Is Metal Energy worth grading?
Pokémon · Unseen Forces · 97/115 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Metal Energy sells for $196 against $1.16 raw: a $194 spread, 169× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.32) 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)
- $1.16
- PSA 10
- $196
- PSA 9
- $34.32
- Gem premium
- 169×
- 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 | $196 | +$169 | +$144 | +$44.34 |
| PSA 9 | $34.32 | +$8.16 | −$16.84 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $25.00 | −$1.16 | −$26.16 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $1.16 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% | $74.62 | +$23.46 |
| 50% | $115 | +$63.75 |
| 75% | $155 | +$104 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 10%. 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 | $196 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $29.01 | −$166 | 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 | $196 | $29.01 |
| 9.5 | — | $12.44 |
| 9 | $34.32 | $24.96 |
| 8.5 | — | $6.00 |
| 8 | $25.00 | $6.00 |
| 7 | $4.25 | — |
| 6 | — | $12.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Unseen Forces cards worth checking
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Grading Metal Energy — FAQ
Is Metal Energy worth grading?
A PSA 10 Metal Energy sells for $196 against $1.16 raw: a $194 spread, 169× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.32) 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 Metal Energy worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Metal Energy (Unseen Forces 97/115) sells for about $196 versus $1.16 for a raw near-mint copy — a 169× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Metal Energy?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $196, ahead of CGC 10 at $29.01. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Metal Energy 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 Metal Energy break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Metal Energy breaks even when it gems about 10% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $34.32).
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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