How we assess your cards.
Every card we touch gets sorted by condition before it ever moves to grading or sale. Here's the scale we use, the same one PSA, BGS, and serious collectors rely on, with visual examples so you can ballpark your own collection before submitting.
Illustrations below are exaggerated to make each tier's typical issues obvious. Real cards rarely fit a single tier perfectly, a card might have Mint corners and Excellent edges. We grade on the worst feature, not the best.
Gem Mint ✨
Effectively flawless. Cards in this tier look like they came straight off the printing press. This is the holy grail, and it's rare.
- Corners: Razor sharp on all 4 corners, no rounding visible to the eye
- Edges: Solid color, zero whitening, no nicks
- Surface: Glossy, no scratches, no print defects, perfect centering
- Centering: Within 55/45 on both axes (left/right and top/bottom)
Mint 💎
Near-perfect with only the tiniest imperfections, typically invisible to anyone but a grader holding the card under bright light.
- Corners: Sharp on 3-4 corners, maybe one with the slightest softness
- Edges: Clean with maybe one micro-spot of whitening
- Surface: No visible scratches, one or two faint print imperfections allowed
- Centering: Within 60/40 on both axes
Near Mint 👍
Visible but minor wear. The card has clearly been handled, opened, played with briefly, or stored without protection, but no major damage.
- Corners: Slight rounding on 1-2 corners, visible under bright light
- Edges: Light whitening at 2-3 spots, no chipping
- Surface: 1-2 minor scratches detectable on close inspection, gloss mostly intact
- Centering: Within 65/35, slight off-center allowed
Excellent 🟢
Played with regularly and stored loose. Still very presentable, but the wear is obvious without needing a loupe.
- Corners: Noticeable rounding on all corners, but no chunks missing
- Edges: Visible whitening on most edges, possible small chip
- Surface: Multiple minor scratches, some loss of gloss in spots
- Centering: Up to 70/30, clearly off-center is OK
Very Good ⚠️
Heavy play wear, but the card is intact and the artwork is fully visible. Often the binder-pages-but-no-sleeves story.
- Corners: Heavily rounded, possibly some fraying
- Edges: Significant whitening all around, multiple small chips OK
- Surface: Multiple visible scratches, gloss largely gone, possible small dents
- Centering: Up to 80/20, significantly off-center allowed
- Other: Tiny surface marks or pressure dings acceptable
Poor / Good 🩹
Major structural damage but the card is still complete and identifiable. Often the basement-box, water-leaked-on-it, kid-folded-in-pocket story.
- Corners: Heavily worn, possibly chunks missing, frayed
- Edges: Massive whitening, chips, possible small tears
- Surface: Significant scratches, creases, possible water stains or pen marks
- Structure: One or more creases visible across the card body
- Still gradeable IF: No tape, no glue, no major missing chunks, card fully identifiable
Two scales, one card.
Card shops, TCGPlayer, and eBay don't use the 1–10 graded scale. They use five tiers - Near Mint through Damaged, that compress the same range into a simpler vocabulary. Here's how to translate between the two, whether you're listing raw cards or deciding if something is worth grading.
Notice how Near Mint spans four graded numbers? That's because raw "Near Mint" is the widest bucket. A clean-looking card might land anywhere from PSA 7 to a coveted PSA 10 depending on centering, print quality, and surface micro-defects you can't see by eye.
Near Mint 100% market
Looks essentially new. Minor manufacturing defects allowed. Slight border whitening only visible on close inspection. Surface still glossy, corners crisp, edges clean. The widest raw bucket because grading variability spreads NM cards across four PSA grades.
Lightly Played ~85% market
Minor wear visible without close inspection. Slight rounding on 1 or 2 corners, light edge whitening on a side or two, possibly a tiny surface scuff. Still very presentable and sleeve-playable.
Moderately Played ~70% market
Visible wear at normal viewing distance. Light to moderate rounding on multiple corners, moderate edge whitening on most sides, several light scratches across the surface. Card still feels solid in hand.
Heavily Played ~50% market
Significant damage. Heavy corner rounding or possible small bends, heavy whitening across all edges, deep surface scratches and possibly a soft crease that does not break the surface ink. Card structure intact but visibly rough.
Damaged ~25% market
Major structural damage. Large tears, missing chunks, water damage, hole punches, writing, severe bends, or all of the above. Often ungradeable beyond "Authentic" (no numeric grade assigned).
Grade it if:
- Card looks Near Mint or better to the eye
- Raw market value is $20+
- Centering looks even on all four sides
- You can wait 2-8 weeks for PSA turnaround
Sell raw if:
- Condition is Lightly Played or worse
- Raw market value is under $20
- Centering is visibly off
- You want cash now, not in two months
Market percentages above reflect TCGPlayer's standard pricing tiers relative to Near Mint and vary by card and demand. A scarce vintage card in MP often sells closer to 80% of NM because supply is thin; a common modern card in MP might sell at 50% or less. Use these as a starting point, not a hard rule.
What every category looks like at every tier.
Below is the actual grading rubric, side by side. Columns use raw card terminology (the standard vocabulary on TCGPlayer, eBay, and at card shops), with each column's PSA equivalent shown beneath the tier name. Note that "Near Mint" raw covers four PSA grades because raw sellers don't separate Mint (PSA 9) and Gem Mint (PSA 10) into their own tiers, they all live under "Near Mint."
Read it like a chart: pick the column that matches your card, then check each row to see if your card matches the description. The lowest-scoring row sets your overall tier. After the chart, the terminology key explains exactly what "light whitening" or "moderate creasing" mean in plain English.
| Category | Damaged PSA 1 | Heavily Played PSA 2, 3 | Moderately Played PSA 4, 5 | Lightly Played PSA 6 | Near Mint PSA 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centering Border balance on both axes | Severe miscut. Border missing on one or more sides, or card cut diagonally. | Severely off-center, around 75/25 or worse. Border looks nearly gone on one side. | Heavily off-center, 70/30 range. Visible from across a table without measuring. | Notably off-center, 65/35 range on at least one axis. |
PSA 10: 55/45 or better on both axes. PSA 9: up to 60/40. PSA 8: up to 65/35. PSA 7: up to 70/30 still acceptable. |
| Corners Sharpness of all 4 points | Crushed flat, frayed, or chunks missing. Paper layers may be torn or peeling. | Heavy rounding on all 4 corners. Paper layers visibly separating, possibly small bends. | Significant rounding on most corners. Paper layers may show on the worst corners. | Light rounding on multiple corners, visible at normal viewing distance. |
PSA 10: Razor sharp on all 4. Zero rounding. PSA 9: Sharp on 3-4, maybe one with the slightest softness. PSA 8: Soft on 1-2 corners under magnification. PSA 7: Slight rounding visible on 1-2 corners. |
| Edges Color borders, no whitening | Major tears, chips, or whole sections of edge missing. | Heavy whitening across all 4 edges with visible nicks and dings. | Heavy whitening on most edges, some nicks. Visible from across a table. | Moderate whitening visible without close inspection. Maybe a light ding. |
PSA 10: Clean colored edges. No whitening, no nicks. PSA 9: Maybe one micro-spot of whitening. PSA 8: Minor whitening visible on close inspection. PSA 7: Light whitening on 1 or 2 edges. |
| Surface Gloss, scratches, creases, print | Major tears, writing, water damage, hole punches, or large surface-breaking creases. | Multiple deep scratches and surface-breaking creases. Card stock visibly damaged. | Several visible scratches. A soft crease that does not break the surface ink is acceptable. | Several light surface scratches that catch the light when tilted. Gloss mostly intact. No creases. |
PSA 10: Glossy and clean. No scratches, no print defects. PSA 9: One or two faint print imperfections allowed. PSA 8: Minor surface marks under bright light. PSA 7: Light surface scuffs allowed, no significant scratches. |
On a phone? Swipe the chart left to see all five columns.
The one rule that decides everything
A card's overall tier is set by its worst category, not its average. Graders call this "the floor." If three of your card's categories are Near Mint but one is Moderately Played, the card is Moderately Played overall. The other three categories don't lift it back up.
Sharp 90-degree corners (NM) + clean edges (NM) + 55/45 centering (NM) + a soft crease across the surface that doesn't break the ink (MP) = Moderately Played card overall. The crease drags the whole grade down to its level.
This is also why one careless storage choice — a card slid into a tight binder pocket, a sleeve removed without care, a bend from a packed shipping box — can drop a $100 card to a $50 card overnight. Treat every card like its softest category is the only one that matters.
What those words actually mean.
Grading vocabulary is precise. Here's the same words we used in the chart above, defined in plain English so you and we are talking about the same thing.
Light whitening
Tiny ink loss along an edge or corner, barely visible when you hold the card at arm's length. You usually need to bring the card within 6 inches of your eye, or use a magnifier, to see it clearly.
Moderate whitening
Visible at normal viewing distance without trying. White card stock showing through the colored border in multiple spots, but not bands.
Heavy whitening
Obvious bands of white where the border ink has worn away. Visible from across a desk, no inspection needed.
Soft corner
Corner has lost its sharp 90-degree point but still holds its shape. No visible peeling or layering of the paper.
Rounded corner
Corner shows obvious curvature instead of a point. Paper layers may be visible at the rounded edge.
Crushed corner
Corner has been compressed flat or bent permanently, often from being dropped or stored under weight.
Surface scratch
A visible line through the glossy coating, usually catches light when you tilt the card at an angle.
Crease
A bend in the card stock. A "soft" crease doesn't break the surface ink. A "surface-breaking" crease shows white through the ink and caps the grade at PSA 4 maximum.
Print defect
A manufacturing artifact: an ink dot in the artwork, color smear, or mis-registration. Minor print issues are allowed at higher grades. Major print issues cap the grade.
Centering ratio
The percentage of border width on opposing sides. "55/45" means one side has 55% of the border width compared to the other side's 45%. Measured on both the left-right axis and the top-bottom axis. The worse axis sets your centering grade.
How to ballpark your own cards in 30 seconds.
Grab a bright light (phone flashlight works) and check these four things in order. Whichever is the worst sets your tier.
Corners
Hold the card under bright light at an angle. Are all 4 corners crisp 90-degree points? Or do they have a slight curve? Heavy rounding? That's your floor.
Edges
Look at the colored borders. Any whitening, where the ink has worn off showing the white card stock underneath, drops the grade. A little is fine; a lot is Excellent at best.
Surface
Tilt the card under light. Any scratches, swirls, or matte spots where the gloss is gone? Print defects also count, those tiny black dots in the artwork.
Centering
Compare the border thickness on opposite sides. If the left border is twice as thick as the right, that's significantly off-center, caps the grade at Near Mint or below.
Think you've got something gem mint?
Send it in. We'll review it for free and recommend whether grading is worth the cost.
Kayou is a Chinese trading card publisher known for premium print quality, bold licensed IPs, and craftsmanship that punches well above its price point. Fox Den is one of a small number of online retailers in the Pacific Northwest actively cataloging and selling Kayou's full English releases.
The Kayou story
Founded in China in 2019, Kayou has quickly grown into one of Asia's most prolific TCG manufacturers, producing officially licensed collectible cards for global entertainment IPs. Their flagship Naruto series brought them international attention with tarot-inspired art, gold-foil finishes, and rarity tiers that reward serious collectors without gating casual buyers out.
The company began its overseas English-market rollout in late 2025, opening a North American distribution presence and building relationships directly with specialty retailers. Their approach — high production quality, thoughtful serialization, and IPs that resonate with collectors. This is what drew Fox Den to their catalog.
What sets Kayou cards apart
Gold-foil rarities
Higher tiers use gold-foil stamping, visible depth and gleam that photos struggle to capture. Rare/holo variants add textured embosses on top. Every card is a beautiful holo at worst, and a stunning treasure to behold at best.
Serialized rarities
Diamond variants (◇ASP, ◇UR) are print-run limited to often /9, /99, or /999, and stamped with individual numbering. Every seriealized card includes the print number visibly on the card back.
Kayou's IP roster
Naruto
Kayou's flagship IP · 5 English sets · 780+ singles
The Naruto series is Kayou's current crown jewel, a rolling anthology of Shippuden-era story arcs told across two parallel lines. Every set introduces new rarity tiers and art themes while keeping a consistent grading and packaging standard.
NREA · Earth Scroll line
Early-story focus — Chunin Exams, Sasuke Retrieval, Land of Waves. Introduces Ukiyo-e Battle art (AR), Ninjutsu Showcase (SSR), and the first Ninja Profiles UR run.
- NREA01 — Earth Scroll Series 1 · 131 cards
- NREA02 — Earth Scroll Series 2 · 132 cards · Introduces Diamond UR (◇UR)
NRSA · Chapter Jin / Heaven Scroll line
Later-story arcs with expanded rarity system. Adds Platinum Rare (PTR) character-poster tier and Parallel Universe (PU) tier for what-if art. Chapter Jin 3 introduces the ultra-rare Amber Special Parallel (◇ASP), serialized /9.
- NRSA01 — Heaven Scroll Series 1 · 158 cards
- NRSA02 — Chapter Jin Series 2 · 168 cards
- NRSA03 — Chapter Jin Series 3 · 185 cards · Introduces ◇ASP tier
KPop Demon Hunters
Netflix crossover IP · 2 English sets · 260+ singles
Kayou's official Netflix-licensed collectible line for the animated hit KPop Demon Hunters. Two editions cover the Huntr/X trio (Rumi, Mira, Zoey) and the Saja Boys with rarity tiers that echo the show's music- industry theme: Concert Ticket (SSR), Signature Card (UR), Card as a Charm (QR), and Golden (SE).
KPDH01 · Energy Edition Series 1
The debut set. 11 rarity tiers · 130 unique cards including animated Movie Moments (HR) that print as GIF-style holographic stills.
KPDH02 · Classic Edition Series 1
Cleaner art direction focused on the core cast without the signature-tier serialization. Great entry point for collectors just picking up the show.
My Little Pony
Cross-generation licensed IP · English releases growing
Kayou's My Little Pony line targets both nostalgic G4 fans and modern collectors of the Make Your Mark generation. Softer color palette and glitter-foil rarities differentiate this line from the tarot-heavy Naruto and neon-holo KPop sets.
New sets are added as they release. Check back or subscribe to our newsletter for restock alerts.
tokidoki
Character-brand collab · Coming to Fox Den
Kayou's tokidoki collaboration brings Simone Legno's iconic character universe (Adios, SANDy, Cactus Friends) into trading card form. The line is scheduled for expanded English distribution in 2026 — we're tracking releases and will catalog them here as they land.
The cards that started it all
Before Naruto, KPop Demon Hunters, or My Little Pony went English, Kayou built its reputation in China with the Three Kingdoms (三国) line; a sprawling anthology of cards based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, one of the most influential works in Chinese literature. The line features iconic warriors, generals, and battle scenes rendered in the early stages of their high-craft print quality Kayou has become known for globally.
While Three Kingdoms remains a predominantly Chinese-market product, demand from Western collectors has grown as Kayou's international profile has risen. Fox Den is working to bring these cards to the North American market as one of the only US retailers offering authentic Three Kingdoms singles and sealed product.
Adding Kayou cards to your collection
Whether you're pack-fresh curious or hunting the ◇ASP /9 chase card, we make finding Kayou singles straightforward. Our Kayou catalog is organized by IP, set, and rarity so you can search by card number (NRSA02-MR-001L4) or browse the full set to find what fits your binder.
BANDAI
Bandai is a Japanese entertainment giant with a deep bench of TCG lines that lean on the anime and manga IPs collectors grew up with. Their card products emphasize competitive playability alongside premium collectible chase rarities.
The Bandai story
Founded in Tokyo in 1950, Bandai grew from a toy company into one of the world's largest entertainment holdings, with anchors in anime, video games, and collectibles. Its trading card arm — Bandai TCG — produces officially licensed sets for franchises Bandai either owns outright (Digimon, Gundam) or exclusively licenses (One Piece, Dragon Ball).
Bandai cards target the play-and-collect crossover: cards are tournament- legal AND come in collector-grade rarities (alternate arts, manga-style parallels, gold-foil chase cards). If you're building a competitive deck AND a display binder, most Bandai lines let you do both.
What sets Bandai cards apart
Tournament-legal formats
Cards are built for competitive play — clear rules text, consistent font sizing, standardized card backs. Every rarity in the set is legal in tournament formats.
Manga-style parallels
Alternate arts frequently use panel-accurate manga illustrations, drawing directly from source-material iconic moments. Great for collectors who prefer the manga aesthetic over anime cel art.
Chase card structure
Each set includes SEC (Secret Rare) and SP (Special) rarities at controlled pull rates, plus regionally-exclusive alternate arts. Rarity gaps are wide enough to make chase cards feel meaningful.
Long-term set support
Bandai TCG lines run continuous release cycles with regular expansions, promos, and pre-release events. Sets stay legal in competitive formats for years, protecting long-term collection value.
Bandai's IP roster
One Piece TCG
Bandai's fastest-growing TCG · Launched globally 2022–2023
The One Piece Card Game exploded in North America after its 2022 Japanese launch, with pack-fresh boxes routinely reselling at multiples over MSRP. The game emphasizes leader-deck construction around straw hat crew members and rival factions.
We stock English-language One Piece singles and sealed as they become available. Detailed set breakdowns coming.
Dragon Ball Super · Fusion World
Bandai's competitive DBS TCG · Active since 2024
Fusion World is Bandai's current-generation Dragon Ball TCG, emphasizing tag-team battles and the character fusions Dragon Ball fans grew up with. Iconic character alt-arts and Super Saiyan evolution chase cards drive collector demand.
Gundam Card Game
Bandai's flagship mecha TCG · 2025 launch
The Gundam Card Game brings the full 40+ year Gundam anime universe to TCG format — mobile suit cards, pilot cards, faction-based deck building. Highly collectible for the deep-catalog anime fan.
Digimon Card Game
Bandai's revival TCG · Ongoing since 2020
The 2020 relaunch of Digimon TCG has quietly built one of the most respected competitive scenes in modern anime card games. Evolution mechanics stay true to the source material, and alternate-art rare digimon (BT-era secret rares) are strong collector plays.
Adding Bandai cards to your collection
Filter our shop by Bandai IP to find singles, or send us your sealed product for consignment. Competitive players get access to our TAG and CGC grading pipeline for tournament-ready graded slabs.