Card Grading Policy

Here at HobbyMaster we have very strict standards for grading our cards. As players ourselves we know how frustrating it can be to pay good money for a card only to have it delivered in much worse condition than advertised. Please see our definitions of Near Mint, Slightly Played, and Moderately Played cards for more detail. These definitions apply for both cards we're currently selling and cards we're purchasing from you.

Near Mint:
Near Mint Cards may have a few minor imperfections, but are still in great condition. In fact, the average player might even consider these cards mint. Near mint cards have no creases, water damage, or rips. These cards are great for those who want cards in very nice condition to play with but aren’t necessarily concerned with collecting.

Near Mint cards may have minor:
  • Edge wear
  • Surface scuffing
  • Warped foiling
  • More

Slightly Played:
These cards will be noticeably played, but are still playable in a tournament as long as sleeves are used. If you are at all concerned about the condition of the cards you receive, these cards are not for you. However, if you just want something you can play with at a cheap price, this is what you’re looking for.

Slightly played cards may have noticeable:

  • Edge wear
  • Surface scuffing
  • Binder ring dents
  • Artist signatures
  • Partial inking
  • Warped foiling (Note: This includes foils that are bent into a severe “U” shape)
  • More
Moderately Played:
These cards will be significantly played, but are still playable in a tournament as long as sleeves are used. If you are at all concerned about the condition of the cards you receive, these cards are not for you. However, if you just want something you can play with at a cheap price, this is what you’re looking for. We reccomend asking for photos of MP cards before ordering if you are unsure of what the card could look like.

Moderately played cards will have noticeable:
  • Edge wear
  • Surface scuffing
  • Binder ring dents
  • Artist signatures
  • Inking
  • Warped foiling (Note: This includes foils that are bent into a severe “U” shape)
  • Structural damage to cards including tears and/or creases.
  • More

For higher end/ vintage cards our grading system is slightly more complex than what is presented here and as such the pricing may vary from our usual grading/price scale.

If you have any questions, queries, or complaints regarding our grading process please feel free to contact us.

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