Library
Collecting Guides
Practical, plain-language guides for reading cards, understanding rarity, protecting a collection and choosing a focus.
All guides
- How to Read a Trading Card 10 min read
- Rarity and Finishes Explained 8 min read
- Storing and Protecting Your Cards 9 min read
- Card Condition Basics 10 min read
- Building a Themed Collection 9 min read
- How to Spot Fake Trading Cards: A Careful Checklist 10 min read
- How to Organize and Catalog a Card Collection 9 min read
- Buying and Trading Cards Safely: Habits That Protect You 10 min read
Where to begin
New to collecting? Start with how to read a trading card, then rarity and finishes. Once you know what you have, storing and protecting your cards and card condition basics will help you look after it. When you are ready to grow, building a themed collection and organizing a card collection keep things tidy, and spotting fake cards and buying and trading safely help you stay safe.
Every guide is written in plain language and none of them quotes prices. For longer reading about how the games work, see our articles.
Tools to go with the guides
Use the card explorer to look up a card, the comparator to see two or three cards side by side, and My Collection to track what you own.