![Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 (YuGiOh Metal Raiders) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iN4AAeSwQixqL2mu/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 worth grading?
Yu-Gi-Oh! · YuGiOh Metal Raiders · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 sells for $1,250 against $279 raw: a $971 spread, 4.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($417) 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)
- $279
- PSA 10
- $1,250
- PSA 9
- $417
- Gem premium
- 4.5×
- As of
- Aug 9, 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 | $1,250 | +$946 | +$921 | +$821 |
| PSA 9 | $417 | +$113 | +$88.11 | −$11.89 |
| PSA 8 | $409 | +$105 | +$80.46 | −$19.54 |
Net = sale price − $279 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% | $625 | +$296 |
| 50% | $834 | +$505 |
| 75% | $1,042 | +$713 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $1,625 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| CGC 10 | $1,260 | −$365 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $1,250 | −$375 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $750 | −$875 | 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 | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,250 | $1,260 | $1,625 | $750 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $864 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $417 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $409 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $224 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other YuGiOh Metal Raiders cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Time Wizard [1st Edition] MRD-E065 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4AQAAeSwtxVqYqyg/s-l500.jpg)
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![Change of Heart [1st Edition] MRD-E060 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HQwAAeSwBP9qJfM7/s-l500.jpg)
![Solemn Judgment [1st Edition] MRD-E127 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xDkAAeSw6gNo2foT/s-l500.jpg)
![Gate Guardian [1st Edition] MRD-E000 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0lwAAeSwTy5qUqUO/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 — FAQ
Is Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 sells for $1,250 against $279 raw: a $971 spread, 4.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($417) 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 Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 (YuGiOh Metal Raiders) sells for about $1,250 versus $279 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.5× premium as of Aug 9, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,625, ahead of CGC 10 at $1,260. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-018 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 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.
Is your Yu-Gi-Oh! 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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