Is Dark Blastoise worth grading?
Pokémon · Team Rocket · 3/82 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dark Blastoise sells for $20,605 against $523 raw: a $20,083 spread, 39× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,682) 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)
- $523
- PSA 10
- $20,605
- PSA 9
- $1,682
- Gem premium
- 39×
- As of
- Nov 13, 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 | $20,605 | +$20,058 | +$20,033 | +$19,933 |
| PSA 9 | $1,682 | +$1,135 | +$1,110 | +$1,010 |
| PSA 8 | $789 | +$241 | +$216 | +$116 |
Net = sale price − $523 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% | $6,413 | +$5,841 |
| 50% | $11,144 | +$10,571 |
| 75% | $15,875 | +$15,302 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $22,429 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,220 | −$21,209 | 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.
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Grading Dark Blastoise — FAQ
Is Dark Blastoise worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dark Blastoise sells for $20,605 against $523 raw: a $20,083 spread, 39× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,682) 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 Dark Blastoise worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dark Blastoise (Team Rocket 3/82) sells for about $20,605 versus $523 for a raw near-mint copy — a 39× premium as of Nov 13, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dark Blastoise?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $22,429, ahead of CGC 10 at $1,220. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dark Blastoise 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.
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