Quick answer
CardSpicy reads a Dragon Ball card number as a prefix, a number and a position, because the prefix is what tells you which of the two games printed it and which product line it came from.
A Dragon Ball card number is a prefix, a number and a position, and the prefix is doing all the work. It tells you which of the two games printed the card, which product line it came from and, in some cases, that it is not a normal card at all. This page is the lookup table for every prefix currently in use.
How the system works
A code such as BT27-019, FB05-119 or SB02-022 breaks into three parts: the letters, which identify the product line; the number before the hyphen, which identifies the specific set; and the number after it, which is the card’s position within that set. Once you can read the letters, you can place any card in a listing in seconds. How to read a Dragon Ball card number walks through the mechanics; this page is the table.
Masters prefixes
| Prefix | Line | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| BT | Main booster series | The largest family in the catalogue, running from Galactic Battle (2017) onward through the numbered main sets. |
| TB | Themed sets | A small line built around one arc or theme rather than continuing the main series. |
| DB | Draft boxes | A short side line printed for draft play. |
| EX | Expansion and anniversary product | Ultimate Boxes, anniversary boxes, the Magnificent Collection and the Collector’s Selection volumes. |
| SD | Starter decks | A complete, ready-to-play deck in one box, built around a single Leader. |
| XD | Expert decks | The same idea as a starter deck, tuned for a player who already has a collection. |
| EB | Battle Evolution booster | A one-off booster line. |
Fusion World prefixes
| Prefix | Line | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| FB | Main booster series | The numbered main line, starting at FB01 Awakened Pulse and continuing set by set. |
| SB | Manga Booster | Booster packs built around manga-panel art, and the line that first put energy markers inside a booster pack. |
| ST | Story Booster | A booster line built around the anime’s narrative rather than the competitive pool. |
| FS | Starter decks | Fusion World’s ready-to-play decks, numbered from FS01 upward. |
| E | Energy Markers | Not a rarity and not a set prefix: energy markers carry a bare E and their own running number, such as E-42. |
Prefixes that are not a set
Two prefixes break the pattern and are worth knowing for that reason.
P is used by promos in both games. A promo was never sold in a booster — it was given out at an event, bundled with a product or issued to judges — so its supply is set by how many events ran rather than by a print run. Some promos carry no number at all, which puts them outside the system entirely. The promo article covers the distribution types.
E is the other one. Energy Markers are a card type of their own rather than a rarity tier, and they number themselves. It is the only prefix in either game that points at a card type rather than a product. The Energy Marker article explains what they are and why they are collected.
What the prefix does not tell you
Two things, and both matter when buying. It does not tell you the language: the same card number is printed in Japanese, English and other languages, and the code is identical across them. And it does not tell you the printing: where a card has an alternate art or a premium parallel, both share the number, so the code cannot distinguish the ordinary card from the expensive one. Those two facts account for most of the misreadings of a Dragon Ball listing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tell a Masters card from a Fusion World card?
By the prefix. BT, TB, DB, EX, SD and XD are Masters; FB, SB, ST and FS are Fusion World. The two games do not share cards.
What does the number after the prefix mean?
It identifies the set. BT27 is the twenty-seventh set of the main Masters booster line; FB05 is the fifth of the Fusion World line.
What does the number after the hyphen mean?
It is the card’s position within that set, not a rarity or a ranking. Two cards with adjacent positions can sit at completely different values.
Why do promos have a different prefix?
Because they were never sold in a booster. Promos use a P prefix in both games, and some are issued with no number at all, which is why the code alone is not always enough to place a card.
Does the code tell you the language?
No. The same card number is printed in Japanese, English and other languages, and the edition is stated on the product rather than in the code.
Sources
Sources and further reading
- Bandai — DRAGON BALL SUPER CARD GAME official rule manuals and product pages for both Masters and Fusion World, including the statements on card types, rarity tiers, deck construction and booster contents.
- PriceCharting — Dragon Ball console and individual card listings. PSA 10 values retrieved 2026-10-04.
- CardSpicy — the Dragon Ball card index, which tracks 9,828 card printings across 101 sets and the graded values attached to them.
Prices quoted are secondary-market observations at the date cited and move quickly; nothing here is a valuation or an investment recommendation. Our own asking prices for the cards we hold are on each product page.
Where to go next
- The CardSpicy card index — every card we track, with its PSA 10 population and market history (195 cards).
- The illustrator index — every artist behind those cards, card by card (110 artists).
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