Gold star symbols

How to read it

The Pokémon Company International introduced all three with the Scarlet & Violet Series in 2023. Illustration rare cards are alternate-art versions of common, uncommon and rare Pokémon, with full-art foil illustrations that often show the character’s personality or surroundings. Special illustration rare covers alternate-art cards of Pokémon ex and Supporter cards, again with full-art foil illustrations. Hyper rare cards are full-art foil cards with gilded borders and accents. CGC, the card grading company, lists the same three symbols: one, two and three gold stars.

Also searched as: gold star pokemon card, hyper rare, illustration rare, pokemon card rarity chart, special illustration rare, three gold stars pokemon, two gold stars pokemon.

Hyper rare and secret rare

The Pokémon Company International says hyper rare cards were previously known as secret rare cards. Kotaku found the three gold stars reserved for gold cards in the first Scarlet & Violet set. Collectors’ guides still use “secret rare” for any card numbered above the set’s total; the collector number page explains those numbers.

Mega Evolution marks

The Mega Evolution expansion brought Mega Hyper Rares, which Wargamer reported in October 2025 had replaced hyper rares in that set. CGC describes them as cards finished in embossed gold showing front-facing Mega Evolved Pokémon, with a rarity symbol of their own. CGC also records that with Ascended Heroes in January 2026 came Mega Attack cards, a kind of Mega Hyper Rare whose rarity symbol is two pastel stars, one pink and one green.

Look-alikes

Kotaku’s reviewer could not see what set special illustration rares apart from illustration rares when they first appeared; the count of gold stars is what separates them. Two silver stars mark an ultra rare, and two solid black stars a double rare.