Reserved List and Power Nine
Black Lotus, Moxen, duals. Half a point can mean thousands. A pre-analysis is the cheapest insurance available.
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.
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
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
Alpha corners
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.
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.
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.