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 $159 against $4.08 raw: a $155 spread, 39× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.46) 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)
- $4.08
- PSA 10
- $159
- PSA 9
- $36.46
- Gem premium
- 39×
- As of
- Aug 27, 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 | $159 | +$130 | +$105 | +$4.57 |
| PSA 9 | $36.46 | +$7.38 | −$17.62 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $19.58 | −$9.50 | −$34.50 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $4.08 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% | $67.01 | +$12.93 |
| 50% | $97.56 | +$43.48 |
| 75% | $128 | +$74.02 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $159 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $19.99 | −$139 | 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 Misty's Poliwag — FAQ
Is Misty's Poliwag worth grading?
A PSA 10 Misty's Poliwag sells for $159 against $4.08 raw: a $155 spread, 39× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.46) 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 $159 versus $4.08 for a raw near-mint copy — a 39× premium as of Aug 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Misty's Poliwag?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $159, ahead of CGC 10 at $19.99. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Misty's Poliwag 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 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 $36.46).
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