Whatnot TCG Definitions

The condition definitions below apply to Trading Card Games (TCG) sold on Whatnot, including Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Disney Lorcana, One Piece, Digimon, and all other TCG singles, sealed product, and graded (slabbed) cards.

Sellers are responsible for selecting the condition that most accurately reflects the item being sold. If an item doesn't match the condition selected, we review the listing, any live show disclosures, and the available evidence to determine what happened. If the item was misrepresented, the seller may be responsible for refund costs. 

Misrepresentation may also result in listing removal, penalties, or account action. Please refer to our Community Guidelines for more information.

On this page

• Types of Imperfections
• Card (Singles) Condition Standards
• Sealed Product (Packs, Boxes & Cases) Condition Standards
• Graded (Slabbed) Cards
• General Live Stream Disclosure Best Practices

Types of Imperfections

These terms describe the kinds of wear a raw card can show. They're used throughout the condition definitions below.

• Edgewear: Loss of color, sheen, or material along edges, borders, or corners. 
• Scratch/Scuffing: A score on the surface that removes material or a group of scratches or abrasion.
• Surface wear: Material loss causing internal layers to show through the image/color. 
• Grime: Material on the surface from handling, use, or poor storage.  
• Indentation: A notch or groove on the edge or surface that displaces material.  This can include dings, indentations, or fingernail marks
• Bend: A line or ridge from folding or pressing. This is also referred to a crease
• All Other Damage: A severe imperfection that impacts the card's integrity. This can include a tear, hole, sun damaged, bleaching,  foreign substances on the card, or manufacturing errors. 

Card (Singles) Condition Standards

A card that has not been evaluated and encapsulated by a professional third-party grading company is considered a card single. 

Each condition below lists how many “points” of imperfection a card can have and still qualify for that tier. Each imperfection allowed for a tier counts as one point, so two minor scratches count as two points.If a card has any imperfection type or severity not listed for a tier, or exceeds the point cap, move it down to the next tier. When in doubt, choose the lower condition.

Mint

No visible marks from shuffling, handling, clouding, printing defects, or damage. The card should have 1 or fewer points of imperfection.

Near Mint

A card that is in great condition and shows only the lightest handling. A maximum of up to 3 points or imperfection. 

Allowed imperfections: Slight edgewear, slight scuffing, slight indentation, minor scratches, slight defects.

Not allowed: Surface wear, grime, bend, fault, or any damage.

Lightly Played

A card that shows light, honest wear from handling or play but no structural issues. A maximum of up to 6 points or imperfection. 

Allowed imperfections: Minor edgewear, minor scuffing, minor indentation, minor scratches, minor bend, minor defect, slight grime, slight surface wear.

Not allowed: Fault or any damage.

Moderately Played

A card with clearly visible wear across multiple imperfection types, but still structurally sound and fully playable. 

Allowed imperfections: Moderate edgewear, moderate scuffing, moderate indentation, moderate scratches, minor surface wear, minor bends, minor grime, minor fault, minor defect.

Not allowed: Any damage.

Heavily Played

A card with heavy, obvious wear. Still one piece and playable, but well beyond normal play wear.

Allowed imperfections: Major edgewear, major scuffing, major scratches, major grime, moderate indentations, moderate surface wear, moderate bends, moderate defect, minor fault.

Damaged

The card has one or more imperfections serious enough to affect its structure, playability, or ability to be authenticated.

Allowed imperfections: N/A — any card with a moderate, major, or severe fault; any damage; a severe bend; a foreign substance (including non-manufacturer ink); or a severe indentation is Damaged.t

Sealed Product (Packs, Boxes & Cases) Condition Standards

Unopened packs, boxes, cases, and other factory-sealed TCG products are considered sealed products. 

Mint

No visible marks from shipping, handling, shelf wear, or storage. Shrink wrap (if applicable) is unblemished and drum-tight. The product should have  1 or fewer points of imperfection.

Near Mint

Great condition overall, showing only the lightest handling. A maximum of up to 3 points of imperfection that do not include indentation, crush, grime, tears in the shrink wrap, or any damage.

Lightly Played

Light, honest wear from shipping or shelf handling, with no structural issues. A maximum of up to 6 points of imperfection. Allowed imperfections: minor tears in shrink wrap (less than 1 cm), minor scuffing, minor indentation, slight grime, other minor wrap wear. Not allowed: crushed products, tears in shrink wrap exceeding 1 cm, or any other damage not listed above. 

Moderately Played

Clearly visible wear across multiple imperfection types, but the box is fully intact and the seal is secure. Allowed imperfections: moderate shrink wrap tears (less than 3 cm), moderate scuffing, moderate indentation, grime, minor crushing, and other minor defects. Not allowed: crushed products, tears in shrink wrap exceeding 3 cm, or any other damage not listed above. 

Heavily Played

Heavy, obvious wear across most surfaces. Shrink wrap should be one piece but well beyond normal shelf wear. Allowed imperfections: major edgewear, major scuffing, major grime, moderate indentation, moderate crush, moderate wrap wear, minor defect. Not allowed: any other damage not listed above. 

Damaged

The box has one or more imperfections serious enough to affect its product structure. This includes crushed or collapsed boxes, exposed or loose contents, or tears in the shrink wrap exceeding 1 cm.  

Graded (Slabbed) Cards

A card that has been professionally evaluated and sealed in a protective case by a grading company such as PSA, BGS, or CGC, and assigned a numeric grade. The condition tiers above don't apply to graded cards; instead:

• List the grading company and the numerical grade of the slab
• The condition of the outer case (the “slab”) itself — cracked, yellowed, sun damaged, or otherwise damaged — must be disclosed separately from the card's grade.
• If a buyer receives a card with a different cert number or a materially different grade than listed, this is treated as misrepresented condition under Whatnot Buyer Protection.

General Live Stream Disclosure Best Practices

• Sellers must verbally disclose the item's condition before the item is run during the live show.
• Sellers must show any known flaws on camera at the time the item is run
• Sellers must select the condition category that most accurately reflects each TCG item listed, whether in a live show or the marketplace.
• If unsure between two conditions, select the lower condition.