How to Spot Fake Magic: The Gathering Cards

If you’re looking for tips on how to spot fake Magic: The Gathering cards, you’ve come to the right place. These tips cover everything from using a quality microscope to using a torch to see if the edges of the card are sharp. We also cover the weight test.

Using a high-quality microscope

If you want to spot fake Magic: The Gathering cards, a good quality microscope is a must-have item. Using this tool can reveal many details, including the dot patterns and the overall alignment of the print. Because the print patterns on Magic: The Gathering cards are difficult to copy, fake cards will have different patterns than the authentic ones. A loupe, or small magnifying glass, is a cheaper alternative. Its small size makes it easy to carry along to a game event.

The real card will have two white external borders and a thick black line. It will also have a pattern on the mana symbol. Fake cards are usually missing some or all of these features. Fake cards also look and feel different than real cards. The real card will have a smooth texture, while fake cards are often rougher. If you’re not sure, you can check out a card in a game store or ask a friend to check theirs for you.

A USB microscope will cost you less than $50. It is a great tool to use when collecting vintage cards. If you’re looking for a specific card, you can also use the microscope to compare it with the real one. This will allow you to spot any differences.

The real thing about counterfeit cards is that they do not let light through. A real card will have a thick core paper, but will let light through. The counterfeit version will be much thicker and will not let light pass through it.

Using a torch

Using a torch can be a useful tool for spotting fake MTG cards. The card’s surface should show light under bright light and be slightly see-through, while a fake card will let through too much light and won’t illuminate. You can also use a black-light to check for fakes. The fakes will be unable to pass this test.

Another way to tell if a card is real is to bend it from the top to the bottom. A genuine card should not have a crease and should return to its original position when you bend it. It should also bend easily, unlike a reback, which has a harder surface. Some old proxies have a noticeable crease in the middle. However, newer proxies may be made with the same thicker material as the original.

Another way to spot fake Magic cards is to look closely at them. Some cards are tampered with or have printing inconsistencies, making them look fake. This is why you should always test them more than once and use your judgment. There are two kinds of fake Magic cards: genuine cards and counterfeit cards.

The secondary card market is another place to look for fake Magic cards. This area of the card market is especially vulnerable to counterfeiters, who will prey on unsuspecting MTG players to sell their expensive cards. While it’s impossible to detect fakes in the wild, you can find them in trade binders or online. One of the best ways to spot fake cards is to check for holographic security stamps. These security stamps can be found on rare cards.

The light test can also be used to spot fake re-backs. Most real Magic cards will allow a fair amount of light to pass through. The real cards are always blue, while re-backs are made with an extra layer of glue. However, some new proxies might not allow a lot of light to pass through.

Checking the edges of a card

One of the easiest ways to identify a fake Magic The Gathering card is to check its edges. This is easy to do using a loupe. A loupe has a small magnifying lens that allows you to see the print patterns of individual cards. While these loupes do not have a high resolution, they are excellent for checking the edges of fake Magic cards. If the edges of the card are uneven, it is likely that it is a fake.

Another way to tell if a card is fake is by tearing it in half. If the card is real, it should not have a crease in the middle, which is a telltale sign that it is not a fake. You can also check if the card glows under a blacklight. Genuine Magic cards should be shiny when illuminated by a blacklight.

If the edge of a fake MTG card is rough, it’s probably a fake. A layer-shift, ghosting, or a rough print will also make the card look fake. Make sure to compare it to cards from the same set. This will help you determine the authenticity of the card.

Another sign of a fake Magic The Gathering card is an incorrect font type. Fake cards are often produced with incorrect font styles and edges. The corners and edges of the card should be the same size and shape. Make sure the edges are even and round. In addition, look for the color of the printing.

In addition to checking the edges of a fake MTG card, check the backside to determine if it’s authentic. Some fake cards are also prone to spelling mistakes. While some counterfeiters have improved their skills, the majority are still not professionally edited.

Using a weight test

One way to tell if your cards are fake is to compare them to one another. Look for similar art and a similar dot pattern. A fake card will have its dot pattern distorted, but a genuine card will have its dot pattern unaltered. However, this is not a foolproof test. It is best to carefully examine each card and look for magnification when comparing it to a reference card. This will help you to spot 99% of fake cards.

Another way to tell whether your cards are fake is to measure their weight. Real MTG cards weigh 1.74 grams, but fakes are often much heavier. A weight test can also tell you if a card is re-backed or professionally printed. If the card is heavier or lighter than the others, it is likely a reback.

Another method is to use a q-tip to test the weight of a card. This method can be used on normal or damaged cards. It will not harm the card, but it can damage the surface. A digital scale or caliper can also be used for more precise testing. While using a q-tip will not detect fake cards, it can help you identify them if they are not.

Another way to spot fake MTG cards is to examine the card’s texture. The surface of the card is usually textured, so it is important to check it out with a trader. You can also check the card’s quality by lifting it up and checking its weight.

Another way to spot fake Magic cards is by comparing them to one another. In a recent YouTube video, the manufacturer placed real and fake cards side by side. This makes it easier for people to spot the fakes. However, you should use judgment and make a few tests before deciding to buy a particular card.

Using a rosette pattern

If you’ve ever wondered if your Magic cards are fake, one way to detect it is by examining the rosette pattern. This pattern is created by pressing different layers of ink onto the cardstock. Authentic Magic cards have circular rosette patterns, whereas fake ones will have streaks or non-circular dots.

In order to spot fake cards, you need to compare the rosette pattern on the back face with a reference card. There is a unique pattern on the back face of each card in the same set, and it’s quite difficult to replicate. But with the help of a jeweler’s loupe or microscope, you can make out if the rosette pattern is a fake or not.

Another way to spot fake cards is to check if the card has a rosette pattern on the border. If the rosette pattern is white, the card is likely fake. This is because fake cards have different printing facilities in different parts of the world. Therefore, the cardstock and ink can be different from the ones used by Wizards of the Coast.

The dot pattern on a Magic card is quite unique and difficult to replicate. If it is not perfectly aligned, the card is most likely fake. It is important to use high resolution scans when analysing the patterns. This is especially important when testing online. If the scans are low quality, you won’t be able to get any useful feedback.

Another way to spot fake Magic cards is to look at their weight. Fake cards will be too thin or too thick. However, this can be tricky to check because different sets use different weights. Depending on the manufacturer and expansion, different card weights can vary wildly. The ideal weight for a card will be somewhere between 1.8 and 1.9 grams.