How we grade condition
Last updated
Recursion Cards uses a five-tier grading scale for the singles we sell.
- Near Mint (NM): Minimal or subtle wear.
- Lightly Played (LP): Minor wear.
- Moderately Played (MP): Obvious wear.
- Heavily Played (HP): Major wear.
- Damaged (DM): Structural damage.
How we grade
We grade every card by hand, and the grade reflects the card in its entirety rather than one part of it. A card sitting between two grades gets the lower one.
These are our own grades, on raw cards. They are not PSA, BGS or CGC grades.
Near Mint (NM)
Cards graded Near Mint have little to no wear. Slight edge whitening or a couple of minor scratches may be allowed if they are seen only under close inspection.
Lightly Played (LP)
Cards graded Lightly Played have minor wear, often from gentle play. This includes light edge whitening, small scuffs and light surface scratches. Nothing affects the structure of the card.
Moderately Played (MP)
Cards graded Moderately Played have wear that is obvious at a glance. This includes border and corner wear, scratching, scuffing, and small creases that stay within the border.
Heavily Played (HP)
Cards graded Heavily Played have major wear: heavy whitening, creasing that goes beyond the border, or heavy scratching. These cards are still playable in sleeves.
Damaged (DM)
Cards graded Damaged have wear beyond the Heavily Played standard. This includes tears, hard creases, water damage, and ink that did not come from the manufacturer.
Card images
The image on a card page is a stock image of that printing, not a photograph of the copy you receive. The grade is beside the price.