Misprints occupy a strange corner of the hobby — they're mistakes, but mistakes some collectors actively hunt down.
How they slip through
Misprints happen during production: a miscut border, a missing colour layer, incorrect printed text, or even a duplicated card back that gets past quality control on an otherwise enormous print run.
Usually not tournament legal
Significant misprints generally aren't usable in sanctioned play, largely because a card that doesn't have a normal, identifiable back can create fairness issues during shuffling. Minor cosmetic errors are sometimes allowed at a judge's discretion, but it's not guaranteed.
Why collectors still want them
Genuine scarcity and the novelty of owning a literal one-off production mistake give misprints their own specialised appeal, entirely separate from a card's normal rarity tier — a Common misprint can be more sought-after than plenty of intentionally rare cards.
Frequently asked questions
What causes a Pokémon card misprint?
Production errors like miscut borders, missing colour or incorrect text.
Are misprint cards tournament legal?
Generally no for significant errors, minor ones sometimes allowed at a judge's discretion.
Why do collectors specifically seek out misprints?
Genuine rarity and the novelty of a one-of-a-kind production mistake.