ChazCollectables — Condition Guide (TCGplayer Standards)

I grade raw singles using TCGplayer’s Card Conditioning Standards (Updated March 2025) and the TCGplayer Card Conditioning Overview.

TCGplayer points system based on imperfection severity:

  • Slight = 1 point

  • Minor = 2 points

  • Moderate = 4 points

  • Major = 8 points

Total allowable points by condition:

  • NM: up to 3

  • LP: up to 6

  • MP: up to 12

  • HP: up to 24

  • DMG: over 24 (or any “Damage”)

Condition levels (guidelines)

Near Mint (NM) — 0–3 points

Allowed (up to 3 points total):

  • Slight edgewear

  • Slight scuffing

  • Slight indentation

  • Minor scratches

  • Slight defect

NM cannot include:

  • Surface wear

  • Grime

  • Bend

  • Fault

  • Damage

Lightly Played (LP) — 4–6 points

What LP looks like:

  • Minor edge wear, scuffs, or scratches

  • No significant issues; structural integrity intact

LP cannot include:

  • Fault

  • Damage

Moderately Played (MP) — 7–12 points

What MP can include:

  • Noticeable edge wear

  • Surface wear, scratching/scuffing

  • Bends with creases can be present

  • Certain issues (e.g., bends/peels/liquid exposure) are only acceptable if integrity is not impacted (TCGplayer measurements determine acceptability)

MP cannot include:

  • Damage

Heavily Played (HP) — 13–24 points

What HP can include:

  • Major overall wear

  • Multiple moderate imperfections, creasing/whitening/faults

  • Can include severe imperfections as long as the card can still be authenticated and is not structurally damaged

HP cannot include:

  • Damage

Damaged (DMG) — Damage present and/or >24 points

DMG includes cards with wear/imperfections beyond other conditions, including (examples listed by TCGplayer):

  • Tears, punctures, splitting, folding

  • Foreign substances / non-manufacturing ink

  • Significant miscuts/shifting

  • Missing/illegible card information or authentication markers

  • Moderate/major faults (including liquid exposure)

Notes we apply to every listing

  • Photos are part of the description. Any wear visible in photos is considered disclosed, but whenever possible it is also mentioned in description for your convenience.

  • Centering: we don’t grade centering as “condition” (unless it’s a significant miscut/shift that forces DMG under TCGplayer guidance, in these cases it will be listed as a miscut etc.)

  • Foils/Holos: surface scratches/scuffing show more easily under light; we grade foils conservatively (still using the same TCGplayer framework).

As mentioned on the Contact page, if you have any questions or would like any more photos/a video etc. please don’t hesitate to reach out and you’ll be accommodated as best as possible (especially for more expensive cards)