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 $127 against $14.87 raw: a $112 spread, 8.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.13) 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)
- $14.87
- PSA 10
- $127
- PSA 9
- $47.13
- Gem premium
- 8.5×
- 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 | $127 | +$86.76 | +$61.76 | −$38.24 |
| PSA 9 | $47.13 | +$7.26 | −$17.74 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $26.38 | −$13.49 | −$38.49 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $14.87 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% | $67.00 | +$2.13 |
| 50% | $86.88 | +$22.01 |
| 75% | $107 | +$41.88 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 22%. 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 | $127 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $44.39 | −$82.24 | 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 | $127 | $44.39 |
| 9.5 | — | $22.89 |
| 9 | $47.13 | $16.96 |
| 8.5 | — | $10.29 |
| 8 | $26.38 | — |
| 7.5 | — | $6.01 |
| 7 | $51.77 | — |
| 6 | $12.50 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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 $127 against $14.87 raw: a $112 spread, 8.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.13) 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 $127 versus $14.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.5× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pokémon Tower?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $127, ahead of CGC 10 at $44.39. 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 22% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $47.13).
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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