The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Check the inner edge of the card frame: an Unlimited card has a subtle beveled transition just inside the thin black line, while a Revised card does not. The bevel can be faint, so confirm it with a clear image and, when applicable, the card’s tap notation. Border color, missing expansion symbol and missing copyright year are shared traits—not reliable ways to tell these editions apart.
How to tell if a Magic card is Unlimited or Revised
- Inspect the inner frame edge. Follow the border inward from the white outer margin and look immediately inside the thin black line. Unlimited has a slight bevel at the transition into the inner frame; Revised lacks it. Because the difference is subtle, use even lighting and a sharp image. Cardmarket’s comparison guide describes this frame distinction.
- Check the tap notation if the card has one. The guide says Revised uses a tilted “T” tap symbol, whereas Unlimited spells out the word “tap.” Treat this as a corroborating clue, not a universal test: it only applies when the card’s wording includes the relevant notation.
- Use color as a supporting clue only. Unlimited cards are generally more saturated than Revised, but Unlimited cards vary considerably. Color alone cannot settle the identification.
Which clues do not distinguish the editions?
- White borders: both Unlimited and Revised are white-bordered.
- No expansion symbol: neither edition has one.
- No copyright year: neither edition prints one, so its absence is not a deciding test.
These shared features can help rule out some other printings, but they cannot tell Unlimited from Revised on their own. Set release dates are separate from printed copyright dates: Cardmarket dates Unlimited to December 1, 1993, and Revised to April 1994. Wizards describes Unlimited as the white-border set following Beta on its official Japanese product page.
How to check a card before buying
Do not make an edition call from a single blurry front photo. Wizards warns that singles can be counterfeited and that cards can be modified to resemble older printings. Its guidance recommends checking both the front and back before completing a single-card purchase.
- Ask for clear images of both faces, taken in even light.
- Check that the front’s frame detail and any applicable tap notation agree; treat saturation as secondary evidence.
- Inspect the back as well as the front for signs that the card has been altered or does not match the claimed printing.
- If the edition or authenticity remains uncertain, compare the card with a reliable reference and consult a knowledgeable dealer, particularly before a consequential purchase.
Wizards’ counterfeit-card guidance notes that dealers who buy and sell cards may sometimes help spot fakes. Avoid destructive or stress-based tests as routine identification methods.
Quick Recap
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Rank #2
- Condition:New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item -
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#1 Best Overall
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