What Are MTG Error Cards and How Much Are They Worth?

Magic: The Gathering (MTG) error cards are cards that have mistakes from the manufacturing process. These errors can make the cards unique and sometimes more valuable to collectors. The value of an error card depends on the type and severity of the mistake, as well as how rare the error is.

Types of MTG Error Cards

Error cards can have several different issues:

• Printing Errors: Ink smudges, missing colors, or text that is hard to read

• Foil Errors: Problems with the foil layer, such as missing or uneven foil

• Cut Errors: Cards cut off-center, missing borders, or showing parts of other cards

• Packaging Errors: cards with packaging mistakes

The more severe and unusual the error, the higher the price it can fetch on the second-hand market. Some collectors specifically look for cards with interesting printing errors.

Common Misprints That Are Not Error Cards

Some flaws are so common that they are not considered true error cards. These include:

• Slightly misaligned golden stamp

• Cards that are off-center

• Color differences between print runs

These are usually within normal manufacturing variance and do not increase the card’s value. In some cases, they might even lower it.

Examples of MTG Error Cards

Here are some real examples of error cards and their sale prices on Mercari:

Pack Closeout Error

The following card, Repentance from Tempest, was sold for 500 JPY. It's a common low-value card (25 JPY), but the error makes it popular among collectors and fetches a premium. The packaging error can be more common in different sets and may not be as valuable.

Promo Stamp Error

This card, Aven Interrupter from Thunder Junction, was sold for 888 JPY. It is a rare card that normally sells for around 450 JPY.

Card Cut Error

The bottom part of the card is missing its black border, almost cutting into the artist's name. At the top, you can also slightly see the print of a different card. These misaligned cut errors are more common than other types of error cards.

This card, Initiates of the Ebon Hand from Fallen Empires, sold for 300 JPY on Mercari. It is a common card from the set and normally costs around 80 JPY.

Print Missing Completely

The following card was allegedly pulled from a Doctor Who's Commander deck. In the print process, these cards are intentionally blank or have specific markings and are used to fill empty spaces on printing sheets when the exact number of cards doesn't perfectly align with the sheet layout.

This card sold for 7,500 JPY on Mercari. Because it is a rare error card, it commands a much higher price than a standard card.

Back Side Upside Down

In rare cases, Magic: The Gathering cards can have the back side printed upside down. This means that when you flip the card over, the back is oriented in the opposite direction from the front. These upside-down backs are considered genuine manufacturing errors and are highly sought after by collectors because of their rarity and the novelty they bring to a collection.

In extremely rare situations, a Magic card might have the back of a completely different trading card game, such as Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh!.

Here we have, Hunter's Edge from M21, a common card that sold for 6700 JPY.

How to Identify and Value Error Cards

• Severity: Major errors (missing print, wrong card back) are worth more than minor ones (slight misalignment).

• Rarity: The rarer the error, the higher the value.

• Card Value: High-value cards with errors are especially sought after.

• Market Demand: Value can change based on collector interest.

Minor errors on low-value cards usually do not add much value. Major, rare errors can sell for much more than the normal card.

Should You Contact Wizards Support?

If you pull an error card, you can contact Wizards of the Coast for a replacement if it is a production error. The process may take time and requires details like the serial code from the pack. Sometimes, you may receive a different version of the card as a replacement.

I’ve gone through this process myself with a prerelease promo card from the Lord of the Rings set. Wizards didn’t have the exact language or promo version of my card, so they sent me a regular foil English version instead. I didn’t have to send back the error card, so I got to keep both cards, which was a nice surprise.

The correspondence with support took a while, and I had to provide a lot of details, including the serial code from my prerelease pack. It was a bit tiring, but I wanted to see if the process would work.

Tips for Error Card Collectors

MTG error cards can be fascinating collectibles. Their value depends on the type of error, the card itself, and how much collectors want it. If you find a major error, you might have something special!

Do you have any error cards?

Do you happen to have any error cards? If you do I would love to see them. Send me an e-mail, and I can include it in my next blog post about MTG error cards.

I have one error card myself which I found in my bulk. The error is minor, but I have not seen it before, and I'm not sure if it's worth anything. I will keep it for my own collection.

It's a Jinxed Ring from Stronghold, and the shadow of the illustrator's name is misaligned