At DojoTCG, we use commonly accepted trading card condition conventions when listing ungraded single cards.

The condition of each card is clearly stated on its individual product listing. The stated condition reflects information provided by our suppliers and distributors, together with our own pre-dispatch visual inspection. We assess cards in accordance with the condition standards described in this guide.

A note on “Mint” and “Gem Mint”:

We don’t list ungraded cards as Mint or Gem Mint on DojoTCG. A truly Mint or Gem Mint card requires flawless corners, edges, surface, and centering a standard that’s very difficult to verify by eye and is really the domain of professional grading companies like PSA, PCG and BGS, who use specialized equipment and multiple graders to certify that level of condition. If you’re after a card graded to that standard, look for a professionally graded (slabbed) copy rather than an ungraded Mint/Gem Mint listing.

Near Mint (NM)

Near Mint cards are very clean and may appear virtually flawless to the naked eye. An NM card can have no visible imperfections at all, or it may have a small number of very minor imperfections that are only noticeable upon closer inspection. Both are within our NM standard, and the exact condition can vary from card to card.

An NM card may have no visible imperfections at all, or it may show a small number of minor imperfections, such as:

  • Slight edge whitening or edge wear
  • Very minor surface imperfections
  • Minor manufacturing variations
  • Slight curling or warping

A pack-fresh card can also fall within NM standard. The NM range includes cards with no visible imperfections as well as cards with a few minimal imperfections.

Lightly Played (LP)

Lightly Played cards show minor but noticeable wear beyond what would normally be expected for NM.

Examples may include:

  • Noticeable edge whitening
  • Multiple areas of edge wear
  • Light scratches or scuffing
  • Minor dents or indentations
  • Other visible handling or play wear

The card should remain structurally intact without major defects.

Moderately Played (MP)

Moderately Played cards have clearly visible and more substantial wear.

Examples may include:

  • Pronounced edge whitening
  • Noticeable surface wear
  • More significant scratches or scuffing
  • Multiple dents or indentations
  • Noticeable bends
  • A combination of several noticeable imperfections

The card remains generally intact but has clearly visible condition issues.

Heavily Played (HP)

Heavily Played cards show a major amount of visible wear.

Examples may include:

  • Heavy edge whitening
  • Significant scratches or surface wear
  • Multiple dents or indentations
  • Significant bends or creases
  • Multiple substantial imperfections

The card may still be usable as a game piece when appropriately sleeved, but its cosmetic condition is considerably compromised.

Damaged (DMG)

Damaged cards have major physical or structural defects beyond the acceptable range of other conditions.

Examples may include:

  • Major creases
  • Severe bends
  • Tears or splits
  • Holes or punctures
  • Major surface damage
  • Significant liquid or water damage
  • Structural damage

A crease or structural damage is materially different from ordinary curling or minor wear, it affects the card’s structural integrity rather than just its surface appearance, which is why it places a card in Damaged regardless of how clean the rest of the card looks.

Important Note: Condition grades are not universally standardized across all TCG marketplaces. Different sellers and marketplaces may use different grading systems, terminology and thresholds. The condition definitions provided in this guide represent the standards used by DojoTCG when assessing and listing cards.