The details make the difference
Card Condition Guide
From almost new to well played. See the difference for yourself.
Here you can read exactly which conditions Lichcards uses for single cards of Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering.
Choose a condition
Compare the criteria and explore the details.Near Mint
Almost new
- The card looks almost new, with at most a few minimal spots of wear.
- At most a couple of small white dots on the edges or one very light surface scratch.
- No creases, deep scratches, wrinkles, stains or water damage.
Near Mint is the standard for tidy, collectible cards that fit into a deck or collection without distracting damage.
Excellent
Light signs of use
- Clear but limited light wear on edges or corners.
- Small surface scratches or matt spots are allowed.
- No deep creases or damage that stands out immediately in a sleeve.
Ideal for players who want a tidy card but do not need absolute top condition.
Lightly Played
Slightly played
- The card has visible wear on edges, corners or surface.
- Several small scratches, whitening, light edge damage or small specks of dirt are possible.
- Small, shallow indentations are allowed as long as the card does not stand out in a sleeve.
Suitable for casual play. Perfectly usable in a sleeved deck, but strict collectors may find the damage distracting.
Moderately Played
Light played
- Clear signs of play, but the card is still perfectly usable.
- Edge wear, several white dots, scratches and small edge or corner damage are possible.
- No deep creases or damage that can be felt through a sleeve.
Fine for players, but with visibly more wear than Lightly Played or Excellent.
Heavily Played
Played, still playable
- The card has clear and multiple defects.
- Deeper scratches, larger edge damage, wear, small folds or light creases are possible.
- It must still be usable in sleeves without being recognisable by touch.
Mainly suitable for budget decks or casual use. Expect clearly visible damage.
Damaged
Damaged
- Heavy damage: deep creases, tears, water damage, large areas of whitening or peeling.
- In many cases no longer tournament legal or not pleasant to play with.
- Often only of interest as a cheap playing card or as a placeholder in a collection.
For damaged cards we point this out as clearly as possible in the product photo or description.
All conditions at a glance
| Condition | In short | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| NM Near Mint | Almost new, at most minimal wear | Collecting & decks |
| EX Excellent | Light signs of use on edges or corners | A tidy playing card |
| GD Lightly Played | Visible wear, several small scratches | Casual play |
| LP Moderately Played | Clear signs of play, still perfectly usable | Players |
| PL Heavily Played | Several clear defects | Budget decks |
| PO Damaged | Heavy damage, often not tournament legal | Placeholder |
Misprints
Printing & manufacturing errors
These guidelines are specifically about how Lichcards assesses printing and manufacturing errors on the cards we sell ourselves.
This classification is not automatically the same as that of other shops, Cardmarket, CardTrader or individual sellers.
1. Small printing errors that do not affect the condition
- Small production anomalies such as slight misalignment, thin print lines (especially on foils) or small print dots.
- They do not affect the surface, the playability or the legibility.
- The card can be sold as Near Mint (NM) and is optionally mentioned in the description.
2. Misprints we report, but which do not lower the condition
- Visible but non-physical printing errors: incorrect text, a wrong symbol or mana cost, deviating colours or graphical errors.
- They do not affect structure, playability or surface.
- We state this clearly in the description as a misprint. The card can still be Near Mint (NM).
3. Serious errors that do lower the condition
Heavy printing or manufacturing errors that clearly affect the card physically or visually, for example:
- Irregular or heavily off-centre cuts
- Large ink stains or smearing that makes text or artwork hard to read
- Crimped cards (damaged by sealing machines)
- Deep, tangible print lines or damage
- Extremely misaligned cards
We always list these cards as such, with clear photos.
Depending on the severity we lower the condition to, for example, Heavily Played or Damaged.
Misprints can actually add collector value. At Lichcards transparency comes first: we are as clear as possible about the state and particulars of every card.