# Riftbound Variant & Finish Glossary: Standard, Foil, Signature, Metal, Overnumbered, Alternate Art

_2026-08-03 · Bill_

Every Riftbound card treatment defined in one place — standard, foil, Signature, Metal, Overnumbered and Alternate Art — and how to tell them apart before you buy.

## The short version

- **The collector number is the identifier**, not the card name. A `*` marks a Signature; a number above the set total marks an Overnumbered print.
- **Standard and foil** are the base printings; **Signature, Metal, Overnumbered and Alternate Art** are the premium treatments that carry the price gaps.
- Two printings of the same champion can differ by orders of magnitude — confirm the treatment before you compare prices.
- Browse each treatment live: [Signature](/cards/printing/signature) · [Overnumbered](/cards/printing/overnumbered) · [Alternate Art](/cards/printing/alternate-art).

Riftbound prints the same champion in several treatments, and they are not interchangeable. A standard printing and a Signature of the same card can differ by thousands. This page defines each treatment and, more usefully, tells you how to identify it from the card in your hand.

## The treatments at a glance

| Treatment | How to identify it | Roughly where it sits on price |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Standard** | Plain collector number within the set total (e.g. 058/298), no special finish | The baseline |
| **Foil** | A reflective finish over standard artwork | A modest premium over standard |
| **Signature** | Collector number contains an asterisk (e.g. 191\*/166), stamped artist signature | Top of the market |
| **Metal** | Premium metallic treatment of a chase champion | Just below, sometimes alongside, top Signatures |
| **Overnumbered** | Collector number exceeds the set total (e.g. 197/166), or an SP-prefixed special number | Strong premium, higher at low serials |
| **Alternate Art** | A variant letter on the number (e.g. 021a) or visibly different artwork from the base print | Varies; early-set alt arts hold value well |

## Reading a collector number

The collector number is the only field that unambiguously identifies a printing, which is why every price lookup should start there rather than with the card name.

- `058/298` — card 58 of a 298-card set. A standard print.
- `021a/298` — the same slot with a variant letter: an alternate-art printing.
- `191*/166` — the asterisk marks a **Signature**.
- `197/166` — numbered above the set total: **Overnumbered**.
- `SP01` — a special/serial-numbered print, treated as Overnumbered for classification.

## Why this matters for pricing

Price-comparison results are only meaningful within a single printing. Comparing a Signature's asking price against a standard print's is not a comparison, it's a category error — and it's the most common reason someone thinks they've found an incredible deal.

When you look a card up, confirm the collector number, then compare. [How Riftbound price comparison works](/blog/riftbound-card-price-comparison) covers the rest of the method, and [how to value a card](/blog/riftbound-card-values) covers sold comps and graded premiums.

## Rarity is a different axis

Treatment and rarity are separate things. A card has a rarity tier (Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Showcase) *and* a treatment. Showcase is the one that blurs the line, because a Showcase card is itself an alternate art — which is why it isn't additionally labelled Alternate Art.

For the rarity side, read [understanding Riftbound card rarity and printings](/guides/understanding-riftbound-card-rarity).

## Browse each treatment live

- [Every Signature printing](/cards/printing/signature) — the top of the market.
- [Every Overnumbered printing](/cards/printing/overnumbered).
- [Every Alternate Art printing](/cards/printing/alternate-art).
- [The full card database](/browse), or [by set](/sets) and [by champion](/champions).

Chasing these deliberately? [The most expensive Riftbound cards](/blog/most-expensive-riftbound-cards) explains what drives the premiums, and [pull rates and box EV](/guides/riftbound-booster-box-ev-worth-ripping-or-buying-singles) covers whether opening product is a sane way to find them.

## FAQ

**What is a Riftbound Signature card?**

A Signature printing carries a stamped artist signature and a collector number containing an asterisk (for example 191*/166). Signatures sit at the top of the Riftbound market and are the printings most often meant by 'chase card'.

**What does Overnumbered mean in Riftbound?**

An Overnumbered card carries a collector number higher than the set's stated total — for example 197/166. The number itself signals a print outside the base set, which is why these command a premium.

**What's the difference between Alternate Art and Showcase?**

Both are non-standard artwork for a card. Showcase is a rarity tier that is itself an alternate art, so a Showcase card isn't additionally labelled Alternate Art; Alternate Art refers to a variant printing of a card whose base version uses different artwork.

**How do I tell which variant I'm holding?**

Read the collector number first. An asterisk means Signature; a number above the set total means Overnumbered; a trailing letter (for example 021a) means a variant printing. Then check the finish — foil and metallic treatments are visible under angled light.

Source: https://riftcompare.com/guides/riftbound-variant-glossary