Checklist Methodology

How we build a checklist

Every checklist goes through the same four steps before it's published, and stays open to correction afterwards.

1. 01

   Source

   We gather the manufacturer's published checklist and product information, then the product guides, odds sheets and established hobby references that cover the release.

2. 02

   Structure

   Cards are organized the way the product is: base set, subsets and inserts, autographs and relics, each with its own parallel ladder and print runs.

3. 03

   Verify

   Product Year, release date, card numbers, subjects, section hierarchy, parallels, autograph and relic tags, and variation identifiers are each reviewed on their own, not assumed from one another.

4. 04

   Publish & maintain

   Once published, a checklist is updated when manufacturers release changes or collectors report confirmed corrections.

Sources we use

What every checklist includes

Product Year & release date

Product Year is the year on the product (for example 2025-26). Release Date is when it reached the market. When the exact street date can't be confirmed, we show the year only.

Card numbers & subjects

Each card's number and the player, character or subject on it, exactly as issued, including multi-subject cards.

Sections & subsets

Base set, subsets, inserts and variations, nested the way the product is organized.

Parallels & print runs

Every documented parallel for each section, with its serial-numbered print run (such as /99 or 1/1) when one exists.

Autograph & relic tags

Sections containing signed cards or game-used and event-worn memorabilia are tagged so they're easy to find.

Variations & short prints

Image variations, short prints and the manufacturer identifiers that tell them apart, where they've been published.

What we never assume

A checklist is only useful if you can trust it. If something can't be confirmed, it isn't published as fact.

• No filled-in numbering gaps. A missing card number stays missing until the card is confirmed.
• No invented subjects. We don't guess who appears on an unannounced card.
• No print runs from pack odds. Odds tell you how often a card falls, not how many exist, so they're never converted into a serial number.
• No unresolved sections presented as final. Sections still being confirmed aren't published as complete.

Checklist terms explained

Base set

The core run of cards in a product, usually the most common and numbered consecutively.

Subset / insert

A themed group of cards inside a product with its own design and numbering, separate from the base set.

Parallel

A version of an existing card with a different color, finish or pattern. Parallels share the card number of the original.

Print run (serial-numbered)

The number of copies made of a numbered card, shown as /99, /25 and so on. Each copy is stamped with its own number.

1/1 (one-of-one)

A card with a print run of one: only a single copy exists.

Short print (SP / SSP)

A card produced in smaller quantities than the rest of its set without being serial-numbered. SSP means super short print.

Variation

A card that shares a number with a base card but differs in image, design or text.

Autograph

A card signed by the player or subject, either directly on the card or on an applied sticker.

Relic / memorabilia

A card containing a piece of game-used, player-worn or event-used material, such as a jersey or patch swatch.

Rookie card (RC)

A player's first officially licensed card in a major release, usually marked with an RC logo.

Frequently asked questions