Pokémon Card Condition Guide: NM, LP, MP, HP & Damaged Explained

If you've shopped for raw (ungraded) Pokémon cards for more than five minutes, you'll have run into a wall of abbreviations: NM, LP, MP, HP, DMG. They look cryptic, but they follow a standard used across the UK and international trading card market, and understanding them is the single most useful skill you can pick up as a buyer or seller. This guide breaks down what each grade means, how to assess it yourself, and roughly how much it affects price — for Card & Ink's own condition definitions and listing policy, see our Pokémon Card Condition Guide.

Why condition matters more than rarity for raw cards

Two copies of the exact same card can be worth very different amounts once condition is factored in. A holo rare in pristine condition can sell for two or three times what a heavily played copy of the same card fetches. Buyers pay a premium for cards that look new because condition is the one thing that can never be improved after the fact – a scratch or a soft corner is permanent.

Near Mint (NM)

Near Mint is the standard for a raw card sold without any condition caveat, and it's the benchmark 'market price' is based on. A true NM card shows no visible wear at normal viewing distance. In practice, NM allows for extremely minor factory imperfections – a tiny print line, a whisper of edge whitening under close inspection – but nothing that catches the eye. If a card looks flawless when you hold it at arm's length, it's NM.

Lightly Played (LP)

Lightly Played cards have wear that's visible but minor: light edge whitening, faint surface scratches, or slight corner softening. From a normal viewing distance an LP card can still look great, but tilt it under light or look closely at the corners and the wear becomes clear. LP cards typically trade at roughly 80–90% of NM value, which makes them good value for collectors who want to play with or display a card rather than keep it sealed away.

Moderately Played (MP)

Moderately Played is the point where wear becomes obvious without close inspection. Expect noticeable edge wear, visible scratching or scuffing on the surface, and sometimes light creasing that hasn't broken the card's structure. MP cards generally sell for 50–70% of NM value. They're a sensible pickup for a player who wants the card in a deck rather than a display case.

Heavily Played (HP)

Heavily Played cards show significant wear: deep scratches, heavy whitening along most edges, visible creasing, or corner damage. The card is still intact and usable, but it's clearly been through a lot. HP cards typically fetch 25–40% of NM value.

Damaged (DMG)

Damaged covers everything beyond Heavily Played – bent or split cards, water damage, ink marks, or missing pieces. Damaged cards are usually only worth collecting if the card itself is rare enough that any copy has value, and typically trade at 10–25% of NM price.

How we grade cards at Card & Ink

Every raw card we list is assessed by eye and under light against these standards before it goes on the site, and we describe condition honestly in the listing rather than defaulting everything to NM. Our Condition Guide sets out exactly what we check and how raw and graded condition differ. If you're ever unsure about a specific listing, our FAQ covers our approach in more detail, or you can get in touch directly.

Selling cards? Condition is the first question we'll ask

If you're looking to sell a collection, condition is one of the biggest factors in the offer we can make – alongside rarity, set, and current market demand. You can either take a fast outright cash offer after we assess condition, or consign with us so we list and sell on your behalf for a wider return. See how selling to Card & Ink works for the full breakdown, or how we value a collection for the fuller picture.

Browse by condition

Ready to buy? Explore our current stock of raw cards or professionally graded cards, where every listing states condition or grade upfront.