Reserved List and Power Nine
Black Lotus, Moxen, duals. Half a point can mean thousands. A pre-analysis is the cheapest insurance available.
Pre-grade your Magic cards
Magic: The Gathering raises grading problems other TCGs never face: Alpha's rounded corners, black borders that whiten on contact, and a market where the gap between two adjacent grades runs into thousands on the Reserved List.
In short
To estimate a Magic card's grade before submitting, check the edges first: the black borders of Alpha, Beta, Unlimited and Revised reveal the slightest whitening. Then check centering, corner condition (Alpha corners are naturally more rounded — an edition trait, not a defect) and surface. BGS is the most-used company on vintage Magic thanks to its detailed subgrades.
01 — Cards
Most-graded Magic cards
From 1993 vintage to the modern staples that carry the format.
Black Lotus
Limited Edition Alpha · 1993
Rounded corners by design, not wear
Ancestral Recall
Power Nine · 1993
Black borders show whitening
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
Dominaria United · 2022
Modern foil surface
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
Modern Horizons 2 · 2021
Heavy demand in 10
02 — Key points
Magic-specific issues
Unforgiving black borders
On Beta, Unlimited, Revised and most modern cards, the black border turns the smallest micro-chip into a clearly visible white dot.
Alpha cornersAlpha
Alpha has markedly more rounded corners than Beta, by design. A company that knows its material does not penalise this — but the edition must be identified correctly.
The light test
Creases and bends on old cards only show under raking light. A flat, front-lit photo can miss them entirely.
Decoupled front/back centering
Because the Magic back is uniform, back centering often goes unnoticed by eye while the grader measures it.
03 — Guides
Detailed guide
04 — Details
High-value segments
Alpha, Beta, Unlimited
1993 editions: rarity drives the base value, but condition drives the multiple. High grades are statistically very scarce.
Modern special editions
Serialized, Secret Lair, borderless. Low print runs and pack-fresh condition: this is where 10s are attainable.
Signed and altered cards
A signature or alteration falls outside standard grading and moves into autograph authentication.
05 — Questions
Magic card FAQ
PSA or BGS for Magic?
BGS has historically been stronger on Magic, largely thanks to subgrades that reassure buyers on high-value vintage. PSA offers better general liquidity and wider recognition outside the Magic circle. The choice depends mostly on your target buyer.
How do I tell Alpha from Beta?
Alpha has noticeably more rounded corners and a wider cut radius. Beta has standard corners. It is an edition marker, but also a grading consideration: confusing the two completely distorts the grade you should expect.
Is a played card worth grading?
Rarely, except on very scarce cards where even a 4 or 5 retains substantial value and where the sealed slab secures authenticity — a real concern on the heavily counterfeited Power Nine.
06 — Read next