Collector number

How to read it

The Pokémon Company International’s rulebook calls it the collector card number. CGC, the card grading company, places it in the bottom right or bottom left corner, near the rarity symbol, written as two numbers separated by a slash. Wargamer explains that the first number gives the card’s place in the set’s official list and the second gives the official size of the set.

Also searched as: collector card number, number at the bottom of a pokemon card, pokemon card number, pokemon card number higher than set total, pokemon set number, secret rare number.

Numbers above the set total

A card numbered past the set’s total is a secret rare. CGC’s example is a Snorlax numbered 224/198. Wargamer’s is Obsidian Flames: 197 cards in the set, and 29 more numbered 198 to 227. Dexerto shows a gold Roaring Moon ex numbered 262 in a set of 182, and explains that secret rares, illustration rares, full-art cards and the like are all counted above the main set. Kotaku, opening the first Scarlet & Violet set of 198 cards, counted 60 more cards numbered after them.

Secret rare or hyper rare?

The Pokémon Company International now calls the rarity hyper rare, marked with three gold stars, and says these cards were previously known as secret rare cards (see gold star symbols). Collectors’ guides still use “secret rare” for any card numbered above the total. Wargamer points out that such cards carry various rarity symbols, so the number, not the symbol, is how to spot one. CGC adds that for a secret rare there is usually a card of lower rarity in the same set with the same name and game text, though it may look different.