Single card condition guide

CardTrader judges a card on two things: how many imperfections it has and of what kind. To see what sets one grade apart from another, and to check a card you are holding, it helps to look at it like this.

1. 1

   Front and back, both

   The condition depends on the whole card, not just the front. If the front looks Near Mint but the back has a clear scratch, the bigger flaw counts. If both sides show wear, the defects add up and the card drops a grade compared with what it would be judging one side alone.

2. 2

   Tilted against the light

   Light scratches and the faintest pressure marks are often only visible against the light. CardTrader tells light scratches, visible only against the light, from severe ones, which you can feel or see with the naked eye. Foils are particularly sensitive: marks show more.

3. 3

   Corners, edges and surface, by touch too

   Look at the corners one at a time, then the edges: worn edges and damaged corners set the middle grades apart. Run a fingertip over the surface: pressure marks can be felt, and damage you can feel even through a sleeve takes the card out of Played.

4. 4

   Flatness

   Put the card on a table. A bend is a permanent deformation and counts as a defect. The natural curve of foils, instead, is not considered a defect as long as its height does not exceed 5 mm.

The definitions are those of the CardTrader guide. The code is the same one you see on the buttons of the product page.

1. M

   Mint

   Not defined by CardTrader

   Beyond Near Mint.

   What to expect

   CardTrader’s guide describes it as a theoretical perfection (flawless surface and corners, vibrant colours, perfect centring) and says it is not used on the platform: the top grade is Near Mint. So there is no official definition: read it as “better than Near Mint”, meaning without even the small imperfections that Near Mint allows.

   When it drops to the next grade

   A single small imperfection, such as a micro-scratch or a speck, and the card is Near Mint.

   Suits

   Anyone after the very best. For a certified grade there are professional grading companies.

2. NM

   Near Mint

   As if never played.

   What to expect

   At most the faintest signs, consistent with a card handled with care and never played: 2 or 3 small imperfections, such as micro-scratches or specks, are allowed as long as the card still looks new. No bends, folds, creases, stains or signs of play.

   When it drops to the next grade

   More than 2 or 3 small imperfections, light surface scratches or imperfections on edges and corners: it is Slightly Played. Any dirt or pressure marks rule out Near Mint, and the card normally goes down to Moderately Played.

   Suits

   Playing and collecting, with a card that looks new, never played.

3. SP

   Slightly Played

   Minor imperfections, no serious damage.

   What to expect

   Light signs of wear: light surface scratches, small imperfections on edges or corners. The overall look stays good, with minimal flaws that are not very noticeable. No bends, dirt, tears or prominent marks that affect the appearance.

   When it drops to the next grade

   When the flaws become several and clearly visible, even if contained (noticeable scratches, worn edges, damaged corners, a few pressure marks): it is Moderately Played.

   Suits

   A card still in good order, with light signs of use.

4. MP

   Moderately Played

   Clearly used, but in good overall condition.

   What to expect

   More noticeable wear, with several visible flaws that are still contained: scratches, scuff marks, worn edges, slightly damaged corners. Minor pressure marks, mostly visible against the light, are tolerated. The damage must not be clearly noticeable across most of the card.

   When it drops to the next grade

   When the damage is obvious and numerous (deep scratches, dirt that will not come off, clearly visible pressure marks, a light bend): it is Played.

   Suits

   Playing in a sleeve, when the look of the card matters little.

5. PL

   Played

   Obvious wear, several defects.

   What to expect

   Heavy, very visible damage on edges, corners or surface: dirt, deep scratches, at most one light bend in a small area, pressure marks. It affects the look but not the structure: through a sleeve the card must not be noticeable by touch, and it must stay playable by tournament standards.

   When it drops to the next grade

   When the damage can be noticed even in a sleeve or affects the structure (more bends, or deep ones, pressure marks that go through the card), the card leaves Played and drops to the grade below: in the CardTrader guide that is Poor.

   Suits

   Playing for less, without minding the look.

6. HP

   Heavily Played

   Not defined by CardTrader

   Between Played and Poor.

   What to expect

   CardTrader’s guide does not define it: it goes straight from Played to Poor. So there is no official criterion for this grade: read it as an intermediate grade between the two, and for defects refer to those described for Played and Poor.

   When it drops to the next grade

   When the damage reaches what the CardTrader guide assigns to Poor, described below: it is Poor.

   Suits

   Anyone choosing the lowest price who cares little about the look.

7. PO

   Poor

   Serious damage, often unusable in official play.

   What to expect

   Deep bends, extensive scuffing, heavily damaged edges, pen or marker marks, minor water damage: any defect that makes the card recognisable even inside a protective sleeve. The card’s integrity is compromised and it is often not considered legal for competitive play. CardTrader does not allow cards that were torn and taped back together, or cut or damaged so that they can no longer be used.

   Suits

   Badly damaged collectible cards, to complete a collection, or non-competitive use.

It depends on how you will use the card. Rough guidance, based on the CardTrader definitions:

• SPMPPL

  To play in a protective sleeve

  Slightly Played and Moderately Played stay in good overall condition; Played is still playable by tournament standards and the damage must not be noticeable by touch through the sleeve. For tournaments the judge decides: if you have an event coming up, ask first.

• NM

  To collect

  Near Mint: it is the top grade of the CardTrader scale and allows at most 2 or 3 small imperfections, on a card that looks never played. The Mint grade, when it appears, is not defined by CardTrader.

• PLPO

  To spend less

  Going down a grade usually lowers the price. Played is still playable; Poor has serious damage and is often not legal in competitive play, so think of it for completing a collection or for non-competitive use.

Recognising the defect helps you see why a card has a given grade. For each one you will find what every condition allows, according to the CardTrader guide.

Not everything that looks like a defect is wear, and not everything that looks like a detail is harmless. According to CardTrader:

• What does not change the condition

  Small factory quirks are not damage: slight misalignment, thin print lines where two sheets meet, print dots, an off-centre card. The card can be Near Mint; only if the print lines are very noticeable is a lower grade advisable. Content errors (wrong text, symbol or mana cost, altered colours) do not touch the physical condition either: the card is flagged as a misprint but can stay Near Mint. A miscut (wrong factory cut) does not change the grade by itself: it can be Near Mint only if the card is otherwise perfect, but it must be flagged and is not sold as a standard Near Mint.

• What lowers it

  A visible ink error rules out Near Mint. A barely noticeable micro-smear is Slightly Played; the larger it is and the more it covers text or image, the lower the grade, down to Poor. A stamping error (official stamp missing, off-centre, doubled or faded) also rules out Near Mint, usually Slightly or Moderately Played. A crimped card, with an edge bent by the packaging machinery, is always Poor.

• Stamps

  A stamp or symbol printed by the manufacturer, such as a promotional event stamp or the 1st Edition mark, identifies a version of the card: it is not damage. A stamp applied to the card after printing, for example at tournaments, is an alteration and for CardTrader counts as Played at best.

• Touch-ups, signatures and writing

  A card retouched with marker or pen to cover defects (inked) is always Poor, even if it looks in good shape. A customised card (altered) can be Played at most. Drawings, unofficial signatures or writing are alterations: Poor. The illustrator’s original signature, on the other hand, does not change the condition.

Foils are judged with the same grades, with three particulars that the CardTrader guide puts in writing.

• Minor marks

  Foils are very sensitive and can show minor marks even when new: for CardTrader these are not significant defects and do not change the grade, which can stay Near Mint. Deeper, larger or more numerous scratches, clearly visible and felt by touch, lead to Slightly Played or lower.

• Curvature

  Foils tend to curve naturally. For CardTrader it is not a defect as long as the height of the curve does not exceed 5 mm; a real bend, however, is.

• Clouding

  It shows more on foils, which lose shine or look hazy. The same limits per grade explained in the defects apply.