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Set symbol

A set symbol is the small mark printed on a card that shows which set it comes from. Pokémon and Magic cards carry one, and it is often the first thing to check when you identify a printing.

Also called Expansion symbol.

PokémonMagic, Lorcana and more
Where a Pokémon card shows its set symbol A drawing of a generic Pokémon card with each place its set symbol can sit. Before Expedition: At the right, just under the picture; Since Expedition, in 2002: Most cards: the bottom right corner; Trainer, Energy, GX and EX cards, and promos: The bottom left. Before Expedition At the right, just under the picture Since Expedition, in 2002 Most cards: the bottom right corner Trainer, Energy, GX, EX and promos The bottom left

In more detail

On Pokémon cards, every English set except the first, Base Set, has its own symbol. Cards printed before Expedition Base Set in 2002 show it at the right, just under the picture. Since Expedition, most cards show it in the bottom right corner, while Trainer, Energy, GX and EX cards and promos show it at the bottom left.

Most Magic cards carry the symbol at the center right, below the art. TCGplayer's guide says three Magic sets are easy to misidentify because they are made of reprints that keep their original symbols, so the symbol alone can mislead there, and it tells you to look for the feature that marks a card as a reprint.

Read the symbol together with the card number and the set name in a listing. The same Pokémon or Magic card is printed in many sets, and the symbol and number together tell you which printing you have.

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Where Rip.fan covers it

More in Pokémon cards and in Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece and Lorcana.

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