Assessment guide for the condition of our cards
Because card ratings and the terms used to describe their condition can vary from company to company, we've put together a guide to make it easier for you to orient yourself and understand the specific terms we use. The evaluation of the cards is subject to debate and has criteria specific to each. It is therefore possible that some people do not completely agree with our evaluation method.
The states are listed in the following order:
Mint < Near Mint / Mint Near Mint < Excellent / Near Mint Excellent < Good / Excellent Good < Lightly Played / Good Lightly Played < Played / Lightly Played Played < Heavily Played / Played Heavily Played.
Here is a detailed explanation of the different states:
Mint
A card in "Mint" condition is in perfect conservation, devoid of any sign of wear or apparent alteration. However, it should be noted that minor printing defects can be accepted, allowing certain cards with such defects to be classified as "Mint" or "Near Mint/Mint".
Near Mint
"Near Mint" (NM) denotes a card in exceptionally good, near-mint condition, with characteristics including barely noticeable wear, very lightly bumped corners, light white spots, and a few micro-scratches on the surface. Although exhibiting these minor flaws, the card remains in near-mint condition, with these imperfections being difficult to discern at first glance. This category, just below "Mint", is highly valued by collectors due to its high quality.
Excellent
"Excellent" condition describes a card in very good condition, slightly below "Near Mint" (NM), with some signs of moderate use. Characteristics of this condition may include slightly more noticeable wear than in "Near Mint", slightly blunted corners, a few small marks or spots of wear on the surface, as well as minor flaws visible up close, but which do not affect not significantly affect the overall appearance of the map. Despite these signs of use, a card in "Excellent" condition nevertheless maintains a very attractive appearance and may be an attractive option for collectors less concerned with minor imperfections.
Good
“Good” describes a card with more signs of use compared to “Excellent”. Characteristics of this condition may include visible wear, sometimes more pronounced than in "Excellent", more blunted corners with possible signs of bleaching, more obvious surface wear marks, and possibly slight dents that are difficult to perceive . Despite more significant use, cards in "Good" condition generally remain well preserved and may be attractive to collectors less concerned with imperfections, instead prioritizing accessibility and availability.
Lightly Played
"Lightly Played" describes a card with more signs of use compared to "Good." Characteristics of this condition may include visible and more pronounced wear than in "Good", blunted and bleached corners, obvious wear marks on the surface such as large and numerous scratches, possibly slight dents that are difficult to perceive, as well as very slight creases. Although this category indicates more significant use, cards in "Lightly Played" condition generally remain in fair condition and can be considered a more affordable option for collectors.
Played
The "Played" state describes a card showing very marked signs of use. Characteristics of this condition may include visible and pronounced wear, exceeding that of "Lightly Played", more blunted and heavily bleached corners, obvious surface wear marks, as well as noticeable damage but still preserving the overall integrity from the menu. A card rated as "Played" is heavily worn, indicating significant signs of unprotected use. This category is generally considered to be in very poor condition. Despite this, they can still be presentable and might suit those looking for a more affordable option with very pronounced imperfections.
Heavily Played
"Heavily Played" describes a card with extremely heavy signs of use, representing the worst possible condition. Characteristics of this condition include very visible and severe wear, far surpassing that of the "Played" condition, heavily blunted, sometimes bent or distorted corners, pronounced and often multiple wear marks on the surface, as well as noticeable damage affecting the overall integrity of the card.