Common Cards
Marked with a circle symbol, commons are the most printed cards in every set. Most are worth pennies, but a handful of error prints, shadowless variants, and first editions can surprise you.
What Is It?
Common cards are the lowest rarity tier in the Pokemon TCG, identified by a small circle symbol printed in the bottom-right corner of the card. Every booster pack contains several commons, making them the most abundant cards in circulation. They were introduced with the original Base Set in 1999 and have remained a staple of every expansion since. Commons typically feature basic Pokemon or Trainer cards with straightforward abilities.
How to Identify
Look for a small, solid circle (●) in the bottom-right corner near the card number. Commons appear multiple times per booster pack and are never holographic in their standard printing. In modern sets, commons may also appear as reverse-holo variants, which adds a foil pattern to the non-artwork area of the card but does not change the rarity symbol.
Real Common cards
Representative cards you can identify in the wild.
Value Range
Most common cards sell for $0.05 to $0.25 in near-mint condition. However, several notable exceptions exist: 1st Edition Base Set commons like Pikachu (#58) can sell for $20-80 depending on condition. Shadowless Base Set commons bring $5-15 each. Error prints, such as the "d Edition" Vulpix misprint, have fetched over $100. Reverse-holo commons from Legendary Collection can sell for $10-30 due to the distinctive fireworks holo pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. Are common Pokemon cards worth anything?
Most commons are worth under $0.25, but 1st Edition, shadowless, and error variants can be worth $10 to over $100. Reverse-holo commons from certain sets also carry a premium.
02. How do I know if a Pokemon card is common?
Look for a solid circle symbol (●) in the bottom-right corner of the card near the set number. This circle indicates common rarity across all Pokemon TCG sets.
03. Should I keep my common Pokemon cards?
Check for 1st Edition stamps, shadowless borders, and error prints before selling bulk. Scan with Pokex to identify any hidden gems. Otherwise, commons can be sold in bulk lots of 1,000+ cards.
04. How many common cards are in a booster pack?
A standard 10-card booster pack contains 5-6 common cards along with 3 uncommons and 1 rare or higher rarity card. Some modern packs also include a guaranteed reverse-holo slot.
Related rarity tiers
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