Cards
Read a card: set symbol, number, rarity and marks
Six printed details identify a card: the set symbol, the collector number, the rarity symbol, the regulation mark, the copyright line and the language of the text. Together they narrow a card to one printing in one set, and the regulation mark alone settles Standard legality, which since 10 April 2026 covers the H, I and J marks. Finish, stamps and condition still have to be checked by eye, and none of the six states a price.
English and Japanese cards, 1999 to 2026. Drafted 8 Nov 2026.
The set symbol and collector number name the release
The set symbol is a small mark printed near the bottom of the card. On early English cards it sits just below the right corner of the art window; on recent cards it sits at the bottom left beside the regulation mark. English Base Set cards carry no set symbol at all, and that absence is the identifier. The collector number reads as card number over set size, such as 4/102. A number higher than the set size, such as 103/102, marks a card added beyond the main list. From the Scarlet & Violet era, English cards also print a short expansion code in a small black box at the bottom left. Promos use their own series codes, such as SWSH303 in English or 227/S-P in Japanese. Copy the number exactly, with its letters, slashes and leading zeros.
Rarity symbols describe distribution within one set
A circle marks a common, a diamond an uncommon and a star a rare. These three have been printed since the first English sets. Later eras added more grades of rare, shown as extra stars in black, white or gold, and Japanese cards use letter codes such as RR, SR and AR. English promos carry a black star promo symbol in place of a rarity symbol. A rarity symbol describes how often a card was packed in its own set. It says nothing about the same Pokémon in another set, and a common from a 1999 set can be harder to find today than a rare from a 2025 set. Read the symbol beside the collector number, then check the set list for the full picture.
The regulation mark sets tournament legality
From the Sword & Shield era, which began in 2020, cards print a single letter in a small box at the bottom left. That letter is the regulation mark. Play Pokémon rules use it to decide which cards are legal in the Standard format, and each rotation retires the oldest letters: the 2026 rotation removed G and left H, I and J legal, from 10 April 2026 at in-person events and from 26 March 2026 in TCG Live. Sword & Shield cards carry D, E or F, Scarlet & Violet cards start at G, and Mega Evolution cards carry I. The mark is a gameplay label. It carries no information about rarity, print run or condition. Legality follows the card, not its expansion: an older printing stays usable when a reprint of the same card carries a legal mark, as with Boss's Orders, a D card in Rebel Clash reprinted with I in Mega Evolution. Look up the current legal letters in the official tournament rules before building a deck for an event.
The copyright line gives a year that can predate the print
The bottom edge carries a copyright line naming the rights holders and one or more years. That year is the copyright year of the content. A card printed in 2001 can carry 1999, and reprints often keep the original year. On English Base Set cards the copyright line is one of the details that separates print runs, covered in the printing terms guide. The illustrator credit sits nearby. The language of the text identifies the print line: The Pokémon Company lists the card game in 13 languages, each printed as a separate product, and numbering can differ between them. English cards are sold in many countries, so the country of purchase and the print language are two separate facts.
| Detail | Where it is | What it tells you | What it leaves open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set symbol | Below the art on early cards, bottom left on recent cards | Which set | Edition, finish, condition |
| Collector number | Bottom corner | Place in the set list; numbers above the set size are additions | Which print run |
| Rarity symbol | Beside the collector number | How often it was packed in its own set | Rarity in other sets, demand |
| Regulation mark | Small box at the bottom left, 2020 onward | Standard format legality | Rarity, print run, condition |
| Copyright line | Bottom edge | Rights holders and copyright year | The exact print date |
| Language | The card text | Which print line it belongs to | Where it was bought |
Read next
Sources read for this page
- ReadTCGdex Base Set metadata (cached)read 7 Nov 2026
- ReadOfficial English card record, SWSH303read 7 Nov 2026
- ReadOfficial Japanese card record, 227/S-Pread 7 Nov 2026
- ReadPlay Pokémon tournament rules and resourcesread 8 Nov 2026
- Read2026 Pokémon TCG Standard Format Rotation Announcementread 8 Nov 2026
- ReadPokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Revamps Pokémon TCG Card Aestheticread 8 Nov 2026
- Read2025 Pokémon TCG Standard Format Rotation Announcementread 8 Nov 2026
- ReadPlay Pokémon Competitive Rules & Formatsread 8 Nov 2026
- ReadThe Pokémon Company: Aboutread 8 Nov 2026