HitDragons Condition Guide (Singles)

At HitDragons, we do our best to grade singles in a clear and consistent way, so you know what you’re getting before you check out. We use five conditions: Near Mint (NM), Lightly Played (LP), Moderately Played (MP), Heavily Played (HP) and Damaged (DMG).

How we grade (the simple version)

  • We check cards in normal light, then give surfaces a quick look under brighter light.

  • If the front and back don’t match, we grade to the lower condition.

  • If a card feels “in between” grades, we pick the lower one.

  • Tiny factory marks can happen straight from packs. We take that into account, but big or obvious marks will drop the grade.

Near Mint (NM)

“Looks great, barely handled.”
These cards have minimal wear and present really nicely.

You might notice:

  • Very light edge/corner wear if you’re looking closely

  • Tiny surface marks only under strong light

You shouldn’t see:

  • Creases, bends, tears

  • Obvious scratching or heavy whitening

Lightly Played (LP)

“A little loved, still looks great sleeved.”
Small signs of handling, but nothing too rough.

You might notice:

  • Minor whitening on corners/edges

  • Light scuffs or faint scratches (especially on foils)

You shouldn’t see:

  • Big creases or major damage

  • Heavy wear across multiple edges

Moderately Played (MP)

“You can tell it’s been played, but it’s still solid.”
Wear is clearly visible without needing perfect lighting.

You might notice:

  • Noticeable edge wear/whitening

  • Surface scratching or scuffing that’s easy to spot

  • A small crease or corner bend may be present

You shouldn’t see:

  • Major structural damage (tears/water damage/peeling)

Heavily Played (HP)

“Well played, budget-friendly.”
These cards have a lot of visible wear.

You might notice:

  • Heavy whitening and worn edges/corners

  • More obvious scratches/scuffs

  • Bends, indentations, and/or creases can be present

  • Foils may have heavy holo scratching or clouding

Damaged (DMG)

“Big issues — best for binders on a budget or placeholders.”
These cards have major wear or damage that really stands out.

You might notice:

  • Large creases, folds, or deep bends

  • Tears, dents, peeling layers, or deep gouges

  • Water damage, ink marks, staining, or severe scuffing

Reference images + photos

Many singles use a reference image. If you’re chasing something specific (or it’s a higher-value card), message us and we’ll help with photos of the exact card where we can.

Quick note for foils

Foils show wear easily — a card that looks NM at a glance can drop to LP/MP if holo scratching is obvious under light.