Library
Rarities
Rarity tells you how often a card is printed within a set. Each game uses its own system, so the same word can mean different things.
Rarity by game
Pokémon TCG
- Common
- Printed in the largest numbers. Marked with a circle symbol on most cards from the original era onward.
- Uncommon
- Printed in smaller numbers than Commons. Marked with a diamond symbol.
- Rare
- A star symbol marks a Rare. In older sets many Rare cards also come as holographic versions.
- Holo Rare
- A Rare with a holographic, shiny area, usually over the artwork. The Base Set Charizard is a famous example.
- Double Rare
- A modern rarity used for Pokémon ex in the Scarlet & Violet era, marked with two stars.
- Rare Shiny
- A card showing a shiny, alternate-color Pokémon. Hidden Fates Shiny Vault cards use this idea and are listed as shiny rares in card databases, such as Rare Shiny GX. Later sets use names such as Shiny Rare.
- Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare
- Modern styles where the artwork stretches across much of the card. They put the illustrator's scene first.
Magic: The Gathering
- Common
- The most frequent cards in a pack. Often simple, and good for learning the game.
- Uncommon
- Less frequent than Commons, usually with more interesting effects.
- Rare
- The main rarity for powerful or complex cards.
- Mythic Rare
- A top rarity tier introduced in 2008 with Shards of Alara, used for the most striking cards in a set.
- Special and promotional
- Cards printed outside regular boosters, including promotional versions and special reprints.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG
- Common
- The standard version of a card with no special foil on the name or art.
- Rare
- A card whose name is printed in silver foil.
- Super Rare
- A card with a holographic image area.
- Ultra Rare
- A card with a gold-foil name and a holographic image. Many famous monsters were first printed as Ultra Rares.
- Secret Rare
- A rarity that uses a rainbow-style foil pattern and a different look from the standard ones.
- Ghost Rare, Starlight Rare and others
- Premium rarities that use special finishes. They change from product to product, so always check the product page of the set.
Rarity is not the same as finish
A foil, holographic or full-art card is not automatically rare. Finish describes how a card looks, while rarity describes how often it is printed. Read Rarity and Finishes Explained to learn the difference. This page does not list prices or values.
Cards by rarity
Common
- Pikachu Pokémon TCG · Base Set
- Lightning Bolt Magic: The Gathering · Limited Edition Alpha
- Llanowar Elves Magic: The Gathering · Limited Edition Alpha
- Delver of Secrets Magic: The Gathering · Innistrad
Double Rare
- Mew ex Pokémon TCG · Scarlet & Violet—151
- Charizard ex Pokémon TCG · Scarlet & Violet—151
Holo Rare
- Charizard Pokémon TCG · Base Set
- Blastoise Pokémon TCG · Base Set
- Venusaur Pokémon TCG · Base Set
- Mewtwo Pokémon TCG · Base Set
- Lugia Pokémon TCG · Neo Genesis
Mythic Rare
- Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer Magic: The Gathering · Modern Horizons 2
- Fury Magic: The Gathering · Modern Horizons 2
Rare
- Black Lotus Magic: The Gathering · Limited Edition Alpha
- Dark Confidant Magic: The Gathering · Ravnica: City of Guilds
- Sacred Foundry Magic: The Gathering · Ravnica: City of Guilds
- Snapcaster Mage Magic: The Gathering · Innistrad
- Pot of Greed Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG · Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon
Rare Shiny GX
- Charizard-GX Pokémon TCG · Hidden Fates
Super Rare
- Dark Hole Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG · Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon
Ultra Rare
- Blue-Eyes White Dragon Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG · Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon
- Dark Magician Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG · Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon
- Red-Eyes Black Dragon Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG · Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon
- Summoned Skull Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG · Metal Raiders
- Exodia the Forbidden One Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG · Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon
- Mirror Force Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG · Metal Raiders
Uncommon
- Professor Oak Pokémon TCG · Base Set
- Serra Angel Magic: The Gathering · Limited Edition Alpha
- Counterspell Magic: The Gathering · Limited Edition Alpha