Card Condition Guide
The Vault Standard
Every raw card in the Vault is inspected by hand before it is listed and again before it is packed. This guide shows exactly what each condition means, what we look at, and what you can expect to arrive. If a card does not match what you read here, that is our mistake and we make it right.
The five conditions
Near Mint
Looks like it was just pulled from the pack. Sharp corners, clean edges, a surface with no visible scratching under normal light. This is the grade we hold ourselves to on every card listed as NM.
- At most one or two tiny flaws you have to hunt for, such as a single speck of edge whitening
- Foils may have the slightest clouding or curl, which is normal for foil stock
- Centering can be slightly off from the factory and is not a defect
Never NM: any scratch you can see at arm's length, any crease, any corner with visible whitening, any dirt or ink.
Lightly Played
Has been handled or sleeved and played a little, and it shows if you look. Still clean, still tournament ready, still displays well. Most singles that have been in a deck end up here.
- Light corner wear or a small patch of edge whitening, usually on one or two spots
- A minor surface scratch or two, nothing that catches your fingernail
- Foils may show light clouding or a soft curl
- Fewer than four small flaws in total
Never LP: creases, bends, dings you can feel, water damage, writing, or wear on every corner.
Moderately Played
Clearly used. You will see the wear without looking for it, but the card is whole, flat, and fully playable in a sleeve. A good way to fill a deck slot without paying for display quality.
- Visible wear on several corners and edges, including whitening along a border
- Surface scratches you can see at a glance, or light clouding across a foil
- A single light bend or minor crease, or light fading, or a touch of grime
- Any combination of the above, with no single flaw that dominates the card
Never MP: heavy creasing, tears, water warping, ink, or damage that would make the card illegal to play in a sleeve.
Heavily Played
Has lived a hard life. Wear is obvious from across the table, but the card is still in one piece and can be played in a sleeve. Priced for exactly what it is.
- Heavy whitening on most or all edges and corners
- Creases, bends, or a fold that has flattened out
- Deep or widespread scratching, heavy clouding on foils
- Minor water damage, fading, or dirt buildup
Never HP: tears, missing pieces, holes, ink or marker, or a bend so severe the card will not sit flat in a sleeve.
Damaged
Sold for what it is, and we tell you exactly what that is in the listing. Damaged cards may not be legal to play even sleeved, and they are sold for collection filler, crafting, or as a placeholder until you find a better copy.
- Tears, rips, holes, or missing pieces
- Writing, marker, or inked borders
- Severe creases or folds, heavy water damage, warping
- Extreme wear on every edge and corner
Always disclosed: every Damaged listing names the specific damage. No surprises.
What we actually look at
Four checks, every card, under the same lighting, at normal viewing distance. The worst of the four sets the grade.
Corners
Are they sharp? Any whitening, rounding, dings, or soft spots? One soft corner can drop an NM card to LP.
Edges
Whitening along the border, nicks, chipping on dark borders, or rough cuts. Light edge wear is the most common reason a card is LP.
Surface
Scratches, scuffs, clouding on foils, dirt, ink, dents, and print lines. We tilt the card under light to catch what a straight-on look misses.
Flatness
Bends, creases, warping, and foil curl. A crease is the hard line between MP and HP. A bend you can feel is never NM or LP.
Normal, and not a defect
Cards are mass produced. Some things come out of the factory this way and do not lower the grade:
- Centering that is off from the factory
- Print lines, print dots, and ink roller marks
- Minor edge whitening on dark bordered cards straight from the pack
- Foil curl, foil clouding, and the texture on textured foils
- Minor cut variance, including slightly rough or offset edges from the printer
- Print and cut tolerances on foreign language and import cards
Quick reference
| Condition | Short version | Corners & edges | Surface | Creases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Near Mint | Pack fresh | Sharp, clean | No visible scratches | None |
| Lightly Played | Handled, still clean | Light wear on a spot or two | Minor scratches | None |
| Moderately Played | Clearly used, fully playable | Visible wear on several | Noticeable scratches or clouding | One light bend at most |
| Heavily Played | Rough, still whole | Heavy whitening throughout | Deep or widespread | Yes, flattened |
| Damaged | As described, flaw named | Extreme | Tears, ink, holes | Severe |
Selling or trading in to the Vault
We grade what you bring in on this exact scale, so you will know how we arrived at an offer. Bring your cards unsorted if you like, we will do the work. Offers are based on condition and current market, and a trade is final once you accept it.
Questions before you buy
Email contact@prime151.com with the listing link and we will send more photos of the exact card. We would much rather send three more pictures than process a claim.
Your Treasures, Our Mission.