Is Water Energy worth grading?
Pokémon · HeartGold & SoulSilver · 117/123 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Water Energy sells for $239 against $24.61 raw: a $215 spread, 9.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($58.00) 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)
- $24.61
- PSA 10
- $239
- PSA 9
- $58.00
- Gem premium
- 9.7×
- 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 | $239 | +$190 | +$165 | +$64.75 |
| PSA 9 | $58.00 | +$8.39 | −$16.61 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $31.78 | −$17.83 | −$42.83 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $24.61 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% | $103 | +$28.73 |
| 50% | $149 | +$74.07 |
| 75% | $194 | +$119 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 9%. 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 | $239 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $100 | −$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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $239 | $100 | — |
| 9 | $58.00 | $49.90 | — |
| 8 | $31.78 | $39.99 | — |
| 6.5 | — | $13.00 | — |
| 6 | $20.00 | — | — |
| 5 | — | — | $15.18 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other HeartGold & SoulSilver cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Water Energy — FAQ
Is Water Energy worth grading?
A PSA 10 Water Energy sells for $239 against $24.61 raw: a $215 spread, 9.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($58.00) 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 Water Energy worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Water Energy (HeartGold & SoulSilver 117/123) sells for about $239 versus $24.61 for a raw near-mint copy — a 9.7× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Water Energy?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $239, ahead of CGC 10 at $100. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Water Energy 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 Water Energy break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Water Energy breaks even when it gems about 9% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $58.00).
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.
Check my card free