Every Pokémon card carries a handful of small symbols that together tell you which set it is from, how rare it is, which tournament formats it is legal in, and its Energy type. Read alongside the collector number, they let you pin down the exact printing of a card — which is what its value depends on.
The set (expansion) symbol
The set symbol sits just after the collector number under the artwork (for example "4/102"). Each English expansion has its own small icon — Base Set uses a black star, Jungle a flower, Fossil an ammonite, and modern sets each have a unique mark. The symbol plus the number ("4 of 102") identifies the set; the presence or absence of a foil pattern and the rarity mark then tell you which version within that set.
Rarity symbols
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ● Circle | Common |
| ◆ Diamond | Uncommon |
| ★ Black star | Rare (holo or non-holo) |
| ★ + foil artwork | Rare Holo |
| ☆☆ / ☆☆☆ (modern) | Ultra Rare / Illustration & Special Illustration Rare tiers |
| Gold ★ | Gold Star (EX era, 2004–2007) — a scarce chase rarity |
| Crown / gold card | Hyper Rare / Crown Rare — the top pull of a modern set |
| White ★ on black | Promo — a card given away or in a special product, not part of a numbered set |
Since Scarlet & Violet the ladder above "Rare" is mostly conveyed by the artwork style (full art, illustration rare, special illustration rare, hyper rare) rather than a single symbol, so two cards with the same star can be worth very different amounts.
The regulation mark
On Scarlet & Violet-era cards a single letter — D, E, F, G, H and onward — sits in the bottom-left corner. This is the regulation mark, and it shows which Standard-format rotation the card belongs to. When Pokémon rotates the format each year, the oldest letters drop out of Standard. Cards from before this system use a small format symbol or nothing at all.
The 1st Edition stamp and "Shadowless"
Early Wizards of the Coast print runs carry an "Edition 1" stamp to the left of the artwork. "Shadowless" is not a stamp at all — it describes an early Base Set printing with no drop shadow along the right edge of the artwork box. Both sit above the standard "Unlimited" printing in value, often by a wide margin for chase cards.
Type, weakness and energy symbols
The coloured circle in the top-right corner is the card's Energy type: Grass, Fire, Water, Lightning, Psychic, Fighting, Darkness, Metal, Dragon, Fairy or Colorless. The same icons appear in each attack's Energy cost and in the Weakness / Resistance row along the bottom, next to the Retreat cost (shown as plain Colorless circles).
Where each symbol is on the card
- 1Top-right cornerEnergy type circle.
- 2Under the artwork, bottom-rightSet symbol, then collector number (e.g. 4/102), then the rarity mark.
- 3Bottom-left corner (modern)Regulation mark letter.
- 4Left of the artwork (vintage)1st Edition stamp, if present.
- 5Bottom edgeWeakness, Resistance and Retreat cost, all shown as Energy icons.
On PokeHive every card page lists its set, collector number, rarity and type, and each Sets page shows that expansion's symbol — so you can match a card in hand to its exact printing and price.
- How do I identify which set a Pokémon card is from?
- Match the small set symbol just after the collector number (for example 4/102) to an expansion. If you can't place it by eye, PokeHive's Card Identifier does it from a photo.
- What does the letter in the bottom corner of a Pokémon card mean?
- It's the regulation mark (D, E, F, G, H and onward). It shows which Standard-format rotation the card is legal in; Pokémon retires the oldest letters each year.
- What is the difference between a Rare and a Rare Holo?
- Both use a black star as the rarity mark, but a Rare Holo has a shiny foil artwork or frame; a plain Rare does not. Rare Holos are usually worth more.
- Do older Pokémon cards have rarity symbols?
- Yes. Since Base Set in 1999: a circle is Common, a diamond is Uncommon and a star is Rare. Promotional cards use a black star with no set number.
- What does "Shadowless" mean?
- An early Base Set printing with no drop shadow along the right side of the artwork box. It sits between 1st Edition and Unlimited in scarcity and value.