Weiss Schwarz
Published by Bushiroad since 2007, it is the elder of crossover TCGs: dozens of anime licences across dedicated series. An overwhelmingly Japanese market, with signature and foil finishes that mark easily.
Manga cards
One Piece Card Game, Dragon Ball Super, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Union Arena: manga TCGs are the fastest-growing grading segment. Japanese print runs often have better cut quality, which changes the strategy.
In short
Manga TCG cards (One Piece, Dragon Ball Super, Yu-Gi-Oh!) are graded on the same four criteria as any other TCG: centering, corners, edges, surface. The particularity of Japanese prints is generally more consistent centering than western versions, which makes high grades more attainable — but also makes surface and edges that much more decisive in the final grade.
Most sought-after manga cards
Yu-Gi-Oh! is still the most-graded manga game, well ahead of recent licences.
Dark Magician
Legend of Blue Eyes · 2002
1st Edition highly sought after
Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Legend of Blue Eyes · 2002
Dark borders show whitening
Exodia the Forbidden One
Legend of Blue Eyes · 2002
Ultra Rare, fragile surface
Red-Eyes Black Dragon
Legend of Blue Eyes · 2002
Often off-centre
What to watch for
Japanese centering
Japanese prints are statistically better centered. The direct consequence: the other criteria become the deciding factors for a 10.
Glossy finishes
One Piece Alternate Art and Manga Rare cards have highly reflective coatings that show every fingerprint. Shoot in indirect light.
Dark borders
As with Magic, the dark borders on Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball cards make any whitening stand out.
Authenticity
Vintage Yu-Gi-Oh! and high-value One Piece cards are counterfeited. A sealed slab is worth as much for authentication as for the grade.
Guides by game
Every manga TCG has its own print defects and its own collecting segments. Here is the detail, game by game.
The other manga and anime TCGs
They do not have a dedicated guide yet, but grade on the same four criteria.
Gundam Card Game
Bandai's return to the Gundam licence, with an adult collector base and strong attachment to iconic mecha. The graded market is still very young.
My Hero Academia Collectible Card Game
Tied to one of the most-watched shōnen licences of the past decade. Demand tracks the anime's news cycle closely.
Cardfight!! Vanguard
Bushiroad, since 2011. A long history, a considerable catalogue, and elaborate higher rarities that remain the most active graded segment.
Shadowverse: Evolve
The physical version of Cygames' digital game. Heavily worked illustrations, a niche market, but sought-after high rarities.
Battle Spirits, Universus and the rest
The catalogue of anime-licensed TCGs is vast and moves fast. If your game appears nowhere here, the analysis still works: it judges condition from the image, not the licence.