Is Lightning Energy worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 128/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Lightning Energy brings $31.30 versus $0.33 raw — a $30.97 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.22) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.33
- PSA 10
- $31.30
- PSA 9
- $15.22
- Gem premium
- 95×
- 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 | $31.30 | +$5.97 | −$19.03 | −$119 |
| PSA 9 | $15.22 | −$10.11 | −$35.11 | −$135 |
| PSA 8 | $9.30 | −$16.03 | −$41.03 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $0.33 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% | $19.24 | −$31.09 |
| 50% | $23.26 | −$27.07 |
| 75% | $27.28 | −$23.05 |
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 | $31.30 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $10.00 | −$21.30 | 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 | $31.30 | $10.00 |
| 9 | $15.22 | $5.00 |
| 8.5 | — | $4.00 |
| 8 | $9.30 | — |
| 7 | $9.00 | $4.00 |
| 6 | $8.97 | — |
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 Lightning Energy — FAQ
Is Lightning Energy worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lightning Energy brings $31.30 versus $0.33 raw — a $30.97 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.22) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Lightning Energy worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lightning Energy (Base Set 2 128/130) sells for about $31.30 versus $0.33 for a raw near-mint copy — a 95× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lightning Energy?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $31.30, ahead of CGC 10 at $10.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lightning Energy 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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