MTG Rarity Symbols: Common, Uncommon, Rare & Mythic Colors
Read Magic: The Gathering rarity from the set symbol color: black, silver, gold, orange-red and purple, plus where to find rarity letters on modern cards.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
In Magic: The Gathering, rarity isn't shown with a shape like Pokémon's circle and star. It's shown by the color of the set symbol on the right side of the card's type line.
The rarity colors
| Set symbol color | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Black | Common |
| Silver | Uncommon |
| Gold | Rare |
| Orange-red | Mythic rare (since 2008) |
| Purple | Special (e.g. "timeshifted" or bonus sheet cards in certain sets) |
Rarity colors were introduced in Exodus (1998). Before that, every set symbol was black, regardless of rarity, so you need a reference to know an old card's rarity.
Rarity letters on modern cards
Since 2014's Magic 2015 core set, the bottom left of each card shows a collector number, a rarity letter and the set code, for example "123/281 R DMU":
- C common, U uncommon, R rare, M mythic, S special, L land
This is the fastest way to confirm rarity and set. See how to identify an MTG set.
Does rarity equal value?
Not always:
- Many rares are worth very little.
- Some uncommons and commons are expensive because they're played everywhere (or because they come from old, scarce sets).
- Special versions (foil, borderless, showcase) can be worth far more than the regular rarity suggests (MTG foil vs non-foil).
Rarity in special printings
Recent sets add extra layers that the symbol color doesn't fully show:
- Bonus sheets (like the Mystical Archive or Retro Artifacts) use their own rarity distribution.
- Collector Booster exclusives can be the same rarity as the regular card but much scarcer in a special frame.
- Serialized cards are printed in numbered runs and are far rarer than any rarity color suggests.
So treat the symbol color as a first filter, then check the frame, finish and collector number.
Sorting tip
Sorting a big collection by symbol color first is the fastest way to find value: pull every gold and orange-red card, then check foils and special frames. Commons and uncommons from recent sets are usually bulk.
Try it on your own cards
Scan your rares and mythics with Rarefolio to see each card's estimated market value and confirm the set. If you have older black-symbol cards, the scan helps identify which set and rarity they really are. More in MTG cards worth money.
Frequently asked questions
What does a gold set symbol mean on a Magic card?
A gold set symbol means the card is a rare.
What does an orange set symbol mean in MTG?
An orange-red symbol means mythic rare, the highest regular rarity, introduced in 2008.
Why are all the symbols black on my old Magic cards?
Before Exodus (1998), set symbols didn't show rarity by color, so every card had a black symbol.
Where is the rarity letter on a Magic card?
On cards from 2014 onward, it's in the bottom left next to the collector number and set code.