HOW MAGIC MADHOUSE GRADES THEIR CARD STOCK
Condition guide for trading cards
This guide will explain the different conditions we use to evaluate our card stock and help you make informed decisions about the cards you buy from us.
GRADING TERMINOLOGY
It's important to go through the guide and make sure you know the condition of the cards you are buying. This is especially important if you are going to use the cards for tournaments or collecting. Otherwise, all of our cards are playable, especially in a casual setting.
NEAR MINT (NM)
Minor border wear/ white notches
Minor clouding
If multiple minor issues are determined, the card will be graded at a lower condition.
- Minor border wear/ white notch
- Minor clouding
- Minor printing defects/ misprint
- Minor surface scratch
EXCELLENT (EX)
A card in this condition may exhibit one or more of the following:
- Minor binder bending
- Minor corner wear
- Minor marks on the sides of the card
- Minor surface scratches
- Minor wear along one or more edges of the card
- Foils - considerable clouding
Artist Signed
Minor bending
GOOD (GD)
Distinct Corner Wear
Distinct edge wear
Artist signed
Minor water damage (right side)
Minor inking (ink over image and not card text)
Written on by previous owner
Obvious surface damage and minor indentations
Event stamped
A card in this condition may exhibit one or more of the following:
- Clearly visible surface scratches
- Distinct corner wear
- Fading/ whitening of front and/ or back surface of the card
- Minor creasing
- Minor inking
- Moderate binder bending
- Shuffling marks at the edges of the card
- Very minor water damage
- Whitening along multiple sides
- Foils - major clouding
b) All Premiere Event stamped cards that are otherwise in Near Mint, Excellent or Good condition.
c) All cards which have been written on by previous owners, but are otherwise in Near Mint or Excellent condition.
You should assume that opaque sleeves will be required to play a Good condition card in sanctioned tournaments.
HEAVILY PLAYED (HP)
A card in Heavily Played condition is a card that shows more significant wear or damage, and will not normally be sold on our website. These cards are sometimes taken to events and trade shows.
A card in this condition may exhibit one or more of the following:
- Cards with very obvious surface damage, minor indentations, etc
- Heavy border wear
- Heavy corner wear
- Major creasing
- Major front or back whitening
- Major inking
- Major shuffle creases
- Major water damage
- Physical damage (minor tearing or holes)
- Writing on the front or back of the card
You should assume that opaque sleeves will be required to play a Good condition card in sanctioned tournaments.
Major water damage
Major creasing, heavy corner wear and physical damage
Major shuffle creases
Physical damage (minor tearing or holes)
Stamped from premiere event
CARD STORAGE