Trading Cards

Trading card terms

In the world of trading cards, you’ll notice some specific terms crop up time and again. Here, we go through a few of those terms, but we have a more in depth look at common phrases and gameplay jargon in our Trading Card Games Explained blog.

• Booster Pack: A sealed pack of typically 8-10 random cards that helps you add to your collection.
• Foil/Holo/Shiny: A shiny or holographic card that is usually rare and more sought after than others because of its reflective variation.
• Deck: A deck of cards ready to play with. Pre-made ones can be bought or you can build your own through the cards you’ve collected.
• Sleeves: Protective cases that cards can be slid into so that they don’t receive scuffs or scratches, especially through repetitive play.
• Mint: Practically brand new, fresh out of the pack. The best condition a card can be in.

Finding Trading Cards

Most new and highly sought after releases and drops, alongside booster packs, will exclusively hit physical stores. For the latest release visit your nearest shop. Use our Store Locator to find The Entertainer nearest to you.

What makes a trading card valuable?

The value of a trading card depends on several factors including condition and rarity. First off, the main driving factor for a trading card’s value is if it is sought after by others. It can be as rare as you like but if no one wants it, it’s not going to generate interest.

However, typically speaking, collector’s love to get their hands on something few others have. As such, a rare card is likely to garner a lot of attention. Cards that are in better condition are then going to be even more clamoured for, so taking care of your cards could serve you well in the future.

With blogs on the most valuable Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, take a peek and see if any of your collection are worth some serious money.

How to properly handle trading cards

Trading cards can be for play and for collection and however you use them is up to you, as long as you get enjoyment from them. However, if you want to keep them in the best condition possible then, perhaps counter-intuitively, the best way to handle them is to keep physical contact with them to a minimum.

When you get cards, sliding them into protective sleeves as soon as possible is good practice, especially if you’re playing with them in decks as shuffling and tapping them constantly will cause scratches and scuffs. Consider investing in ring binders to hold your trades or collections, and make sure your hands are clean and dry before taking them out and handling them.

If playing, use clean, level surfaces, and try not to pinch, flick or bend the cards too much. For long term storage, keep them in cool, dry spaces away from UV light, moisture or heat.

How to tell if a trading card is good

An authentic trading card should have a certain heft and quality to it. When assessing a card, check to see if the artwork is centred and that it feels like other cards of that brand. Edges and corners should be pristine, and they will often have stamped serial numbers.

Research the value of specific cards online using different marketplaces to gauge its desirability. If you think your card may be extremely valuable, there are professional grading services that will assess the quality of the card under intense light and scrutiny.

Popular types of trading cards

Pokémon Cards

Pokémon is a massive entertainment brand with toys, videogames, films, and a trading card game to its name. The trading card game is a phenomenon, with fans worldwide who will go to great lengths to get their hands on the newest cards.

With Pokémon cards now at The Entertainer, you can head over to our Pokémon hub to keep an eye on the latest releases. If you fancy getting in on the fun, why not read up on how to play the game and then pick up some packs to get your collection started.

Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is considered the first trading card game of the modern era. You play as a powerful sorcerer who summons beasts and uses spells to battle your opponents, and with over three decades of card releases and new mechanics and add-ons to the game allowing users to play in various ways, it remains eternally popular.

Read our blog on how to get to grips with the basics of the game, then pick up some powerful spells and start your mastery of magic today!

Yu-Gi-Oh!

Based on a popular Manga comic book series about a mythical card game, the official card game launched soon after and now has millions of players worldwide. Dueling with monsters, you engage in fantasy battles to see who comes out on top.

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a game of skill and strategy, and you can learn more about how to play via our blog.

Football trading cards and stickers

Football cards and stickers have long been traded in playgrounds and parks up and down the country, with Panini and Topps being firm favourites for generations.

Ideal for any football fanatic, get closer to the game and assemble your ultimate team to collect and trade with. Discover more football toys and collectibles via our football hub.