Condition
Lorcana Card Condition Guide
Condition describes the physical copy, not its rarity. Inspect both sides and use the standards of the marketplace where you plan to trade. TCGplayer and Cardmarket do not use one identical condition scale, and a camera identification is not a professional grade.
Quick take
- Near Mint does not necessarily mean flawless.
- Use the actual marketplace’s condition definitions.
- Do not apply a fixed percentage discount for wear without comparable prices.
Inspect without changing the card
Use clean hands and good light. Carefully remove the card from a sleeve only when it is safe to do so. Inspect front and back surfaces, all edges, and all corners. Tilt the card to see scratches, dents, clouding, or foil flaws that disappear in a straight-on photograph. Do not attempt to repair or clean a card into a higher condition.
Use the right condition vocabulary
TCGplayer uses labels from Near Mint through Damaged; minimal wear may still fall within Near Mint. Cardmarket uses its own definitions. Read the relevant guide instead of translating a condition abbreviation mechanically. Marketplace condition labels are also different from numerical grades awarded by grading companies.
Describe the actual defect
For a valuable copy, photograph front, back, and any visible damage. A clear note such as a dent near the bottom edge is more useful than a vague adjective. Keep copies with different conditions in separate inventory entries when their values differ.
Price comparable copies
Do not assume a universal discount from Near Mint to another condition. Look for the same printing and finish in a comparable state. If evidence is sparse, record an uncertain estimate. LanaKit can help identify and organize the card, but its scanner does not authenticate it or assign a condition grade.
Sources and further reading
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