Raw Card Condition Guide
A shared vocabulary for describing raw ungraded cards on Want To Buy. Buyers evaluate seller photos themselves — Want To Buy does not verify condition claims.
Last updated: July 2026 · Shared reference — Want To Buy does not verify condition claims
How raw card condition is described on Want To Buy
Every raw ungraded card on Want To Buy is described using one of five condition tiers — Near Mint (NM), Lightly Played (LP), Moderately Played (MP), Heavily Played (HP), or Damaged (DMG). These tiers are mapped to PSA grade equivalents so buyers and sellers share a common vocabulary.
Want To Buy does not verify condition claims. This page is a shared reference; the buyer is solely responsible for evaluating the seller's timestamped photos and any additional photos they request before proceeding with a transaction.
PSA equivalency table
| Tier | Full name | PSA equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| NM | Near Mint | PSA 8 to 10 |
| LP | Lightly Played | PSA 6 to 7 |
| MP | Moderately Played | PSA 4 to 5 |
| HP | Heavily Played | PSA 2 to 3 |
| DMG | Damaged | PSA 1 |
Near Mint (NM) — PSA 8+ equivalent
Minimal to no visible surface wear, crisp corners, clean edges, no creasing. Minor print imperfections from manufacturing are acceptable. Any visible play wear, whitening, or edge nicks downgrades to Lightly Played.
NM Foil
NM Foil cards are evaluated by the same criteria; minor foil speckle from manufacturing is acceptable at NM provided it is not excessive.
Lightly Played (LP) — PSA 6 to 7 equivalent
Minor edge wear, light scuffs, or minimal scratching. No significant imperfections affecting structural integrity.
Moderately Played (MP) — PSA 4 to 5 equivalent
Edge wear, surface wear, light scratching, scuffing, minor bends with soft creases, or a combination of moderate examples. Minor bends or soft peeling are acceptable at MP provided they do not affect structural integrity.
Heavily Played (HP) — PSA 2 to 3 equivalent
Major wear including significant creasing, whitening, edge damage, or multiple moderate imperfections in combination. HP cards must still be identifiable and authenticatable.
Damaged (DMG) — PSA 1 equivalent
Cards with imperfections beyond HP standards — major border wear, deep scratching, tears, splits, significant bends, or damage affecting structural integrity.
Defects and alterations
- Manufacturing defects such as significant miscuts or crimping are automatically classified as Damaged.
- Alterations including stamps, signatures, paint, or marker are also classified as Damaged.
- Sellers listing defected or altered cards must disclose this explicitly in their offer notes and submit clear photos of the defect.
The mandatory 2-photo scam filter
Before the buyer and seller are connected through the message thread, the seller must submit 2 timestamped photos — front and back of the card, each with a handwritten note in the same frame containing the current date (DD/MM/YYYY), Seller:, Buyer:, order ID, and card condition. See the Seller Policy for the full definition.
The mandatory photos filter out sellers who do not physically hold the card. They are not a Want To Buy grading service — buyers must evaluate condition themselves and may request additional photos through the message thread.
Foil cards
Foil cards are evaluated by the same criteria as non-foil cards. Foil bubbling and excessive foil speckle may affect condition and should be photographed and disclosed by sellers.