FIELD GUIDE · 2026 EDITION

Card condition,
without the jargon.

We keep grading simple: three tiers. Most opened bulk is Near Mint or Lightly Played, our top tier. Sleeved-and-played or visibly worn cards are Moderately Played, and anything creased or damaged is Heavily Played. Yes, we still buy all three.

TIER 01
Near Mint / Lightly Played
BUY MULTIPLIER
×1.00
NM
WHAT YOU'LL SEE
  • Looks new to lightly handled
  • Sharp corners under casual inspection
  • Tournament-playable in sleeves
VISIBLE DEFECTS
  • Tiny edge whitening visible under angle
  • Minor scratches catching the light
  • Slight corner softness
TIER 02
Moderately Played
BUY MULTIPLIER
×0.65
MP
WHAT YOU'LL SEE
  • Still readable, still playable
VISIBLE DEFECTS
  • Visible scratches without angling
  • Soft or dinged corners
  • Whitening on multiple edges
  • Small surface marks
TIER 03
Heavily Played
BUY MULTIPLIER
×0.40
HP
WHAT YOU'LL SEE
  • We still buy these
VISIBLE DEFECTS
  • Creases
  • Water marks / staining
  • Bent corners
  • Major surface damage
  • Writing or stickers
PRO TIPSFrom the buying desk
01

Look for whitening at a 30° angle under bright light. That's how we grade.

02

For bulk, don't over-grade. Most quotes assume LP/NM mix and we adjust on arrival.

03

A single deep scratch drops a card from NM to MP. Those are the hits we look for first.

04

Slight off-centring isn't condition; it's a print defect. Doesn't affect bulk pricing.

Got a feel for it?