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Card Critter

Card condition guide

How we grade card condition

Five grades, the same for Pokémon, Riftbound and Magic. Every card is checked front and back under light, graded, and scanned, and the grade is on the listing.

The five grades

If a card sits between two grades, it gets the lower one.

  • NM

    Near Mint

    Price: 100% of NM

    Looks fresh from the pack at arm’s length. Close up, the edges and corners may show a speck or two.

    Can have

    • A couple of tiny white specks on edges or corners
    • Very light surface marks visible only under direct light

    Can’t have

    • Creases, bends or dents
    • Scratches you can see at arm’s length
    • Corner rounding or edge chipping
  • LP

    Lightly Played

    Price: about 85% of NM

    Handled and played in sleeves. Minor wear you notice when you look for it.

    Can have

    • Light whitening on several edges or corners
    • Minor scuffs or light scratches

    Can’t have

    • Creases or bends
    • Water damage or stains
  • MP

    Moderately Played

    Price: about 70% of NM

    Clearly played, still fine in a sleeve. A great binder or deck copy for less.

    Can have

    • Obvious edge and corner wear
    • Scuffing and scratches across the surface
    • Small, light dents

    Can’t have

    • Hard creases or tears
    • Writing or stickers
  • HP

    Heavily Played

    Price: about 50% of NM

    Heavy wear all over, but the card is whole and playable in a sleeve.

    Can have

    • Heavy edge wear and whitening
    • Creases or bends
    • Major scuffing

    Can’t have

    • Tears or missing pieces
    • Damage that shows through an opaque sleeve
  • DMG

    Damaged

    Price: about 35% of NM

    Tears, water damage, writing or heavy creasing. For collectors who just need the card.

    Can have

    • Tears, ink, water damage or peeling
    • Anything worse than Heavily Played

Our process

How every card gets its grade

  1. 01

    Front under light

    Surface, holo layer and print checked under a bright angled light.

  2. 02

    Back and edges

    All four edges and corners, plus the back, where most wear hides.

  3. 03

    Graded and scanned

    The grade goes on the listing with a scan of that exact copy, front and back.

  4. 04

    Sleeved and posted

    Penny sleeve and toploader, so it arrives in the condition it left.

If we get a grade wrong

If a card arrives below the grade we listed, tell us within 14 days of delivery and we’ll refund it. You won’t have to argue the point.