Is Blaine's Charizard worth grading?
Pokémon · Gym Challenge · 2/132 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Blaine's Charizard sells for $18,969 against $700 raw: a $18,269 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,649) 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)
- $700
- PSA 10
- $18,969
- PSA 9
- $3,649
- Gem premium
- 27×
- As of
- Sep 29, 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 | $18,969 | +$18,244 | +$18,219 | +$18,119 |
| PSA 9 | $3,649 | +$2,924 | +$2,899 | +$2,799 |
| PSA 8 | $2,036 | +$1,311 | +$1,286 | +$1,186 |
Net = sale price − $700 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% | $7,479 | +$6,729 |
| 50% | $11,309 | +$10,559 |
| 75% | $15,139 | +$14,389 |
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 | $6,613 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,308 | −$4,305 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Gym Challenge cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Blaine's Charizard — FAQ
Is Blaine's Charizard worth grading?
A PSA 10 Blaine's Charizard sells for $18,969 against $700 raw: a $18,269 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,649) 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 Blaine's Charizard worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Blaine's Charizard (Gym Challenge 2/132) sells for about $18,969 versus $700 for a raw near-mint copy — a 27× premium as of Sep 29, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Blaine's Charizard?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $6,613, ahead of CGC 10 at $2,308. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Blaine's Charizard 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.
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.
