Is Poliwag worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 88/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Poliwag sells for $66.59 against $0.52 raw: a $66.07 spread, 128× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($25.96) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.52
- PSA 10
- $66.59
- PSA 9
- $25.96
- Gem premium
- 128×
- 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 | $66.59 | +$41.07 | +$16.07 | −$83.93 |
| PSA 9 | $25.96 | +$0.44 | −$24.56 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $14.50 | −$11.02 | −$36.02 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $0.52 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% | $36.12 | −$14.40 |
| 50% | $46.28 | −$4.24 |
| 75% | $56.43 | +$5.91 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 60%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $66.59 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $29.00 | −$37.59 | 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 | $66.59 | $29.00 |
| 9.5 | — | $9.00 |
| 9 | $25.96 | $11.97 |
| 8 | $14.50 | $2.00 |
| 7 | $24.99 | $5.50 |
| 6.5 | — | $3.00 |
| 6 | $9.50 | — |
| 5 | $25.99 | — |
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 Poliwag — FAQ
Is Poliwag worth grading?
A PSA 10 Poliwag sells for $66.59 against $0.52 raw: a $66.07 spread, 128× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($25.96) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Poliwag worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Poliwag (Base Set 2 88/130) sells for about $66.59 versus $0.52 for a raw near-mint copy — a 128× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Poliwag?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $66.59, ahead of CGC 10 at $29.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Poliwag 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.
What gem rate makes grading Poliwag break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Poliwag breaks even when it gems about 60% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $25.96).
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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