Grading Guide
We use the Cardmarket grading system. Please grade your cards honestly — our team will verify condition on arrival and may adjust prices if cards don't match the stated grade.
| Grade | Name | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| MT | Mint | A card in perfect condition. |
| NM | Near Mint | A card with minimal wear. |
| EX | Excellent | A card with minor wear that is noticeable but does not detract from the overall appearance. |
| GD | Good | A card with moderate wear. |
| LP | Light Played | A card with significant wear. |
| PL | Played | A card with heavy wear from extensive play. |
| PO | Poor | A card with extreme wear or damage. |
Detailed Condition Guide
Mint
A card in perfect condition. No marks, scratches, or imperfections of any kind. Cards must have been stored in a sleeve or top-loader from opening.
What to look for:
- No whitening on edges
- Perfect centering
- No surface scratches visible under light
- Pristine corners
Near Mint
A card with minimal wear. May have very slight edge whitening or a tiny imperfection only visible on close inspection. This is the standard condition for most cards sold from booster packs.
What to look for:
- Very slight edge whitening (1-2 spots)
- Near-perfect surface
- Corners may show minimal wear
- No creases or bends
Excellent
A card with minor wear that is noticeable but does not detract from the overall appearance. Light edge wear and minor surface marks are acceptable.
What to look for:
- Light edge whitening on multiple edges
- Minor surface scratches
- Slight corner wear
- No creases, bends, or ink marks
Good
A card with moderate wear. Clearly played but still in solid condition. Edge wear and surface marks are visible at arm's length.
What to look for:
- Noticeable edge whitening all around
- Surface scratches visible without close inspection
- Minor corner dings
- May have a very slight bend (not a crease)
Light Played
A card with significant wear. Clearly used in play without sleeves. Heavy edge wear, surface marks, and minor structural issues are present.
What to look for:
- Heavy edge whitening
- Visible surface clouding or scratching
- Corner dings and wear
- Minor creases or bends possible
Played
A card with heavy wear from extensive play. Major surface and edge damage. The card is still recognisable and tournament legal (in a sleeve).
What to look for:
- Major edge and corner damage
- Heavy surface scratching or clouding
- Creases or bends present
- May have minor ink marks or staining
Poor
A card with extreme wear or damage. May have tears, water damage, heavy creases, or other major structural issues. Generally only valuable for high-end cards.
What to look for:
- Tears or missing pieces
- Water damage or staining
- Heavy creases through the card
- Significant ink marks, writing, or stamps
Grading Tips
- When in doubt, grade down. It's better to be pleasantly surprised than to have your order adjusted.
- Check cards under good lighting — surface scratches are often invisible until you angle the card.
- Always check the back of the card. Edge whitening on the back is the most common form of wear.
- Foil cards are prone to curling — a slight curl is normal and doesn't affect the grade.
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