- Original packaging — a mint-on-card figure can be worth 10x its loose counterpart.
- Joint tightness — loose joints signal heavy play wear and drag prices down.
- Paint integrity — check eyes, logos and small details for rubs and chips.
- Production variants — short-run variants and factory errors often command big premiums.
- Provenance — documented history (original receipts, one-owner collections) builds buyer trust and value.