Guide
Grading and condition guide
Two scales matter when you buy singles: the 1 to 10 scale used by grading companies for slabs, and the condition scale shops use for raw cards. Here is how we use both.
Raw card condition scale
| Condition | What it means at Rare Pull Cards |
|---|---|
| Near Mint (NM) | Looks fresh from the pack at arm's length. At most a tiny speck of edge whitening or a faint surface mark under strong light. |
| Lightly Played (LP) | Light wear: some edge whitening, minor corner softness or light surface scratches. No creases. |
| Moderately Played (MP) | Clear wear across edges and corners, scratches or scuffs, possibly a very light bend. Still presentable in a binder. |
| Heavily Played (HP) | Heavy wear, creases or bends, but intact. |
| Damaged | Tears, water damage, writing, or major creasing. |
The four things graders look at
- Centering: how even the borders are, front and back
- Corners: sharpness and any wear or dings
- Edges: whitening, chipping or roughness, especially on the back
- Surface: scratches, print lines, dents and fingerprints
Slab grades
Graders use a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 as the best. Each company has its own definitions and labels. Read PSA vs BGS vs CGC vs TAG.
Raw condition is our honest opinion, not a prediction of the grade a card will receive.
Questions people ask
What does Near Mint mean for a Pokémon card?
It means the card looks fresh from the pack, with at most tiny flaws visible under strong light.
Does Near Mint mean it will grade a 10?
No. Near Mint describes the card's general condition. Grading companies look very closely at centering and tiny flaws, so a Near Mint card can grade anywhere from about 7 to 10.