Card Condition Guide
Every single we list is graded by hand against the definitions below, front and back, under direct light. Where a card sits between two grades it is listed at the lower one.
These are our definitions. They are close to the industry norms most shops use, but no two shops grade identically, so read them rather than assuming.
Near Mint (NM)
Pack-fresh or very close to it. Sharp corners, clean edges, no surface scratching visible when the card is tilted under a lamp. At most one tiny manufacturing flaw such as a print line or a hair of edge wear. This is the grade most of our stock is in.
Lightly Played (LP)
Minor wear that you have to look for. Slight whitening on one or two back edges, a soft corner, or a light surface scuff that does not catch the light. Still perfectly presentable in a binder or a sleeve. Priced at roughly 89% of our Near Mint price.
Moderately Played (MP)
Obvious wear at normal viewing distance. Visible edge whitening around most of the card, minor scratching on the surface, possibly a small bend that does not crease the card stock. Fully playable in a sleeve. Roughly 76% of Near Mint.
Heavily Played (HP)
Significant wear. Heavy whitening, noticeable scratching, a soft crease, or a corner that has lost its point. Still structurally intact and still playable in a sleeve. Roughly 62% of Near Mint.
Damaged (DMG)
Hard creases, tears, water damage, ink, or writing. Sold for players who want the card in a deck or collectors filling a binder slot cheaply. We describe the specific damage in the listing. Roughly 45% of Near Mint.
The same scale as a table:
| Grade | Short | What it means | Typical price vs Near Mint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near Mint | NM | Pack-fresh, at most one tiny flaw | 100% |
| Lightly Played | LP | Minor wear you have to look for | about 89% |
| Moderately Played | MP | Obvious wear at normal distance | about 76% |
| Heavily Played | HP | Significant wear, still sleeve-playable | about 62% |
| Damaged | DMG | Creases, tears, water damage or ink | about 45% |
How we check a card
- Front, under a lamp. Angled against a light source to catch surface scratches and print lines that a flat scan hides completely.
- Edges and corners. Whitening on the back edges is the single most common reason a card drops from Near Mint to Lightly Played.
- Centering and back. Measured rather than eyeballed. Anything badly off-centre is called out in the listing rather than left for you to find.
- Graded down, never up. Borderline cards get the lower grade.
Japanese cards
Japanese cards are graded on the same scale. They tend to arrive in better condition than English cards of the same age because of differences in how they are printed and packed, so a higher share of our Japanese stock is Near Mint.
Graded slabs
Cards in a PSA, CGC or BGS slab are not graded by us at all — they carry the grader's number, and we list the certification number so you can verify it against the grader's own population report before you buy. We do not crack, reholder or resubmit slabs.
If you disagree with a grade
Send us a photograph within 30 days of delivery. If we over-graded it, we cover the return shipping and refund you in full, with no restocking fee. See our Return & Refund Policy.
Contact us
If anything on this page is unclear, or you need help with an order, contact us and a person will reply within 1 business day.
- Business name: SRareTCG
- Postal address: Belle Station Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, United States
- Email: support@sraretcg.store
- Phone: (843) 388-5711
- Support hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time
- Response time: within 1 business day