Card Condition Guide
Welcome to Our Grading Standards
As collectors ourselves, we know there is nothing worse than ordering a card marked "Near Mint" and receiving something with obvious edge wear or surface scratches. To keep our grading consistent, we follow strict, standardized card condition definitions.
Every single card we sell is manually inspected and graded into one of the following categories:
1. Near Mint (NM)
Cards in Near Mint condition show minimal to no wear from shuffling, play, or handling.
- Front & Back Surfaces: Clean and free of deep scratches, scuffs, or cloudiness. A tiny, microscopic speck of wear is acceptable under close inspection, but it must not be immediately noticeable.
- Edges & Corners: Sharp with virtually no whitening or chipping.
- Ideal for: Collectors looking for high-quality raw cards to add to binders or submit for professional grading.
2. Lightly Played (LP)
Cards in Lightly Played condition show minor, superficial wear from gentle handling or light play.
- Front & Back Surfaces: May feature minor scratching, slight scuffing, or very faint cloudiness/fading that is visible under direct light.
- Edges & Corners: May show minor whitening (chipping) on a few corners or along the borders.
- Ideal for: Active players who want clean, beautiful cards for their decks at a slightly discounted price.
3. Moderately Played (MP)
Cards in Moderately Played condition show moderate, visible wear throughout.
- Front & Back Surfaces: Surface wear is clear, which may include noticeable scratching, minor scuffs, cloudiness, or very light staining.
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Edges & Corners: Show clear whitening, border wear, or minor nicking.
Note: While MP cards have clear aesthetic imperfections, they are still 100% legal for tournament play when sleeved.
- Ideal for: Budget-conscious players who prioritize gameplay over perfect aesthetics.
Our Transit Protection Policy (How We Pack)
A card's condition is only as good as the packaging that protects it in transit. We guarantee that your cards will arrive in the exact condition they were graded. Every single card order is packed using professional shipping standards:
- Inner Protection: The card is placed in a soft sleeve (penny sleeve).
- Rigid Protection: Orders under $20 are housed inside a semi-rigid holder. Orders over $20 are housed inside a rigid top-loader and card protector to prevent bending.
- Moisture & Dust Barrier: The top-loader is sealed inside a water-resistant team bag to keep out moisture and dust.
- Outer Protection: The entire package is shipped in a rigid card shipping envelope, a padded bubble mailer or a cardboard box for larger orders to withstand transit handling.