The 'T' Test: The Wavy Letter Edge on the Card Back

The letter 'T' in 'The' on the card back has a deliberate edge texture — wavy on two sides, smooth on one — that fakes tend to flatten.

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What this checks

The shape of the 'T' in the 'Magic: The Gathering' wordmark on the back. Genuine printing gives it asymmetric edges.

Tools: Loupe helps, but often visible with a sharp eye

Real reference: genuine Counterspell
Real reference: genuine Counterspell (Limited Edition Alpha, 1993). Compare your card against a verified genuine scan like this — look for the bottom and right edges of the T are subtly wavy, while the left edge is a clean, straight line. A counterfeit instead shows: all edges of the T look the same — no contrast between a smooth side and a wavy side.
Image via Scryfall · © Wizards of the Coast.

Genuine looks like

The bottom and right edges of the T are subtly wavy, while the left edge is a clean, straight line.

Fake looks like

All edges of the T look the same — no contrast between a smooth side and a wavy side.

Step by step

  1. 1Look at the 'Magic: The Gathering' text on the card back.
  2. 2Find the 'T' in the word 'The'.
  3. 3Examine its edges closely, ideally with a loupe.
  4. 4Confirm the bottom and right edges are wavy while the left is straight.
  5. 5Treat uniformly smooth edges as suspicious.

Why it matters

It needs little or no equipment and pairs well with the green dot test on the same card back.

Related methods

Green dot testBack comparisonPrint/rosette test

Educational guidance only — no method is a guarantee of authenticity. When in doubt on a valuable card, consult a professional grading or authentication service.