Every single we sell is graded by a person, front and back, under good light. These are the five grades we use, the same ladder TCGplayer prices against, and what each one allows. When a card sits between two grades we list it as the lower one.
Pack fresh or close to it. No visible wear in a sleeve.
Looks unplayed. At most a tiny edge nick or a faint print line that you have to hunt for. No scratches, no whitening, no bends. Holos may show light factory clouding only.
Minor wear you notice when you look for it.
Small amounts of edge or corner whitening, light surface scratches or minor scuffing on a holo. Flat, no creases, no bends. Tournament legal in a sleeve and most people would not notice across the table.
Clear wear: whitening, scratches, maybe a light bend.
Visible whitening along several edges, noticeable scratching or scuffing, maybe light dirt or a slight bend that does not crease the card. Still structurally sound and playable sleeved.
Major wear or a crease. Priced for the binder or the deck, not the display case.
Heavy whitening, deep scratches, creases, or a bend that has left a line. May have small amounts of ink or minor water damage. Everything is still legible and the card is intact.
Tears, heavy creases, writing or water damage. Sold as is.
Anything worse than Heavily Played: tears, holes, heavy creasing, writing, significant water damage or peeling. Described in the listing where we can. Fine for a playset in sleeves or a budget binder.