TCG & Collectibles Glossary
, by KTM Collectibles, 6 min reading time
By: KTM Collectibles
From booster boxes to graded slabs, the world of trading card game collectibles comes with its own language. This glossary covers the key terms you'll come across when browsing sealed products, graded cards, singles, and accessories. It's built for collectors at every level, from those cracking their first pack to seasoned hobbyists hunting Special Illustration Rares.
ACE Grading
A UK-based trading card grading company that evaluates cards on criteria such as centering, corners, edges, and surfaces, then encapsulates them in a tamper-evident case with a numeric grade. ACE Grading is known for its transparent grading scale and is popular among UK-based collectors. KTM Collectibles stocks ACE-certified graded cards.
Allocation
The quantity of a new TCG release that a distributor assigns to a retailer. Allocation limits determine how much stock a store like KTM Collectibles can offer at launch, which is why popular sets sometimes sell out quickly on pre-order.
Alt Art (Alternative Art)
An alternate illustration version of an existing card, typically printed at a high rarity tier such as Secret Rare or Illustration Rare. Alt Arts feature unique, often dramatic artwork that differs from the standard version, making them some of the most sought-after cards in modern collecting.
Booster Box
A sealed box containing multiple booster packs from a single TCG set. Booster boxes are one of the most popular sealed products for collectors because they offer a large number of pulls from one set and are often the best way to chase rare cards in volume.
Booster Pack
A sealed pack of randomised cards from a specific TCG set, typically containing between 5 and 12 cards depending on the game. Booster packs are the fundamental unit of sealed product and the starting point for most collectors.
Case
A factory-sealed shipping container holding multiple booster boxes, typically 6, 8, 12, or 20 depending on the product line. Cases represent the largest standard unit of sealed product and are popular with bulk buyers and serious collectors looking to maximise their chances at ultra-rare pulls.
CCG
Short for Collectible Card Game. The term is often used interchangeably with TCG (Trading Card Game) across the hobby. You'll see both abbreviations when researching products, and they refer to the same category of games and collectibles.
Centering
A grading criterion that measures how well a card's printed image is aligned within its borders. Grading companies like PSA and ACE assess centering as part of their evaluation, and cards with poor centering (where the border is noticeably thicker on one side) will receive a lower grade.
Chase Card
The most desirable, high-value card in a given set. Chase cards drive collector demand and often determine which sealed products are most popular, since they are the cards everyone hopes to pull.
Elite Trainer Box (ETB)
A mid-tier Pokémon TCG sealed product that bundles several booster packs with accessories like card sleeves, dice, and a storage box. ETBs are a great entry point for new collectors and a staple purchase for experienced ones looking for a well-rounded opening experience.
Encapsulation
The process of sealing a graded card inside a tamper-evident hard plastic case (often called a "slab"). Encapsulation protects the card from physical damage and environmental wear while preserving its authenticated grade for future buyers.
Full Art
A card where the artwork extends across the entire card face, replacing the standard bordered layout. Full Art cards are a premium rarity type prized by collectors for their striking visual impact and typically command higher prices than standard versions of the same card.
Gem Mint (PSA 10)
The highest numeric grade awarded by PSA, indicating a card in near-perfect condition with flawless corners, edges, surfaces, and centering. Gem Mint cards are the most prized by collectors and generally carry a significant premium over lower grades.
Graded Card
A card that has been professionally assessed by a grading company, assigned a numeric grade reflecting its condition, and sealed in a tamper-evident case. Grading provides an objective, standardised measure of a card's condition, giving buyers confidence in what they're purchasing.
Holo / Holofoil
A card featuring a shiny, reflective foil finish on its artwork. Holofoil cards have been a core rarity type across Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, and other TCGs for decades, and they remain a satisfying pull from any booster pack.
Illustration Rare (IR)
A Pokémon TCG rarity tier introduced in the Scarlet & Violet era, featuring cards with full-scene, immersive artwork. Illustration Rares are a key chase rarity in modern sets and sit above standard holos and Full Arts in the rarity hierarchy.
Japanese TCG
Cards produced for the Japanese market, which are often released earlier than their English-language equivalents and feature different rarity structures, set compositions, and sometimes exclusive artwork. KTM Collectibles stocks Japanese products alongside English, Chinese, and Korean variants.
MintKeeper
Card protection accessories, including sleeves and storage products. MintKeeper products are designed to offer reliable protection at collector-friendly prices.
Pop Report
Short for Population Report. This is a database maintained by grading companies showing how many copies of a specific card have been graded at each grade level. Collectors use pop reports to assess rarity and value; a card with very few PSA 10s on the pop report, for example, will typically be worth more.
Pre-Order
Reserving an upcoming TCG product before its official release date. Pre-ordering secures your allocation early, which is especially important for high-demand sets that may sell out quickly at launch.
PSA
Short for Professional Sports Authenticator, the world's leading card grading and authentication company. PSA assigns grades on a 1 to 10 scale, with PSA 10 (Gem Mint) being the highest. KTM Collectibles stocks PSA-graded cards across multiple TCG brands.
Pull Rate
The statistical probability of obtaining a card of a specific rarity from a booster pack. Pull rates help collectors set expectations before opening sealed product; for instance, knowing that a Special Illustration Rare might appear roughly once every few booster boxes can guide purchasing decisions.
Raw Card
A card that has not been submitted to a grading service. Raw cards are sold and traded based on the seller's description of their condition, as opposed to graded cards which carry an authenticated, standardised grade inside a sealed case.
Sealed Product
Any unopened, factory-sealed TCG item, including booster packs, booster boxes, Elite Trainer Boxes, tins, and collection boxes. Sealed product is valued both for the experience of opening it and, in some cases, as a long-term collectible that can appreciate once it goes out of print.
Secret Rare
A card numbered beyond the official set size (for example, card 201 out of a 198-card set), typically featuring premium artwork or special finishes. Secret Rares sit at the top of most sets' rarity hierarchies and are among the most exciting pulls from a booster box.
Slab
Collector slang for a graded card sealed inside its hard plastic case. When someone says they're "buying a slab," they mean a professionally graded and encapsulated card. The term is used across all TCG brands and grading companies.
Special Illustration Rare (SIR)
The highest-tier alternative art rarity in modern Pokémon Scarlet & Violet sets, featuring elaborate, textured, full-scene artwork. SIRs are the ultimate chase cards in current Pokémon sets and command some of the highest prices on the secondary market.
TCG
Short for Trading Card Game. TCG is the standard abbreviation used across the hobby to describe games like Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, and others where players collect and trade cards. It's the core product category at KTM Collectibles.