Card condition assistant: Near Mint, Lightly Played, Played…
A card’s condition is set by its worst defect: 21 mm of edge wear already makes it Lightly Played for TCGplayer, and any scratch at all keeps it out of Cardmarket’s Near Mint. Measure each defect with a ruler under a low light and the assistant gives the condition on both scales.
The limits it uses
| Defect | Near Mint | Lightly Played | Moderately Played | Heavily Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edge wear (sum) | 20 mm | 80 mm | 160 mm | More |
| Scratch (length) | 40 mm | 40 mm | Over 40 mm | Any |
| Scuffing (area) | 315 mm² | Half a face | One face | Both faces |
| Dent | A point | 4 mm² | 25 mm² | Over 25 mm² |
| Crease (length) | None | 10 mm | 20 mm | Over 20 mm |
| Layer loss | None | 2,5 mm² | 10 mm² | 40 mm² |
| Dirt | None | 2,5 mm² | 27,5 mm² | Any |
| Curl (gap) | 5 mm | 5 mm | 5 mm | 5 mm |
The table is TCGplayer’s October 2026 standard as quoted in our condition guide. The assistant takes the worst defect; TCGplayer also adds points across defects (3 for Near Mint, 6, 12 and 24), so several defects near their limits can lower the grade further. A “point” dent is taken as up to 0.5 mm². Beyond the Heavily Played limits, or with structural damage, the card is Damaged.
From TCGplayer to Cardmarket
The equivalent shown is the one Cardmarket itself gives for US terms: Near Mint stays Near Mint (but Cardmarket’s Near Mint allows no scratches at all, so any scratch makes it Excellent), Lightly Played is Excellent, Moderately Played is Good, Heavily Played is Played and Damaged is Poor. Cardmarket’s own “Light Played” sits between Moderately and Heavily Played.
Sources and checks
Limits and equivalences as compiled on 27 October 2026 in our condition guide from TCGplayer’s standards and Cardmarket’s condition guide.