TCG glossary: the terms you meet when buying collectible cards
Updated: 08/19/2026
Collectible card shops use a vocabulary that is not obvious to a newcomer. Below are the terms that appear most often on product pages, explained briefly.
Sealed products
The terms for sealed products describe packaging of different sizes from the same set: from the individual pack (booster) up to the complete box (booster box or display), plus special formats such as ETB, bundle, blister, tin and structure deck.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Booster / pack | The individual sealed pack, with a fixed number of random cards from a set. |
| Booster box | The sealed box containing several packs from the same set. |
| Display | The same as a booster box; the term is used mostly for Yu-Gi-Oh! and One Piece. |
| ETB (Elite Trainer Box) | A Pokémon box with a few packs plus accessories: sleeves, counters, a storage box. |
| Booster bundle | Small packaging with a few packs, sometimes also a promo card. |
| Blister | Cardboard packaging with one or a few packs, often with a visible promo card. |
| Tin | A collectible metal box, with packs and usually promo cards. |
| Structure deck / Starter deck | A pre-built deck, playable immediately, with a coherent strategy. |
| Sealed | A factory-sealed, unopened product. |
| Singles | Individual cards, sold one by one, outside sealed products. |
Cards and rarities
Rarity terms describe a card's finish and artwork — foil, full art, extended art — or how it was distributed (promo, reprint). “Pull rate” is the probability of finding a given rarity in a pack.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Foil / holo | A card with a glossy, reflective finish. |
| Full art / alt art | A card with the artwork extended across the whole surface, or with alternative artwork. |
| Extended art | The artwork goes beyond the card's standard frame. |
| Promo | A card distributed outside the regular sets, usually with a product or at an event. |
| Pull rate | The probability of finding a given rarity in a pack. |
| Reprint | The reprinting of a card in a later set. |
Condition and grading
A card's condition is graded on a scale from NM (Near Mint, practically new) down to HP (Heavily Played, heavy wear). “Graded” means a card assessed by a specialist company and sealed in a case with an assigned score.
| Abbreviation | Condition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| NM | Near Mint | Practically new; at most minimal imperfections, invisible at a normal glance. |
| LP | Lightly Played | Light signs of use on the edges or surface. |
| MP | Moderately Played | Visible wear, but the card is intact. |
| HP | Heavily Played | Heavy wear, possible creases. |
| Graded | Graded | A card assessed by a specialist company and sealed in a case, with an assigned score. |
Play and ordering terms
These terms cover play formats (draft, sealed), the competitive state of a format (meta) and the commercial statuses you see on the site (pre-order, backorder).
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Draft | A format where players open packs and pick cards in turn, building a deck on the spot. |
| Sealed | A format where each player receives sealed product and builds their deck only from it. |
| Meta | The set of dominant strategies in a format at a given moment. |
| Pre-order | Reserving a product before its official release. |
| Backorder | A product available from a partner; delivery extends to 7-10 working days. |
Frequently asked questions
- What does NM mean on a card?
- NM means Near Mint — the card is practically new, with at most minimal imperfections that are invisible at a normal glance.
- What is the difference between a display and a booster box?
- None in practice: both name the sealed box with several packs from the same set. “Display” is used mostly for Yu-Gi-Oh! and One Piece, “booster box” for Pokémon and Magic.
- What does sealed mean?
- Sealed means a factory-sealed, unopened product. Every sealed product sold by TCG Shop reaches you exactly as it was packaged by the manufacturer.
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