Guides
Practical, in-depth guides for collectors, whatever game you play.
PSA 10 vs PSA 9: Price Difference, What PSA 10 Means, and Is It Worth It?
What a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade means, how it differs from PSA 9, why the price gap is so big, how to tell if your card could get a 10, and whether grading is worth it.
7 min read
The Rarest Pokémon Cards Ever Made
Pikachu Illustrator, trophy cards, championship prizes, Gold Stars and First Edition Base Set: the rarest Pokémon cards, why they're scarce, and how to tell if yours is rare.
7 min read
How to Sell Your Trading Cards (and Get a Fair Price)
How to price, list, ship and sell Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh! and other cards: where to sell, how to photograph and describe them, safe shipping and the common scams.
7 min read
Japanese vs English Pokémon Cards: What's the Difference?
How Japanese and English Pokémon cards differ: release timing, packs, rarity codes, print quality, prices and exclusives, and which to collect.
7 min read
Which Magic: The Gathering Cards Hold Their Value?
The Reserved List, the Power Nine, early printings, Commander demand and reprint risk: what tends to separate lasting Magic card value from short-term hype.
7 min read
How to Spot Fake Pokémon, Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards
Quick and detailed checks to spot counterfeit trading cards: text, font, card back, holo, light and loupe tests, game-specific tells, fake slabs and resealed packs.
7 min read
How to Tell if a Card Is First Edition
Where to find the 1st Edition stamp on Pokémon cards, the printed text on Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, how to tell Alpha from Beta in Magic, and the reprints that fool people.
8 min read
Pokémon Card Condition Guide: Near Mint, Lightly Played, Moderately Played and PSA Grades
Pokémon card condition guide: what Near Mint, Lightly Played, Moderately Played and Heavily Played mean, PSA, BGS and CGC grades, how to check a card at home, and when grading is worth it.
7 min read
How Card Prices Are Set, and Why Price Guides Disagree
Where trading card prices come from: TCGplayer, eBay, Cardmarket and shop buylists. Why their numbers differ, and how to use a price guide without getting burned.
7 min read
What Makes a Trading Card Valuable?
Rarity, print runs, condition, age, special printings, character popularity, playability, reprints, language, errors and sealed product: the factors behind card prices.
7 min read