diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/persistence/_persistence.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/persistence/_persistence.dm
index 12cbb5c9da..7b8074f3ca 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/persistence/_persistence.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/persistence/_persistence.dm
@@ -367,7 +367,8 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(persistence)
 
 		var/list/card_types = list()
 		for(var/obj/item/tcg_card/card in binder.cards)
-			card_types.Add(card.datum_type)
+			if(!card.illegal) //Nope, don't want free cards as traitor/ops!
+				card_types.Add(card.datum_type)
 
 		ending_human.client.prefs.tcg_cards = card_types
 		ending_human.client.prefs.save_character()
diff --git a/code/modules/tcg/cards.dm b/code/modules/tcg/cards.dm
index 65448c1687..0208881b2d 100644
--- a/code/modules/tcg/cards.dm
+++ b/code/modules/tcg/cards.dm
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@
 	var/flipped = FALSE
 	var/tapped = FALSE
 	var/special = FALSE
+	var/illegal = FALSE
 
 /obj/item/tcg_card/special
 	special = TRUE
@@ -90,6 +91,8 @@
 	to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>Rarity: [card_datum.rarity]</span>")
 	to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>Card Type: [card_datum.card_type]</span>")
 	to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>It's effect is: [card_datum.rules]</span>")
+	if(illegal)
+		to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>It's a low-quality copy of a real card. TCG Gaming Community won't probably accept it.</span>") //Always examine your cards baby! It might be a cheap syndicate knockoff and it won't save!
 
 /obj/item/tcg_card/openTip(location, control, params, user) //Overriding for nice UI
 	if(flipped)
@@ -105,7 +108,7 @@
 					    <span class='notice'>It's effect is: [card_datum.rules]</span>"
 	openToolTip(user,src,params,title = name,content = desc_content,theme = "")
 
-/obj/item/tcg_card/New(loc, new_datum)
+/obj/item/tcg_card/New(loc, new_datum, illegal_card = FALSE)
 	. = ..()
 	if(!special)
 		datum_type = new_datum
@@ -114,6 +117,7 @@
 	icon_state = card_datum.icon_state
 	name = card_datum.name
 	desc = card_datum.desc
+	illegal = illegal_card
 
 /obj/item/tcg_card/attack_hand(mob/user)
 	var/list/possible_actions = list(
@@ -281,7 +285,7 @@
 	. = ..()
 	var/list/cards = buildCardListWithRarity(card_count, guaranteed_count)
 	for(var/template in cards)
-		new /obj/item/tcg_card(get_turf(user), template)
+		new /obj/item/tcg_card(get_turf(user), template, illegal)
 	to_chat(user, "<span_class='notice'>Wow! Check out these cards!</span>")
 	playsound(loc, 'sound/items/poster_ripped.ogg', 20, TRUE)
 	if(prob(contains_coin))
diff --git a/code/modules/uplink/uplink_items/uplink_badass.dm b/code/modules/uplink/uplink_items/uplink_badass.dm
index 7264046948..9181096124 100644
--- a/code/modules/uplink/uplink_items/uplink_badass.dm
+++ b/code/modules/uplink/uplink_items/uplink_badass.dm
@@ -90,5 +90,5 @@
 	name = "TCG Nuclear Cardpack"
 	desc = "A cardpack filled with top-tier TCG cards."
 	item = /obj/item/cardpack/syndicate
-	cost = 8 //Why so pricey? Cuz it's free 24 cards for a traitor!
+	cost = 4