Condition Guide
The purpose of this guide is to provide a general reference on how to correctly set the conditions of cards sold, based on the quality and quantity of imperfections of an item. Before buying you should become familiar with the following information, based on the experience of our team.
We chose to use a simple and convenient guide in order to avoid ambiguous or misleading situations. We are aware of how many grading systems leave room for errors. Grading cards correctly is the key to being a good card trader. Choosing the appropriate condition is a key element when pricing a card, and should never be underestimated.
NOTE: The definition of "MINT" indicates a level of condition that surpasses the current market standards. It represents a theoretical degree of perfection where the surface and corners are impeccable, the colours vibrant, and the centering perfectly distributed. For this reason, our system excludes this condition, as it is essentially a conceptual standard that is rarely achieved.
Condition: Excellent / Booster Fresh
NEAR MINT
Minor imperfections, the card looks nearly unplayed with no major defects.
- Minimal wear of handling and can have a nearly unmarked surface, crisp corners, and unblemished edges outside of a few slight flaws.
- May have slight edge wear or a scratch or three, but overall looks nearly unplayed with no major defects.
- The acceptable range of cards within the Near Mint condition includes both cards with no imperfections and cards with a few slight imperfections.
Condition: Slightly Played / Minor Wear
LIGHT PLAYED
A few minor and noticeable imperfections but no major defects.
- May have minor border or corner wear, scuffs or light scratches.
- No major defects such as grime, bends or issues with the structural integrity of the card.
- Noticeable imperfections are okay, but none should be too severe or at too high a volume.
- The acceptable range of cards within the Light Played condition includes both cards with few or a handful of minor imperfections.
Condition: Moderately Played / Visible Wear
MOD PLAYED
Different Imperfections, and noticeable defects on small areas.
- May present border wear, corner wear, scratching or scuffing, creases or whitening, or any combination of moderate examples of these flaws.
- May have some form of imperfection impacting a small area of the card from mishandling or poor storage, such as creasing that doesn't affect card integrity, in combination with other issues such as scratches, scuffs or border/edge wear.
- Has no structure damage, the overall look is still fine with no major structural damage.
Condition: Severe Wear
HEAVY PLAYED
Major amount of damage, bad overall looking, but still playable.
- Show a major amount of wear.
- Show a variety of moderate and major imperfections along with creasing, whitening, and bends.
- Can have flaws that impact the integrity of the card, but the card is still sleeve playable in tournaments.
Condition: Poor
DAMAGED
A Poor card shows major defects and might not be playable or tournament legal.
- Show wear or imperfections beyond the standards for other conditions.
- Can also exhibit imperfections or damage that may make the card illegal for tournament play, even in a sleeve, for example a major bend, noticeable through the plastic.
- Cards in Poor condition may have major border wear, corner wear, scratching or scuffing, as well as folds, creases, tears or other damage that impacts the structural integrity of the card.
Understanding Card Misprints and their Impact
Misprints & Print Errors
In the world of trading card collecting, understanding the nuances of misprints and print errors is crucial for both buyers and sellers. Misprints such as miscuts, crimps, ink errors, stamping errors, and other notable misprints are considered significant flaws. These errors can drastically affect a card’s appearance and its market value, as they deviate significantly from the intended design.
On the other hand, minor printing errors like off-center cards and print lines are typically seen as minor imperfections. Off-center cards have misaligned designs, resulting in uneven borders, but do not indicate actual damage. Similarly, print lines, which occur where consecutive print sheets meet, are common, especially on foil cards. These lines do not affect the card’s condition or value significantly, as they are viewed as part of the normal printing process.
Does Not Affect Conditions
Minor printing errors, such as off-center cards and print lines, do not affect the card's overall condition. You can list these cards without selecting the "misprint" checkbox. While these minor imperfections are generally acceptable, it’s advisable to consider these cards as less than Near Mint (NM) to ensure buyer satisfaction and maintain transparency in your listings.
OFF-CENTER CARDS
Off-center cards result from misaligned printing, leading to uneven borders. While these cards may lack visual balance, they are not considered damaged and generally do not affect the card's overall condition or value.
PRINT LINES
Print lines appear where consecutive print sheets meet. These lines are minor printing imperfections and do not constitute damage, thus having little to no impact on the card's condition or value.
Affects the Card Condition
When buying from our store, it's essential to accurately check the condition of cards via messaging us to allow us to communicate images of the cards before sale. Misprints such as miscuts, crimps, ink errors, and stamping errors can significantly impact a card's value and will be clearly identified.
MISCUTS
A miscut card is the result of an improperly aligned sheet during the cutting step. Miscuts are one of the most common types of errors, but that doesn't mean they aren't valuable. The card's value can be influenced by the card it’s on and the severity of the miscut.
CRIMPING
Crimping occurs when a card is caught in the packaging machinery, resulting in a wrinkled or indented edge. This type of error is generally considered significant damage, affecting both the card's appearance and value. Crimped cards must be listed as Damaged (DMG).
INK ERRORS
Ink errors include missing, smudged, or misaligned ink, which can obscure parts of the card's design or text. These errors are usually noticeable and can considerably reduce a card's desirability and value.
STAMPING ERRORS
Stamping errors involve issues with the card's stamp, such as missing, off-center, or double-stamped elements. These mistakes are often considered major flaws, impacting the card’s value.
OTHER NOTABLE MISPRINTS
This category includes various other errors, such as wrong backs, wrong fronts, or double prints. These notable misprints are typically rare and can either detract from or enhance the card's value, depending on their uniqueness and appeal to collectors.