Pokemon Card Rarities Explained

Every Pokemon card has a rarity, and that rarity shapes its value, its pull rate, and where it sits in a collector's binder. This guide walks through every rarity tier you will find at Monster Mart, from the common cards that build a set through to the chase pulls that define it. Each section links to the relevant collection so you can browse and buy directly.

How rarity works

In the Pokemon TCG, rarity is shown by a symbol in the bottom corner of the card: a circle for Common, a diamond for Uncommon, a star for Rare, and variations on that star for everything above. Modern sets have expanded this system significantly, with each generation of the game introducing its own mechanics and rarity tiers.

A card's rarity determines how often it appears in booster packs. Common and Uncommon cards appear in every pack. Rare Holos appear in most. But a Secret Rare, Illustration Rare, or Special Art Rare might appear once in every 20 to 50 packs, which is why they carry a premium on the secondary market.

Set numbering tells you a lot. If a card's number exceeds the set size (for example, 216/196), it sits in the secret rare range and was pulled from outside the standard card pool. The higher above the set count, the rarer the pull.

The modern rarity ladder (Scarlet and Violet)

The current Scarlet and Violet generation uses the clearest rarity structure in the TCG's history. The tiers run in ascending order of scarcity:

Common, Uncommon, and Rare

The base of every set. These cards form the majority of any booster pack and are essential for set builders working toward a complete numbered run. Reverse Holo versions of these cards swap the standard finish for a holographic treatment on the card body, and many collectors organise these as a parallel set.

Double Rare (Pokemon EX)

The backbone of modern competitive play. Pokemon EX cards carry the Double Rare symbol and sit at the first premium tier. They feature full colour artwork with a distinct border treatment and are the most accessible chase cards in any set. Our EX collection brings together over 800 of these across every Scarlet and Violet expansion.

Illustration Rare

A step above Double Rare, Illustration Rares feature extended artwork that bleeds beyond the standard card frame. These are the cards where the Pokemon TCG's commissioned artists get to tell a story, placing the Pokemon in a scene rather than a studio pose. The art direction on these pulls is what draws many collectors into the modern era. Browse our Illustration Rare collection for the full range.

Ultra Rare and Special Illustration Rare

Ultra Rares include the full-art Supporter and Item cards that competitive players and collector alike chase. Special Illustration Rares sit above them: painted, full-bleed artwork with no standard frame, often featuring a Pokemon and its Trainer together in a narrative scene. These are among the most sought after pulls in any modern set. Our Special Illustration Rare collection covers the full range.

Hyper Rare

The peak of the modern ladder. Hyper Rares carry a gold or rainbow foil treatment across the entire card face, including the borders. Their set numbers sit well beyond the printed set size, marking them as the final chase pieces for master set collectors. Pull rates are the lowest of any standard tier. See our Hyper Rares collection.

Sword and Shield era mechanics

The Sword and Shield generation (2020 to 2023) introduced the V, VMAX, and VSTAR system alongside some of the most collected rarity tiers in the modern game.

Alt Arts (Alternate Art) are a Sword and Shield specialty. Where a standard V or VMAX shows the Pokemon in a clean pose, the Alt Art reimagines the same card with narrative, full-bleed artwork. The gameplay text is identical, but the artwork tells a story. These are among the most valuable modern pulls. Browse our Alt Arts collection.

Sun and Moon era mechanics

The Sun and Moon generation (2017 to 2020) introduced the GX mechanic and Tag Team system, both of which produced cards that collectors continue to chase today.

The GX era also introduced the Shiny Vault concept in Hidden Fates: a parallel subset of shiny Pokemon with their own numbering (SV prefix). Shining Fates continued this tradition, and both sets remain popular for baby shiny collectors.

XY era mechanics

The XY generation (2014 to 2017) built around the Mega Evolution and BREAK mechanics from the video games.

BREAK cards are distinctive for their landscape card orientation and gold-foil treatment. They evolved an existing Pokemon rather than replacing it, which made them unique in both gameplay and visual design. Mega EX cards represent the pinnacle of the XY generation, with full-art Mega variants like M Charizard EX commanding strong prices to this day.

Cross-era rarities

Some rarity tiers span multiple generations of the Pokemon TCG. These collections gather cards by rarity type regardless of which era they belong to.

Japanese-exclusive rarities

The Japanese print run includes rarity tiers that were never produced for the English market. If you collect these, you will need the original Japanese cards.

For more on why collectors choose Japanese cards and how they compare to English prints, see our full guide: Japanese Pokemon Cards at Monster Mart.

Character collections

Some Pokemon transcend rarity tiers. If you collect by character rather than by set or rarity, these pages bring together every card we stock for the most popular Pokemon in the game.

Condition and how we grade

Every card at Monster Mart is graded by eye to mint or better before listing. We check centring, surface, edges, and corners under good lighting. Cards are sleeved on arrival, stored flat in a climate controlled room, and shipped with tracked Australia Post from Brisbane. Top loaders are standard on all singles, with team bags and rigid mailers for higher value cards.

If you are looking for a specific rarity tier or a particular card to complete a set, our full catalogue lets you filter by set, rarity, and price.