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 $878 against $38.98 raw: a $839 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($142) 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)
- $38.98
- PSA 10
- $878
- PSA 9
- $142
- Gem premium
- 23×
- As of
- Sep 18, 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 | $878 | +$814 | +$789 | +$689 |
| PSA 9 | $142 | +$78.16 | +$53.16 | −$46.84 |
| PSA 8 | $52.14 | −$11.84 | −$36.84 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $38.98 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% | $326 | +$237 |
| 50% | $510 | +$421 |
| 75% | $694 | +$605 |
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 | $878 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $149 | −$729 | 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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Grading Dark Gyarados — FAQ
Is Dark Gyarados worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dark Gyarados sells for $878 against $38.98 raw: a $839 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($142) 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 $878 versus $38.98 for a raw near-mint copy — a 23× premium as of Sep 18, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dark Gyarados?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $878, ahead of CGC 10 at $149. 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.
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