Card Conditions & Grading

The standard condition grades for raw Pokemon cards are Near Mint (NM), Lightly Played (LP), Moderately Played (MP), Heavily Played (HP), and Damaged (DMG). These grades are used by TCGPlayer and most card marketplaces to set pricing tiers.

Condition has a massive impact on value. A Near Mint card can be worth 2 to 10 times more than a Moderately Played copy of the same card. For vintage cards, the condition premium is even more extreme, with PSA 10 copies worth many multiples of PSA 7 or 8.

Check four main areas: corners (look for whitening or dents), edges (check for nicks or peeling), surface (examine for scratches, scuffs, or print defects), and centering (the border should be even on all sides). Hold the card at an angle under good light to spot surface imperfections.

Raw condition uses marketplace terms like Near Mint and Lightly Played. Graded condition uses numeric scales from professional services: PSA uses 1 to 10, CGC uses 1 to 10 with half points, and Beckett uses 1 to 10 with subgrades. Graded cards are encapsulated in tamper-proof cases.

Grading is worth it for high-value cards in excellent condition. The general rule is that the raw card should be worth at least $50 and appear to be in Near Mint or better condition. Grading fees range from $20 to $50 per card at standard speed, so the potential value increase needs to justify the cost.

Sleeve cards immediately in penny sleeves and store valuable cards in top-loaders or semi-rigid holders. Keep your collection in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Handle cards by the edges and avoid touching the card face. Use binders with side-loading pages for display collections.