by Sebastian Gua
20 Feb 2025
Once awhile an idea pops into mind and sharing what goes behind the scene seems like an interesti...
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Flagship Grading Guide
Condition Guide
When grading cards, we primarily grade cards from the back side of a single-faced card, and both sides of double-faced cards and foil cards. All condition guidelines listed below refer to the back side of a card unless otherwise specified.
Conditions for double-faced cards and foil cards are determined by the lowest condition on either side of the card (front or back).
Conditions for double-faced cards and foil cards are determined by the lowest condition on either side of the card (front or back).
Our staff are trained in all the condition guidelines listed below.
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Near Mint (NM)
Cards in Near Mint condition may show minimal wear but are still close to Mint condition. Cards in this condition are generally indistinguishable from other cards in this condition. Near Mint cards are always legal for tournament play.
If there are multiple issues present on the same card, the card is likely to be graded as Played.
Minor Scratching
Minor Foil Scratching
Minor Border Wear
Minor Corner Wear
Minor Clouding
Minor Foil Clouding
Minor Printing Defects
Minor Misprints
Minor scratching indicates scratches that do not remove any color from the card (they're not visibly white). Scratches should be either isolated to a single area, or be minor in two or three small areas.
If there are multiple issues present on the same card, the card is likely to be graded as Played.
Minor Scratching
Minor Foil Scratching
Minor Border Wear
Minor Corner Wear
Minor Clouding
Minor Foil Clouding
Minor Printing Defects
Minor Misprints
Minor scratching indicates scratches that do not remove any color from the card (they're not visibly white). Scratches should be either isolated to a single area, or be minor in two or three small areas.
- Examples of cards in Near Mint condition that show minimal wear but are still considered to be Near Mint condition. Minor Scratching, Nicks, Impressions, Clouding, Printline and Misprints do not affect the grade of the card.
- Played (PL)
Played cards can have multiple of these listed issues. However, the more unique issues a Played card has, the more likely it is to be graded Heavily Played instead.
Scratching
Minor Bends
Shuffle Crease
Moderate Border Wear
Moderate Foil Border Wear
Moderate Corner Wear
Minor Mid-Card Whitening
Very Minor Dirt
Very Minor Water Damage
Binder Impressions
Any Non-Flat Cards
Any Non-Flat Foil Cards
Moderate Misprints/Printing Defects
Signed/Stamped Cards
Any clearly noticeable scratching on the face or back of the card. Scratching on Played cards may show white on non-foil sides of cards or silver on foil sides of cards.
- Examples of cards in Played condition that show moderate wear, usage and damages along different parts of the card. Such examples shown above are: Noticeable scratches, bends that are not creases, shuffle creasing, noticeable border wear, silvering along borders of foil cards, slightly bent/compressed corners, whitening, dirt on card and cards that have been signed or stamped.
- Heavily Played (HP)
Heavily Played cards can have the widest range of condition issues.
Any Inking
Dirt
Moderate to Major Water Damage
Major Whitening
Major Corner/Border Wear
Massive Shuffle Creasing
Bulk Shuffle Creasing
Creasing
Any Indention
Any Delamination
Any Foil Delamination
Anything other than a small or largely unnoticeable dot of ink is Heavily Played.
- Examples of Heavily Played condition cards. Traits of such cards in this condition are as follows: Inkage, beyond a small amount of dirt on surface, moderate water damage, large and visible whitening on surface, significant wear/damage to borders, shuffle creasing (>15%), visible bends, major indentations.
- Damaged (DM)
Any Tearing/Holes
Odor
Other
Any tearing on the card.
- Examples of Damaged condition cards. They have the worst damages possible which commonly include: tears along any part of the card, cards that are unable to lie flat, cards that have foreign dirt/stains, cards surfaces peeling/peeled, major creases/bends visible, indentations and folding