Is Energy Retrieval worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 110/130 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 81× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Energy Retrieval sells for $41.08 against $0.51 raw: a $40.57 spread, 81× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($9.49) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.51
- PSA 10
- $41.08
- PSA 9
- $9.49
- Gem premium
- 81×
- 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 | $41.08 | +$15.57 | −$9.43 | −$109 |
| PSA 9 | $9.49 | −$16.02 | −$41.02 | −$141 |
| PSA 8 | $10.45 | −$15.06 | −$40.06 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $0.51 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% | $17.39 | −$33.12 |
| 50% | $25.29 | −$25.23 |
| 75% | $33.18 | −$17.33 |
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 | $41.08 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $5.46 | −$35.62 | 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 | $41.08 | $5.46 |
| 9 | $9.49 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $2.01 |
| 8 | $10.45 | — |
| 7 | $30.00 | — |
| 6 | $6.00 | — |
| 5 | $7.00 | — |
| 4.5 | — | $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 Energy Retrieval — FAQ
Is Energy Retrieval worth grading?
A PSA 10 Energy Retrieval sells for $41.08 against $0.51 raw: a $40.57 spread, 81× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($9.49) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Energy Retrieval worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Energy Retrieval (Base Set 2 110/130) sells for about $41.08 versus $0.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 81× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Energy Retrieval?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $41.08, ahead of CGC 10 at $5.46. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Energy Retrieval 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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