cheat sheet that will save you a ton of time and confusion.
Most people ripping packs have no idea what the rarity symbols actually mean. They just see shiny cards and assume they’re valuable.
But the truth is, rarity matters a lot when it comes to value.
Here’s the quick breakdown:
• ● Circle = Common
• ◆ Diamond = Uncommon
• ★ Star = Rare
But once you get past that, things start getting interesting.
Modern sets now include higher rarity tiers like:
• Double Rare (RR)
• Illustration Rare (AR)
• Ultra Rare (SR)
• Special Illustration Rare (SAR)
• Hyper Rare (UR)
• Shiny Rare / Shiny Ultra Rare
And here’s something a lot of new collectors don’t realize:
Secret Rares are cards where the number is higher than the set number.
Example: 152/151
Those are often some of the most valuable cards in the entire set.
If you’re new to the hobby, learning these symbols will help you instantly know whether a card is just bulk… or something worth pulling aside.
Curious though…
When you open packs, do you actually check the rarity symbols first or do you just flip through the cards hoping to see something shiny?
