A card’s condition is what separates a perfect transaction from a dispute. The same card can be worth five times more in Near Mint than in Damaged condition, and roughly half of all disagreements between buyers and sellers come from inaccurate condition assessments. This guide provides a clear grading framework, the one used on Kizuna by all sellers, to evaluate any card in less than a minute.
The Four Conditions Used on Kizuna
Rather than a seven-tier scale where few people can truly distinguish between “Excellent” and “Good,” Kizuna uses four clear and verifiable condition grades:
Mint (MT) : Just perfect
The card is absolutely flawless, as if it came straight from a booster pack and was immediately protected. No handling marks, pristine surfaces, sharp edges, pointed corners, and no significant centering defects. In practice, very few cards genuinely deserve this grade: a card that is simply “in good condition” is not Mint. This is the standard demanded by the most discerning collectors and the natural candidate for professional grading.
Near Mint (NM) : Fresh from booster
The market standard. At first glance, the card appears new; upon close inspection, tiny signs of handling may be visible: a microscopic white dot on an edge, or a very faint surface mark only noticeable under a specific angle of light. A card played exclusively in sleeves will generally remain NM. When a card price is quoted without specifying condition, it almost always refers to the NM price.
Lightly Played (LP) : Lightly Played
Signs of use are visible but not distracting: multiple white spots on edges or corners, light surface scratches, or a slightly worn corner. The card still looks great in a sleeve and remains fully tournament-playable. For players, this is often the best value option: a meaningful discount for imperfections that are invisible during gameplay.
Damaged (DM) : Visible damages
Anything beyond the LP threshold: creases, major edge wear, deep scratches, stains, water damage, or extensive whitening along visible portions of the card. A DM card sells at a substantial discount, but it still sells. For players testing a deck or collectors filling a gap until they find a better copy, it remains a valid option, provided all defects are clearly disclosed and photographed.
How to Evaluate a Card in Practice
The method used by experienced sellers (and tournament judges inspecting decks):
- Use angled lighting. Tilt the card under a direct light source. Surface scratches and shuffle marks often only appear from certain angles.
- Inspect all four corners. Corners are usually the first areas to show wear. A whitened or rounded corner generally disqualifies a card from Near Mint.
- Check the edges, front and back. The backs of dark-colored cards (very common in Japanese TCGs) tend to show wear much more quickly than the front.
- Test flatness. Place the card on a flat surface. Significant warping (commonly called “curling,” especially on foils) should be disclosed.
- Centering and print defects do not technically affect condition, but major manufacturing flaws should be mentioned in the listing description.
Golden rule for sellers: when in doubt, grade down. A card listed as LP that arrives looking NM creates a happy buyer and a five-star review. The opposite creates disputes. On a marketplace, your review history is your reputation.
Foil Cards and Japanese TCGs: Common Pitfalls
Games such as Weiss Schwarz, Shadowverse: Evolve, and the Hololive OGC come with their own specific considerations:
- Foil curling: Japanese foil cards often warp due to humidity. Minor curling is almost unavoidable and does not necessarily prevent a card from being NM; significant warping should be disclosed.
- Signed cards (common in Weiss Schwarz and hololive through voice actor signatures): the signature is part of the card. Condition is evaluated based on the physical card itself. Weiss Schwarz Rarity Guide, coming soon
- Dark card backs show wear quickly: always inspect the reverse side before declaring a card NM.
What About Graded Cards?
A graded card (PSA, BGS, CGC) falls outside this condition scale. It has been evaluated by a professional grading company and assigned a score from 1 to 10, sealed within a protective slab. On Kizuna, graded cards are listed separately with their grading company and exact grade : you never compare a PSA 9 directly to a raw card. Graded Cards Category guide, coming soon
FAQ for Card Conditions
What is the difference between Mint and Near Mint?
A Mint card is completely flawless; a Near Mint card may show tiny signs of handling that are only visible upon close inspection. In practice, the vast majority of “fresh from the pack” cards are NM, not Mint.
Can a played card still be Near Mint?
Yes. If it has always been played in sleeves and handled carefully, it can remain NM. Condition is determined by inspection, not by usage history.
What condition should I choose for tournament play?
LP is often the smartest choice: cheaper, visually indistinguishable in a sleeve, and fully legal as long as the wear is not severe enough to make the card identifiable from the back.
How are conditions displayed on Kizuna?
Each listing clearly shows its condition (MT, NM, LP, DM) directly in the seller table, along with the card language and any seller comments. You can filter and compare listings in a single click.
Article written by the Kizuna team : a marketplace founded by a certified Bushiroad judge who has been inspecting tournament cards since 2017.
