Pokémon card condition guide

Condition describes the particular copy of a card, not its rarity or the quality of its artwork. This guide helps you inspect an ungraded Pokémon card and understand the four condition descriptions used here. The listing photographs and any specific condition notes remain essential.

Inspect the whole card

Use clear light and look at the front and back. Gently change the viewing angle to reveal surface scratches or indentations without bending the card. Check each corner, the full edges and the foil areas. A sleeve can hide marks, while glare can obscure part of the surface.

Surface: look for scratches, scuffs, print lines, dents, creases, staining or other marks.
Edges: check for whitening, chips, wear and any separation of the card layers.
Corners: inspect for rounding, whitening, bends or compression.
Back: check as carefully as the front, including marks that may be less visible against the artwork.

Back of the exact Raichu Charizard & Ho-Oh ex Deck ACE slab, showing certificate 1034894. — Clear views of both sides of one Raichu slab. For an ungraded card, request the same complete front and back views, plus close-ups of any wear. These photographs illustrate the views to check, rather than the ungraded condition categories below. Select a photograph for a closer look.

Mint

The highest of these four ungraded condition choices. Use it only when close inspection supports a very clean card with no readily visible handling wear. “Mint” is a seller’s condition description here, not a grading company’s numerical assessment or a prediction of a future grade.

Near Mint

A clean overall appearance with minor imperfections that should be described or shown. Do not ignore a visible issue simply because the rest of the card looks tidy. Clear photographs help another collector assess whether that particular copy suits them.

Lightly Played

Noticeable handling wear, such as edge whitening or surface scuffing, while the card remains presentable overall. Record where the wear occurs and show it in the photographs rather than relying on the condition label alone.

Heavily Played

Substantial visible wear. Significant faults, including creases, bends, dents, staining or damage, need a factual description and close-up photographs. A condition selection does not automatically mean that a card is accepted for purchase.

When the condition is uncertain

Describe the visible issue and ask for a review. Additional front, back and angled photographs are more useful than choosing an optimistic label. Keep a card with a significant fault separate from cleaner copies of the same printing.

Graded cards use the grader’s assessment

For an ACE or PSA slab, use the recorded grade and available certificate information. Review the plastic holder separately. Our graded card guide explains what to check.

Ask a condition question or read about preparing cards to sell.