Is Pokémon Tower worth grading?
Pokémon · Wizards Black Star Promos · 42 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pokémon Tower sells for $153 against $14.60 raw: a $138 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.96) 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)
- $14.60
- PSA 10
- $153
- PSA 9
- $40.96
- Gem premium
- 10×
- As of
- Sep 27, 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 | $153 | +$113 | +$88.13 | −$11.87 |
| PSA 9 | $40.96 | +$1.36 | −$23.64 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $30.00 | −$9.60 | −$34.60 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $14.60 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% | $68.90 | +$4.30 |
| 50% | $96.84 | +$32.25 |
| 75% | $125 | +$60.19 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 21%. 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 | $153 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $44.64 | −$108 | 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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Other Wizards Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pokémon Tower — FAQ
Is Pokémon Tower worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pokémon Tower sells for $153 against $14.60 raw: a $138 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.96) 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 Pokémon Tower worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pokémon Tower (Wizards Black Star Promos 42) sells for about $153 versus $14.60 for a raw near-mint copy — a 10× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pokémon Tower?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $153, ahead of CGC 10 at $44.64. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pokémon Tower 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 Pokémon Tower break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pokémon Tower breaks even when it gems about 21% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $40.96).
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