Is Misty's Poliwag worth grading?
Pokémon · Gym Challenge · 89/132 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Misty's Poliwag sells for $167 against $3.87 raw: a $163 spread, 43× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.91) 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)
- $3.87
- PSA 10
- $167
- PSA 9
- $35.91
- Gem premium
- 43×
- 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 | $167 | +$138 | +$113 | +$13.16 |
| PSA 9 | $35.91 | +$7.04 | −$17.96 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $20.48 | −$8.39 | −$33.39 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $3.87 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% | $68.69 | +$14.82 |
| 50% | $101 | +$47.60 |
| 75% | $134 | +$80.38 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 14%. 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 | $185 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $167 | −$17.68 | 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 | $56.09 | $185 |
| 9.5 | — | $14.62 |
| 9 | $11.68 | $20.00 |
| 8.5 | — | $10.00 |
| 8 | $15.50 | $6.00 |
| 7.5 | — | $12.00 |
| 7 | $19.94 | — |
| 6 | $10.00 | — |
| 5 | $14.00 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Misty's Poliwag — FAQ
Is Misty's Poliwag worth grading?
A PSA 10 Misty's Poliwag sells for $167 against $3.87 raw: a $163 spread, 43× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.91) 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 Misty's Poliwag worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Misty's Poliwag (Gym Challenge 89/132) sells for about $167 versus $3.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 43× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Misty's Poliwag?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $185, ahead of PSA 10 at $167. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Misty's Poliwag 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 Misty's Poliwag break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Misty's Poliwag breaks even when it gems about 14% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $35.91).
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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