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Guides
Collector's Dictionary: ETB, UPC, Display and Other Terms
Every hobby has its own language. Here is ours — terms you'll encounter in every listing and discussion.
Sealed Products
| Term | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Booster | basic pack — one booster pack of cards |
| Booster box / display | a box of 36 boosters (newer sets 30) — the basic investment unit |
| ETB (Elite Trainer Box) | a box with 8–9 boosters, sleeves, dice and energies; popular for collecting and as a gift |
| UPC (Ultra Premium Collection) | the highest box product of the set — boosters + promo cards + accessories |
| SPC (Special/Premium Collection) | smaller boxes with a promo card and a few boosters |
| Booster bundle | 6 boosters in a paper box — without accessories |
| Blister | 1–3 boosters on a cardboard card, often with a promo coin/card |
| Tin | a can with boosters and a promo card |
Cards
| Term | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Singles | individual cards sold separately |
| Raw | an ungraded card — you assess the condition yourself |
| Slab | a graded card sealed in a case (PSA/BGS/CGC) |
| Chase card | the most desired card in the set — the one you open the set for |
| Alt art / SIR | special illustrations — today's most collected modern cards |
| Holo / reverse holo | shiny picture / shiny rest of the card except the picture |
| NM, LP, MP, HP | card conditions: Near Mint, Lightly/Moderately/Heavily Played |
Market
| Term | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Cardmarket (CM) | Europe's largest marketplace — the price reference |
| Trend / low | average selling price / lowest offer on CM |
| MSRP | manufacturer's suggested retail price of a new product |
| Restock | replenishment of a sold-out product — pushes prices down |
| Out of print | the set is no longer being printed — sealed product prices rise from there |
Missing a term here? Write to us on the
forum — we're continuously updating the glossary.
Rarity and Card Types
| Term | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Reverse holo | shiny card surface except the picture — one per booster |
| IR / SIR | Illustration Rare / Special Illustration Rare — full-art illustrations, today's most desired cards |
| Alt art | alternative illustration of a regular card (Sword & Shield era) — many rank among the most expensive modern cards |
| Chase card | a card you open the set for — the most sought-after piece of the set |
| Hit | a more valuable card from a pack (beyond the regular) |
| Pull rate | the probability of pulling a specific type of card from a booster |
| God pack | an extremely rare pack where every card is special (e.g., in Japanese sets) |
Market and Trading
| Term | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Raw | an ungraded card "as is" — without a slab and grade |
| Slab | sealed grading company case with grade and certificate |
| Pop report | number of copies of a card in a given grade (population) — the fewer, the rarer |
| Singles | individual cards sold separately (opposite of sealed products) |
| Bulk | common cards with minimal value, sold by the kilogram/thousands |
| PC (personal collection) | personal collection — "going to PC" means not for sale |
| Live break | opening products live on stream; you buy a "spot" in the breaker's box |
| Middleman | a collecting service — sends cards for grading for multiple people at once and splits costs |
| LGS | local game store — a local shop with cards and play |
Vintage Terms
| Term | What It Is |
|---|---|
| 1st Edition | first print of the set with an "Edition 1" mark — much more expensive for older sets |
| Shadowless | early Base Set print without shadow around the picture — rarer than regular |
| WOTC era | sets released by Wizards of the Coast (1999–2003) — the classic vintage period |