Hey there, fellow Pokémon TCG collectors! Ever found yourself staring at a card, completely stumped by the little symbol at the bottom? You know, that tiny icon that tells you which of the hundreds of sets it belongs to?
It’s like trying to identify a Pokémon by its shadow alone. Sometimes you just need a good Pokédex, or in this case, a Set Symbol-dex!
Well, you’ve come to the right place. And if you’d rather skip the squinting entirely, point the Card Codex card scanner at the card and it’ll tell you the set, the number and what it’s worth in roughly the time it takes a Magikarp to use Splash.
Where to Find the Set Symbol on a Pokémon Card
The set symbol lives along the bottom edge of the card, close to the card number. On the old Wizards of the Coast cards, it’s tucked just under the bottom right corner of the artwork box. Later eras shuffled it around a little, but it always sits near that “45/102” style collector number.
That number is your best friend, by the way. The second half (the /102 bit) is the size of the set, so a symbol plus a set total narrows things down fast. If you want the full tour of every icon and line of text on a card, we’ve got a guide on how to read a Pokémon card top to bottom.
My Card Doesn’t Have a Symbol. What Gives?
Two possibilities, and they’re about 25 years apart.
If it’s a silver-bordered modern card, you’re looking at Scarlet & Violet or later. From 2023 onward, The Pokémon Company swapped yellow borders for silver ones and picture symbols for short text codes like SVI and PAL. That’s why the first two tables below list codes instead of symbols.
If it’s a yellow-bordered vintage card numbered out of 102, congratulations, you’re holding Base Set. The very first English set never got a symbol at all, which is why the Base Set row, right at the bottom of this guide, is the odd one out. While you’ve got it in your hand, check whether it’s a shadowless card. Your wallet will thank you.
Set Symbol, Rarity Symbol, Regulation Mark: Don’t Mix Them Up
Three tiny markings, three completely different jobs.
The set symbol (or code) tells you where the card came from. The circle, diamond or star next to the card number is the rarity. And on modern cards there’s a single letter sitting in its own little box: that’s the regulation mark, which tells players whether a card is legal in the Standard format. It says nothing about which set the card is from, so don’t let it throw you off the scent. Our breakdown of what the symbols on Pokémon cards mean covers all three in more detail.
Right, on to the Symbol-dex itself. Newest sets first, all the way back to 1999.
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Start Tracking Now — It’s FreeMega Evolution Series Set Codes
We’re starting with a plot twist: the newest cards don’t have symbols at all.
Ever since Scarlet & Violet, cards carry an expansion code in a small black box in the bottom left corner: three letters for the set, then EN for English. Mega Evolution kicked off in September 2025 and kept the system, so you’ll spot MEG on base set cards and PFL on Phantasmal Flames.
Honestly? I miss the symbols. There was something magical about learning that a tiny flower meant Jungle. But I’ll admit the codes are easier to search for, and they match the shorthand everyone already types into eBay and TCGplayer listings.
One neat trick while you’re down there: on reverse holo cards, that code box flips to white with black text. It’s a handy tell when the foil is being shy under bad lighting. Our guide to holo vs reverse holo cards has more ways to spot the difference.
And what a run this era has been. Seven sets in twelve months, including the latest main set, Pitch Black, on July 17, 2026, followed by a thirtieth birthday party. My binder has not had a quiet weekend since.
| Logo | Set Name | Released | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logo arrives with the set | Delta Reign | November 6, 2026 (upcoming) | Read what we know so far |
 | 30th Celebration | September 16, 2026 | 30th Celebration card list |
 | Pitch Black | July 17, 2026 | Pitch Black card list |
 | Chaos Rising | May 22, 2026 | Chaos Rising card list |
 | Perfect Order | March 27, 2026 | Perfect Order card list |
 | Ascended Heroes | January 30, 2026 | Ascended Heroes card list |
 | Phantasmal Flames | November 14, 2025 | Phantasmal Flames card list |
 | Mega Evolution | September 26, 2025 | Mega Evolution card list |
 | Mega Evolution Black Star Promos | September 2025 onward | Mega Evolution Black Star Promos card list |
A Quick Word on 30th Celebration
30th Celebration deserves a shout of its own. It was the first Pokémon TCG expansion to release simultaneously worldwide, and every card in it is foil, right down to the Basic Energy. It also brings back a Classic Collection of reprinted legends, including Base Set Charizard. If you ripped Celebrations back in 2021, this will feel gloriously familiar.
One catch: the Classic Collection cards aren’t tournament legal. They’re for binders, not battles. Which, let’s be honest, is where that Charizard was always going to end up.
Coming Next: Delta Reign
Mega Rayquaza ex is swooping back in with Delta Reign on November 6, 2026. We’ll swap in the full card list the day it lands. For everything else on the horizon, keep our Pokémon TCG release calendar bookmarked.
Scarlet & Violet Series Set Codes
This is where the switch happened. Scarlet & Violet arrived in 2023 with silver borders and codes instead of symbols, so match the three letters in the bottom left of your card to the table below.
| Logo | Set Name | Code on the Card | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | White Flare | WHT | White Flare card list |
 | Black Bolt | BLK | Black Bolt card list |
 | Destined Rivals | DRI | Destined Rivals card list |
 | Journey Together | JTG | Journey Together card list |
 | Prismatic Evolutions | PRE | Prismatic Evolutions card list |
 | Surging Sparks | SSP | Surging Sparks card list |
 | Stellar Crown | SCR | Stellar Crown card list |
 | Shrouded Fable | SFA | Shrouded Fable card list |
 | Twilight Masquerade | TWM | Twilight Masquerade card list |
 | Temporal Forces | TEF | Temporal Forces card list |
 | Paldean Fates | PAF | Paldean Fates card list |
 | Paradox Rift | PAR | Paradox Rift card list |
 | 151 | MEW | 151 card list |
 | Obsidian Flames | OBF | Obsidian Flames card list |
 | Paldea Evolved | PAL | Paldea Evolved card list |
 | Scarlet & Violet | SVI | Scarlet & Violet card list |
 | Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos | Promo, no set total | Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos card list |
From here on back, it’s proper picture symbols again. Grab your magnifying glass.
Sword & Shield Series Symbols
Sun & Moon Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Cosmic Eclipse |  | Cosmic Eclipse card list |
 | Hidden Fates Shiny Vault |  | Hidden Fates Shiny Vault card list |
 | Hidden Fates |  | Hidden Fates card list |
 | Unified Minds |  | Unified Minds card list |
 | Unbroken Bonds |  | Unbroken Bonds card list |
 | Detective Pikachu |  | Detective Pikachu card list |
 | Team Up |  | Team Up card list |
 | Lost Thunder |  | Lost Thunder card list |
 | Dragon Majesty |  | Dragon Majesty card list |
 | Celestial Storm |  | Celestial Storm card list |
 | Forbidden Light |  | Forbidden Light card list |
 | Ultra Prism |  | Ultra Prism card list |
 | Crimson Invasion |  | Crimson Invasion card list |
 | Shining Legends |  | Shining Legends card list |
 | Burning Shadows |  | Burning Shadows card list |
 | Guardians Rising |  | Guardians Rising card list |
 | Sun & Moon |  | Sun & Moon card list |
 | SM Black Star Promos |  | SM Black Star Promos card list |
XY Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Evolutions |  | Evolutions card list |
 | Steam Siege |  | Steam Siege card list |
 | Fates Collide |  | Fates Collide card list |
 | Generations |  | Generations card list |
 | BREAKpoint |  | BREAKpoint card list |
 | BREAKthrough |  | BREAKthrough card list |
 | Ancient Origins |  | Ancient Origins card list |
 | Roaring Skies |  | Roaring Skies card list |
 | Double Crisis |  | Double Crisis card list |
 | Primal Clash |  | Primal Clash card list |
 | Phantom Forces |  | Phantom Forces card list |
 | Furious Fists |  | Furious Fists card list |
 | Flashfire |  | Flashfire card list |
 | XY |  | XY card list |
 | Kalos Starter Set |  | Kalos Starter Set card list |
 | XY Black Star Promos |  | XY Black Star Promos card list |
Black & White Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Legendary Treasures |  | Legendary Treasures card list |
 | Plasma Blast |  | Plasma Blast card list |
 | Plasma Freeze |  | Plasma Freeze card list |
 | Plasma Storm |  | Plasma Storm card list |
 | Boundaries Crossed |  | Boundaries Crossed card list |
 | Dragon Vault |  | Dragon Vault card list |
 | Dragons Exalted |  | Dragons Exalted card list |
 | Dark Explorers |  | Dark Explorers card list |
 | Next Destinies |  | Next Destinies card list |
 | Noble Victories |  | Noble Victories card list |
 | Emerging Powers |  | Emerging Powers card list |
 | Black & White |  | Black & White card list |
 | BW Black Star Promos |  | BW Black Star Promos card list |
HeartGold & SoulSilver Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Call of Legends |  | Call of Legends card list |
 | HS Triumphant |  | HS Triumphant card list |
 | HS Undaunted |  | HS Undaunted card list |
 | HS Unleashed |  | HS Unleashed card list |
 | HGSS Black Star Promos |  | HGSS Black Star Promos card list |
 | HeartGold & SoulSilver |  | HeartGold & SoulSilver card list |
Platinum Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Arceus |  | Arceus card list |
 | Supreme Victors |  | Supreme Victors card list |
 | Rising Rivals |  | Rising Rivals card list |
 | Platinum |  | Platinum card list |
Diamond & Pearl Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Stormfront |  | Stormfront card list |
 | Legends Awakened |  | Legends Awakened card list |
 | Majestic Dawn |  | Majestic Dawn card list |
 | Great Encounters |  | Great Encounters card list |
 | Secret Wonders |  | Secret Wonders card list |
 | Mysterious Treasures |  | Mysterious Treasures card list |
 | Diamond & Pearl |  | Diamond & Pearl card list |
 | DP Black Star Promos |  | DP Black Star Promos card list |
EX Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Power Keepers |  | Power Keepers card list |
 | Dragon Frontiers |  | Dragon Frontiers card list |
 | Crystal Guardians |  | Crystal Guardians card list |
 | Holon Phantoms |  | Holon Phantoms card list |
 | Legend Maker |  | Legend Maker card list |
 | Delta Species |  | Delta Species card list |
 | Unseen Forces |  | Unseen Forces card list |
 | Emerald |  | Emerald card list |
 | Deoxys |  | Deoxys card list |
 | Team Rocket Returns |  | Team Rocket Returns card list |
 | FireRed & LeafGreen |  | FireRed & LeafGreen card list |
 | Hidden Legends |  | Hidden Legends card list |
 | Team Magma vs Team Aqua |  | Team Magma vs Team Aqua card list |
 | Dragon |  | Dragon card list |
 | Sandstorm |  | Sandstorm card list |
 | Ruby & Sapphire |  | Ruby & Sapphire card list |
E-Card Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Skyridge |  | Skyridge card list |
 | Aquapolis |  | Aquapolis card list |
 | Expedition Base Set |  | Expedition Base Set card list |
Neo Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Neo Destiny |  | Neo Destiny card list |
 | Neo Revelation |  | Neo Revelation card list |
 | Neo Discovery |  | Neo Discovery card list |
 | Neo Genesis |  | Neo Genesis card list |
Gym Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Gym Challenge |  | Gym Challenge card list |
 | Gym Heroes |  | Gym Heroes card list |
Base Set Series Symbols
| Logo | Set Name | Symbol | Card List |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Team Rocket |  | Team Rocket card list |
 | Base Set 2 |  | Base Set 2 card list |
 | Fossil |  | Fossil card list |
 | Wizards Black Star Promos |  | Wizards Black Star Promos card list |
 | Jungle |  | Jungle card list |
 | Base Set | The base set did not have a symbol | Base Set card list |
The Sets That Slip Through the Cracks
Not every card came out of a main expansion. If your mystery card doesn’t match anything above, it might be one of these oddballs. They’re the Ditto of your collection: easy to overlook until you realize they’ve been hiding in plain sight the whole time.
| Set Name | What It Is | Card List |
|---|---|---|
Southern Islands | A small tropical-themed Wizards set from 2001 | Southern Islands card list |
Legendary Collection | The 2002 reprint set, famous for its “firework” reverse holos | Legendary Collection card list |
Best of Game | Wizards-era promos handed out at Best of Game tournaments | Best of Game card list |
Nintendo Black Star Promos | Black Star promos from the years after Wizards handed the license back | Nintendo Black Star Promos card list |
POP Series 1 to 9 | Nine little prize-pack sets from Play! Pokémon events | Every POP Series set |
Pokémon Rumble | A tiny tie-in set for the Pokémon Rumble video game | Pokémon Rumble card list |
McDonald’s Collections | The Happy Meal promo sets that turn up in every childhood binder | Every McDonald’s and special set |
Trainer Kits, starter sets and the rest of the odds and ends all have their own pages too. You can find every last one in our full set browser.
A Few Quick Questions
Do Japanese cards use the same set symbols?
Not quite. Japanese cards were using printed set codes well before English cards switched over, and Japanese sets are split up differently too, so a Japanese card won’t always map neatly onto an English set. This guide covers English sets only. If you’re weighing up Japanese cards, have a read of whether Japanese Pokémon cards are worth more than English ones.
What’s the fastest way to identify a card’s set?
Scan it. Seriously, the app does in seconds what used to take me ten minutes and a magnifying glass. If you’re doing it by hand, match the symbol or code first, then check the set total after the slash. Between the two, there’s almost nowhere left for a card to hide.
Why does my modern card have a letter before the code?
That’s the regulation mark we talked about earlier. It’s for tournament players, not set spotters. Ignore it, read the three letters after it, and you’re golden.
And there you have it! A complete visual guide, now with codes, to help you on your quest to become a Pokémon TCG Master. Once you’ve worked out where everything came from, add it to your Card Codex collection so you never have to squint at it again. And if you reckon you know your sets cold now, go and prove it with our Guess Every Pokémon TCG Set quiz.
Happy collecting!
