Is Alakazam worth grading?
Pokémon · Mega Evolution Black Star Promos · 009 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Alakazam sells for $197 against $8.25 raw: a $189 spread, 24× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.16) 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)
- $8.25
- PSA 10
- $197
- PSA 9
- $35.16
- Gem premium
- 24×
- As of
- Nov 11, 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 | $197 | +$164 | +$139 | +$38.96 |
| PSA 9 | $35.16 | +$1.91 | −$23.09 | −$123 |
| PSA 8 | $18.97 | −$14.28 | −$39.28 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $8.25 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% | $75.67 | +$17.42 |
| 50% | $116 | +$57.94 |
| 75% | $157 | +$98.45 |
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 | $197 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $155 | −$42.14 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $43.34 | −$154 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $32.00 | −$165 | 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 Alakazam — FAQ
Is Alakazam worth grading?
A PSA 10 Alakazam sells for $197 against $8.25 raw: a $189 spread, 24× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.16) 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 Alakazam worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Alakazam (Mega Evolution Black Star Promos 009) sells for about $197 versus $8.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 24× premium as of Nov 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Alakazam?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $197, ahead of TAG 10 at $155. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Alakazam 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 Alakazam break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Alakazam breaks even when it gems about 14% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $35.16).
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