Is Salamence worth grading?
Pokémon · Secret Wonders · 18/132 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Salamence sells for $726 against $37.47 raw: a $689 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.96) 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)
- $37.47
- PSA 10
- $726
- PSA 9
- $66.96
- Gem premium
- 19×
- As of
- Sep 15, 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 | $726 | +$664 | +$639 | +$539 |
| PSA 9 | $66.96 | +$4.49 | −$20.51 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $74.82 | +$12.35 | −$12.65 | −$113 |
Net = sale price − $37.47 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% | $232 | +$144 |
| 50% | $397 | +$309 |
| 75% | $561 | +$474 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $2,500 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $726 | −$1,774 | 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 →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Secret Wonders cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Salamence — FAQ
Is Salamence worth grading?
A PSA 10 Salamence sells for $726 against $37.47 raw: a $689 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.96) 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 Salamence worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Salamence (Secret Wonders 18/132) sells for about $726 versus $37.47 for a raw near-mint copy — a 19× premium as of Sep 15, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Salamence?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $2,500, ahead of PSA 10 at $726. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Salamence need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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 Salamence break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Salamence breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $66.96).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Pokémon card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
