Is Defender worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 109/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Defender brings $30.60 versus $0.53 raw — a $30.07 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.27) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.53
- PSA 10
- $30.60
- PSA 9
- $10.27
- Gem premium
- 58×
- As of
- Aug 10, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $30.60 | +$5.07 | −$19.93 | −$120 |
| PSA 9 | $10.27 | −$15.26 | −$40.26 | −$140 |
| PSA 8 | $11.57 | −$13.96 | −$38.96 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $0.53 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $15.35 | −$35.18 |
| 50% | $20.44 | −$30.09 |
| 75% | $25.52 | −$25.01 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $30.60 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $30.60 | — |
| 9 | $10.27 | — |
| 8 | $11.57 | — |
| 5.5 | — | $5.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Base Set 2 cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Defender — FAQ
Is Defender worth grading?
A PSA 10 Defender brings $30.60 versus $0.53 raw — a $30.07 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.27) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Defender worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Defender (Base Set 2 109/130) sells for about $30.60 versus $0.53 for a raw near-mint copy — a 58× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
What centering does Defender need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Is your Pokémon card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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