Condition Guide
Every card we list carries one of four grades. The same four grades decide what we pay when you sell to us, so it is worth knowing where a card sits before you buy or post one to us. Grading is done by eye, by hand, against the standards below.
Near MintNMWe buy this grade
Looks like it was pulled from the pack and sleeved straight away. This is the top grade we sell, and the condition most collectors are after.
What to expect
- Sharp, square corners with no visible whitening
- Clean edges — at most a single tiny fleck of white under close inspection
- A glossy, unmarked surface
- Flat, with no bend to the card
What you won't see
- Creases, bends or dents of any kind
- Scratches or scuffing on the front
- Whitening along the border or back edges
Lightly PlayedLPWe buy this grade
Light handling wear that you have to look for. Displays beautifully in a binder or sleeve, at a noticeably lower price than Near Mint.
What to expect
- Minor edge or corner whitening, visible on close inspection
- Light surface scratching or a small scuff
- Very slight loss of gloss on holo cards
What you won't see
- Creases or bends
- Wear you would notice from across a table
- Water damage, dents or writing
Moderately PlayedMPWe buy this grade — common & uncommon cards
Wear you can see at a glance, on a card that is still structurally sound. A good way into an expensive vintage card at a fraction of the Near Mint price.
What to expect
- Obvious whitening around the border and corners
- Noticeable surface scratching, scuffing or loss of gloss
- Possibly one light crease or a slight bend
- Some edge wear or minor dings
What you won't see
- Tears, holes or missing pieces
- Damage that stops the card being identified
- Water damage that has warped the card
Heavily PlayedHPWe buy this grade — common & uncommon cards
Heavily played but complete. Priced accordingly — this is the honest, affordable end of vintage, and for the rarest cards it is often the only realistic way to own one.
What to expect
- Heavy whitening across borders, edges and corners
- Creases, bends or dents, potentially through the artwork
- A dull, scratched or scuffed surface
- Possibly small tears at the edge, writing, or ink marks
What you won't see
- Missing pieces, or a card split in two
- Damage so severe the card cannot be identified
A note on vintage printing
Cards from the Wizards of the Coast era were printed to a looser standard than modern ones. Off-centre borders, faint print lines and slightly soft cuts are factory characteristics, not damage, and they do not move a card down a grade on their own — though heavy miscentring does affect what a card is worth. Grades here describe wear the card has picked up since it was printed.
Selling to us
Which grades we pay for depends on the card. Common and uncommon cards we buy in all four grades — NM, LP, MP, HP — because they are priced as bulk and honest wear is expected. Rare cards and above we buy in Near Mint (NM) and Lightly Played (LP) only, because on a card of real value the grade changes what it is worth. Grade your card honestly against the descriptions above — we check every card on arrival, and rare cards are checked by hand from your photos before we confirm a payout.
Sell your cards to usGrades listed on this site are NM (Near Mint), LP (Lightly Played), MP (Moderately Played), HP (Heavily Played). If a card you receive does not match its grade, get in touch and we will put it right.