Every category has to reach 10
Lockbox grades Centering, Corners, Edges and Surface from 1 to 10 in half-point steps. To receive the overall label 10 Gem Mint, the copy must have 10 in all four categories.
The ordinary calculation already makes that demanding. It takes a weighted average, rounds down to the next half point and limits the result to half a point above the lowest subgrade. A separate rule reserves the top result for four perfect scores.
Don't import another company's meaning of a top grade. CGC's published scale distinguishes its Pristine 10 from its Gem Mint 10. Lockbox uses its own rules and names; a familiar label isn't an equivalence between a game collectible and a professionally graded physical card.
Put “almost” through the formula
| Centering | Corners | Edges | Surface | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 Gem Mint |
| 9.5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9.5 Mint |
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 9.5 | 9.5 Mint |
| 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 Mint |
In the second row, the weighted average is 9.9. In the third, it is 9.85 because Surface has the larger weight. Both round down to 9.5. Those differences remain useful when comparing the subgrades, but neither becomes a 10.
The final row is a reminder that the overall grade is a summary, not the whole condition profile. Four 9.5s and three 10s plus one 9.5 can share the same headline grade.
Gem Mint is the label; Pristine is the shell tier
Two naming systems meet at the top. The condition label printed with the number is Gem Mint. The visual frame tier for a 10 is called Pristine. The shell describes the presentation that accompanies the grade; it isn't another score you have to earn after reaching 10.
You can apply the same distinction lower down the ladder. Frame styling gives you a quick visual cue, while the numeric label and subgrades provide the precise condition information. Read the label before treating a frame color as a complete assessment.
What perfection changes on the card
The current wear model treats 10 as a clean endpoint with no generated wear. That means the print and perimeter aren't given the damage treatments used by lower-condition copies. The character and chosen art variant remain the subject of the card.
A Gem Mint Uncommon is still Uncommon artwork. A lower-grade Legendary is still a Legendary variant. Condition and art rarity are separate dimensions; reaching the top of one doesn't silently move the other.
Likewise, a 10 doesn't improve Haul, reduce Heat, add a role or give a BLACKOUT runner better gameplay stats. It is a collectible condition result. The full card-game Roster remains available without having to pull a perfect copy of anyone.
Opening, keeping and comparing
Grades are generated when Case Files open. The server selects an overall grade according to the configured odds and produces compatible subgrades. This isn't a physical card repeatedly sent for another opinion, and ordinary play doesn't raise a 9.5 to 10.
Check the current in-game odds where they're presented before deciding to open files. A rare result isn't made inevitable by a disappointing streak. Use the listed odds to understand the chance of an outcome, not to schedule when it will happen.
If you do collect a 10, inspect the artwork rather than stopping at the number. If you prefer the personality of a worn copy, keep that preference. Understanding why a 10 is special should make the collection more interesting, not make every other card disappear from it.