Please share your feedback on the draft of the "Condition Guide". The goal is to make sure we are addressing all your grading concerns. After we are done, we will proceed to the creation of the visual guide.

Condition Guide

The following explains how card quality is graded for Cardsphere trading activity. All points of concern are applicable to both card face (the front of the card with images, rules text, etc) and card back (with the deckmasters logo), but in some cases examples provided cite one or the other.

Card quality is a difficult topic because of the wide array and degree of possible defects, so whenever there is any doubt, please contact your trade partners and provide adequate images of the cards.

Near Mint (NM)

Cards in near mint condition show insignificant or no wear from gentle play, and are barely distinguishable from undamaged cards right out of a pack. The cards are tournament playable.

This normally includes no more than one of the following being present:

• Very minor border wear
• Very minor corner wear
• Very minor clouding
• Very minor scuffing
• Very minor loss of sheen

Near mint foils show minimal or no scratches or clouding on their finish.

Near mint cards are priced at 100% Cardsphere market value.

Slightly Played (SP)

Cards in slightly played condition show minor wear from typical play, but are clearly distinguishable from undamaged cards right out of a pack. The cards are tournament playable.

This normally includes no more than two of the following being present:

• Minor border wear
• Minor corner wear
• Very minor binder bending
• Slight scratching
• Slight clouding
• Slight scuffing
• Minor loss of sheen

Slightly played foils may demonstrate some clouding or wear on the card face.

Slightly Played cards are priced at 90% Cardsphere market value.

Moderately Played

Cards in moderately played condition show obvious wear from typical play and are easily distinguishable from undamaged cards right out of a pack. The cards are tournament playable.

This normally includes no more than three of the following being present:

• Some border wear
• Some corner wear
• Minor binder bending
• Some scratching
• Some clouding
• Some scuffing
• Loss of sheen

Moderately played foils normally demonstrate obvious clouding or wear on the card face.

Moderately Played cards are priced at 75% Cardsphere market value.

Heavily Played

Cards in heavily played condition show significant wear from typical play and are very easily distinguishable from undamaged cards right out of a pack. The cards are not tournament playable.

This normally includes no more than three of the following being present:

• Significant border wear
• Significant corner wear
• Significant binder bending
• Significant scratching
• Significant clouding
• Significant scuffing
• Significant loss of sheen

Heavily played foils normally demonstrate severe clouding or wear on the card face.

Heavily played cards are priced at 60% Cardsphere market value.

Not Tradeable

You may not trade cards with any of the following flaws without prior consent of your trading partner who has seen a current scan of the card’s condition.

• Altered cards
• Markings on the card face or back, including signatures and tournament stamps
• Sun-fading and major discoloration
• Major water damage
• Irreparable smoke or scent damage
• Tears or chunks missing
• Ink stripping
• Splitting of layers
• Edge-to-edge creasing
• Cards that have lost their structural integrity due to any reason

Anything worse than Heavily Played cards as graded by Cardsphere admins.