Trading Card Conditioning Standards

We grade trading cards carefully so you always know what you’re buying or trading. Condition is based on how many flaws a card has, how bad they are, and what type they are.

Imperfections can come from:

  • Normal handling
  • Storage
  • Gameplay
  • Manufacturing defects

What We Look At

1. Structure – Is the card physically intact and stable?

2. Playability – Can it still be legally used in gameplay?

3. Authenticity – Can it be verified as a real, unaltered card?

If a card’s structure is compromised, it is automatically classified as Damaged.

How We Measure Wear

Severity Levels

  • Slight – Very small, barely noticeable
  • Minor – Clearly visible, but not severe
  • Moderate – Obvious and impacts appearance
  • Major – Heavy damage, very noticeable

Common Imperfection Types (Plain Language)

  • Edgewear – Whitening or wear on edges/corners
  • Scratches – Lines or marks on the surface
  • Scuffing – Multiple small scratches
  • Surface Wear – Artwork/layer wearing through
  • Grime – Dirt, oils, residue from handling
  • Indentation – Dents or impressions
  • Bends – Creases or fold lines
  • Faults – Splitting or separation in the card material
  • Defects – Printing or factory errors
  • Damage – Severe issues affecting structure

Condition Levels

Near Mint (NM)

Looks almost new. Minimal handling or play wear.

Typical examples:

  • Tiny corner whitening
  • Very light surface marks
  • Minor factory defects
  • slight edgewear

Overall look: Clean, crisp, collectible quality

Lightly Played (LP)

Light use, still very nice condition.

Typical examples:

  • Light edgewear
  • Small scratches or scuffs
  • Minor indentations
  • Light surface wear

Overall look: Clearly used, but well cared for

Moderately Played (MP)

Noticeable wear from regular play.

Typical examples:

  • Visible edgewear
  • Multiple scratches/scuffs
  • Small creases
  • Surface wear
  • Minor faults

Overall look: Playable, but visibly worn

Heavily Played (HP)

Rough condition, heavy wear.

Typical examples:

  • Heavy edgewear
  • Major scratches/scuffing
  • Multiple bends
  • Dirt/grime buildup
  • Structural wear

Overall look: Worn, rough, but still intact and authentic

Damaged (DMG)

Not structurally sound or heavily compromised.

Includes:

  • Tears, punctures, splits
  • Water/liquid damage
  • Missing or unreadable text
  • Ink/marker/paint
  • Foreign substances
  • Major factory defects
  • Alterations (signatures, stamps, coloring)
  • Severe miscuts

Overall look: Collector value heavily reduced

Automatic Damaged

The following are always classified as Damaged:

  • Altered cards (marker, paint, signatures, stamps)
  • Major factory defects (crimping, extreme miscuts)
  • Structural splitting
  • Liquid exposure
  • Missing authentication elements