Is Dark Gyarados worth grading?
Pokémon · Team Rocket Returns · 36/109 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dark Gyarados sells for $886 against $34.35 raw: a $852 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($123) 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)
- $34.35
- PSA 10
- $886
- PSA 9
- $123
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 | $886 | +$827 | +$802 | +$702 |
| PSA 9 | $123 | +$63.38 | +$38.38 | −$61.62 |
| PSA 8 | $59.79 | +$0.44 | −$24.56 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $34.35 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% | $314 | +$229 |
| 50% | $505 | +$420 |
| 75% | $695 | +$611 |
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 | $2,242 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $821 | −$1,421 | 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 | BGS | SGC | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $2,242 | $821 | — | — | — |
| 9.5 | — | $1,508 | $225 | $72.92 | — |
| 9 | $1,019 | $366 | $275 | $55.00 | $40.00 |
| 8.5 | — | $246 | $150 | — | — |
| 8 | $906 | $157 | — | — | — |
| 7.5 | — | $19.00 | — | — | — |
| 7 | $59.99 | $9.00 | — | — | — |
| 6 | $350 | $200 | — | — | — |
| 5.5 | — | $62.00 | — | — | — |
| 5 | $355 | — | $280 | — | — |
| 4 | $39.85 | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | $58.00 | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | $267 | $400 | — | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Team Rocket Returns cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Dark Gyarados — FAQ
Is Dark Gyarados worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dark Gyarados sells for $886 against $34.35 raw: a $852 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($123) 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 Gyarados worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dark Gyarados (Team Rocket Returns 36/109) sells for about $886 versus $34.35 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dark Gyarados?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $2,242, ahead of CGC 10 at $821. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dark Gyarados 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.
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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