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Card Condition
Card Condition

To ensure clarity and fairness when buying, selling, or trading, all cards are graded according to their physical condition. The descriptions below explain what each grade means, from Mint to Poor, so you know exactly what to expect.

Mint (M)Near Mint (NM)​ Excellent (EX)Good (G)Lightly Played (LP) Played (PL) Poor (PR)​

Mint (M)

A Mint card is in flawless condition, with a perfectly clean surface free of scratches, wear, or marks, and looks identical to a card freshly opened from a booster pack. Any alterations, such as signatures or stamps, prevent a card from being considered Mint.

Near Mint (NM)​

Looks essentially unplayed even without sleeves. Under bright light the surface appears clean; a few tiny edge specks are acceptable, but no surface scratches. Would be considered unmarked if used unsleeved.

Excellent (EX)

Shows light unsleeved use that’s noticeable at first glance, but wear is still minor. You may see small corner/border whitening and faint surface hairlines on inspection, no deep or immediately obvious creases. Borderline “marked” if used unsleeved.

Good (G)

Looks like it went through a long event unsleeved. Pronounced edge/corner wear, visible scuffing, and some grime, but only from normal play. No bends or moisture damage. Clearly marked if unsleeved.

Lightly Played (LP)

Shows extended unsleeved use but remains clearly sleeve-legal. No alterations (no ink, writing, or touch-ups). Can look rough yet still qualifies as LP under these rules.

Played (PL)

Maximum wear from regular use without sleeves: heavy scuffing, creases, and discoloration, but no intentional alterations. May be questionable even when sleeved.

Poor (PR)​

Damage beyond normal play, tears, water damage, missing pieces, heavy stains, or writing. Functionally destroyed and/or clearly illegal for tournament play.

Additional Information

An altered card is one where the original appearance has been artistically modified.

For example, extending the artwork beyond the frame or adding custom designs. Since every alteration is unique, these cards should always be listed with a clear photo of the modified version.

Altering a card’s borders with ink or paint automatically places it in Poor condition. This practice is sometimes used to disguise wear, but doing so significantly reduces authenticity and value. In some cases, such as making Unlimited cards appear as Beta, it may also be treated as fraud with possible legal consequences. Always disclose blackened borders and grade such cards as Poor.

The U.S. market often uses slightly different grading terms than PSA or Card market. While each store may vary, the general order goes: Mint/Near Mint (M/NM) at the top, followed by Slightly Played (SP), Played (PL), Heavily Played (HP), and finally Poor (PO). Use our grading guide as a reference for how these categories align. 

Clouding occurs when a card develops dull or hazy areas on the surface, even without obvious scratches or damage. It is the result of microscopic wear building up over time. A card with visible clouding cannot be considered Near Mint.

A card is considered bent if the paper stock has been structurally damaged due to excessive folding or warping.