Pokémon Card Numbers Explained: What 25/102 and 215/203 Mean
What the numbers at the bottom of a Pokémon card mean: set number, set size, secret rares, promo codes, regulation marks and how to use them to look up value.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
The small number at the bottom of a Pokémon card is the quickest way to identify it exactly. Once you know how to read it, finding the right price takes seconds instead of scrolling through dozens of cards with the same Pokémon.
The basic format: 25/102
- First number (25): the card's position in the set
- Second number (102): the size of the main set list
So 4/102 is card number 4 in a 102-card set (Base Set Charizard).
When the first number is bigger: secret rares
A card numbered 215/203 sits beyond the main list. These "secret rares" are the chase cards in modern sets: full arts, special illustration rares, gold hyper rares and rainbow cards. If your first number is higher than the second, check its value. See illustration rares explained.
Where the number is
- Vintage cards (1999–2003): bottom right, next to the rarity symbol
- Modern cards: bottom left, with the set symbol, regulation mark and rarity nearby
Set symbol + number = exact card
Different sets reuse numbers, so you need both:
- Set symbol: a small icon identifying the set (set symbols guide)
- Number: the card's position
Base Set has no set symbol at all; most later sets do. Modern cards also print a set code (like "SVI" or "PAL") in some regions.
Promo numbers
Promos use their own numbering instead of x/y:
- WOTC era: black star promo numbers like "#1"
- Later eras: codes like SM60, SWSH050, SVP 012
See Pokémon promo cards value.
Subsets and special numbering
Some sets include subsets with their own numbering, such as TG (Trainer Gallery) or GG (Galarian Gallery) cards in late Sword & Shield sets, or "SV" shiny vault numbers in Hidden Fates and Shining Fates. These are often more valuable than the main set cards.
Regulation marks
Modern cards have a small letter (D, E, F, G, H, I…) near the number. It shows which cards are legal in the Standard tournament format. It doesn't directly affect collector value. See regulation marks.
Japanese numbering
Japanese cards use set codes (like sv2a) and numbers, often with secret rares numbered beyond the set size, same as English. See Japanese Pokémon cards.
Try it on your own cards
Rarefolio reads the card number when you scan and matches it to the right set, showing the rarity and an estimated market value. If the number is blurry, rescan with the bottom of the card in sharp focus (scanning tips).
Frequently asked questions
What does the number on a Pokémon card mean?
It shows the card's number in its set and the size of the set, like 25/102. Combined with the set symbol, it identifies the exact card.
What if the card number is higher than the total?
It's a secret rare, such as a full art, special illustration rare or gold card, numbered beyond the main set.
Why doesn't my card have a number like 25/102?
Promos use codes such as SWSH050 or SVP 012, and some special subsets use prefixes like TG or GG.
Does the card number affect value?
The number itself doesn't, but it tells you which card and rarity you have, and secret rare numbers often signal valuable cards.