Grading Magic Cards

The Card Conditions

We apply the following grades and their abbreviations to describe the condition of a card. These are aligned with the commonly used European grading system.

• Near Mint (NM)
• Excellent (EX)
• Good (GD)
• Light Played (LP)
• Played (PL)
• Poor

In our shop, you can find the condition in the title of the product. It looks like this:

Channel – Alpha – EX

You can find additional information in the title and/or in the description of the product. For example, if a card is signed by the artist or if the card has a crease or was altered in any way.

Near Mint (NM)

A card in Near Mint condition appears as though it has never been played without protective sleeves. Small imperfections are acceptable, such as tiny white spots at the corners caused by the production cut or minor scratches that don’t affect the color of the card. Under natural daylight, the card should still look clean and well-preserved.

USA: The term “Near Mint (NM)” is also commonly used in the USA.

Excellent (EX)

Cards in Excellent condition typically show some white spots on the edges and corners, a sign that they may have been handled without sleeves occasionally. There might also be a few minor scratches on the surface. However, these imperfections should be barely noticeable under normal lighting.

USA: It’s important to note that there’s a key difference in the grading system used in the US. Cards graded as Excellent in Europe are often rated as Lightly Played (LP) or Slightly Played (SP) in the US. On the other hand, European Light Played cards are usually considered Heavy Played (HP) in the US, which can lead to some confusion.

Good (GD)

A card in Good condition appears as though it has been played without protective sleeves for a longer period of time, such as during a tournament. Cards graded as Good typically show clear signs of wear across multiple areas. This means white spots on the corners and edges may be more noticeable.

In many cases, the card’s surface may have a few scratches or slight dirt marks. However, these are simply normal signs of use and don’t affect the overall playability of the card.

USA: In the US, cards in this condition are frequently referred to as Moderately Played (MP) or Light Played (LP).

Light Played (LP)

A Magic card in Light Played condition looks as though it has been played without protective sleeves for a long period. The edges and borders may show noticeable whitening, which can be quite pronounced and appear throughout the card.

USA: In the United States, this condition is often referred to as Moderately Played (MP) or Good (GD).

Played (PL)

A card in Played condition shows noticeable wear from regular use. This can include heavy surface scratches or damage, often described as “snow-covered.” Despite the wear, it’s essential that the card remains tournament-legal when played with sleeves. However, alterations like black-painted edges or similar modifications are strictly not allowed.

USA: In the USA, this condition is commonly referred to as Very Played (VP) or Heavily Played (HP).

Poor (PO)

Anything rated lower than Played is considered Poor. These cards often suffer from damage that goes beyond normal wear and tear from playing. Examples of Poor condition include bent cards, blackened edges (“ink” or “inked”), water damage, cracks, and similar issues.

USA: In the States, cards in this condition are regularly labeled as Poor (PO) or Damaged (DMG).

This guide helps you correctly interpret common qualifiers and notes related to card condition. We distinguish between artistic modifications, alterations, physical damage, and production issues.

• Signed: Without further specification, this means the original artist has signed the card.
• Signed by [Name]: The card bears the signature of a notable personality (e.g., game designers like Richard Garfield or pro players).
• Altered / Sketched: The original artwork has been modified, extended, or enhanced with a small drawing (sketch) by an artist (not necessarily the original artist). This often makes the card unique. “Artistic Modifications” do not affect our card grading. We appreciate the effort and craftsmanship that artists put into these alterations. Our grading reflects only the card’s overall physical condition.

• Inked: The card has been modified with ink (usually a black marker), often to cover up edge wear. In the collector’s market, this is considered a significant reduction in value.

• Ink Dot: A minimal ink alteration affecting only a very small, localized area.

• Water Damage: Moisture damage. The card may show warping or surface distortion and no longer lies flat.

• Binder Ding: An indentation caused by the rings of a binder.

• Pressure Mark: General pressure marks or indentations on the surface. The card is usually still flat but shows imperfections under angled light.

• Bent: A continuous bend or curve. The card is structurally compromised and does not lie flat.
• Crease: A sharp fold in the card stock, often caused by improper shuffling (e.g., riffle shuffle). A crease is typically visible on both front and back.

• Ink Error: A factory printing error (e.g., ink blotches). Typically does not negatively affect grading.

• Roller Lines: Horizontal or vertical lines caused by the printing press rollers. Considered a manufacturing artifact.

• Artist Proof: A rare version of a card with a blank (white) back. These are produced in limited quantities and distributed directly by the original artist, making them highly sought after by collectors.