Understanding Riftbound Card Rarity & Printings

Two copies of the "same" Riftbound card can have very different prices — because they're different printings. Here's how rarity and special treatments work, so you always know exactly what you're buying.

The rarity ladder

Every base Riftbound card has a rarity, shown on RiftCompare with a coloured badge:

• Common — the backbone of the set; cheap and plentiful.
• Uncommon — a step up in scarcity.
• Rare — less common, often deck staples.
• Epic — scarcer still, and home to many chase cards.
• Showcase — special alternate-art treatments; the rarest pulls and usually the priciest.

Higher rarity generally means a higher price, but playability matters too — a Rare that defines the meta can cost more than an Epic nobody plays.

Special printings (and how we label them)

Beyond rarity, the same card can appear in several printings. RiftCompare labels each one right in the card name so you're never guessing:

• Alt Art — an alternate-artwork version of a card (collector numbers like 112a). Plays identically to the base card; priced as a collectible.
• Showcase — the premium alt-art treatment (see above).
• Signature — artist-signed, "overnumbered" cards marked with a ★ in the collector number (e.g. 223★/221). Among the rarest cards in the game.
• Overnumbered — cards numbered beyond the set's base count (e.g. 238/219) — special chase pulls.
• Promo — limited printings from prereleases, organised play and events. A promo shares the base card's art and number but trades at its own price.

Why the same card has multiple prices

Because each printing is, to a collector, a different card. The base print is what you want for a deck — it plays the same and costs the least. The fancy versions (alt-art, Signature, promo) cost more because they're scarcer, not because they're better in play. On any card page the printing is spelled out in the title, so you can pick exactly the version you mean to buy.

The practical takeaway

• Building a deck? Buy the cheapest base print — it plays identically.
• Collecting? Decide which treatment you're chasing (alt-art, Signature, promo) and confirm the label before you buy.
• Selling? Make sure you list the right printing — mixing them up is the most common pricing mistake.

Want to see the chase cards in action? Read the most valuable Riftbound cards, then browse the database and sort by price.