![Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 (YuGiOh Metal Raiders) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/s4gAAeSwNRxqa5f6/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 worth grading?
Yu-Gi-Oh! · YuGiOh Metal Raiders · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 sells for $70.70 against $4.20 raw: a $66.50 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.00) 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)
- $4.20
- PSA 10
- $70.70
- PSA 9
- $59.00
- Gem premium
- 17×
- As of
- Sep 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 | $70.70 | +$41.50 | +$16.50 | −$83.50 |
| PSA 9 | $59.00 | +$29.80 | +$4.80 | −$95.20 |
| PSA 8 | $23.37 | −$5.83 | −$30.83 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $4.20 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% | $61.92 | +$7.72 |
| 50% | $64.85 | +$10.65 |
| 75% | $67.78 | +$13.58 |
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 | $92.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $70.70 | −$21.30 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $42.00 | −$50.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $42.00 | −$50.00 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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 →![Solemn Judgment [1st Edition] MRD-E127 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xDkAAeSw6gNo2foT/s-l500.jpg)
![Time Wizard [1st Edition] MRD-E065 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4AQAAeSwtxVqYqyg/s-l500.jpg)
![Gate Guardian [1st Edition] MRD-E000 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0lwAAeSwTy5qUqUO/s-l500.jpg)
![Kuriboh [1st Edition] MRD-E071 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~oYAAeSwF5Bqji0R/s-l500.jpg)
![Mirror Force [1st Edition] MRD-E138 YuGiOh Metal Raiders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/o~sAAeSwkN9qWCIl/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 — FAQ
Is Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 sells for $70.70 against $4.20 raw: a $66.50 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.00) 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 Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 (YuGiOh Metal Raiders) sells for about $70.70 versus $4.20 for a raw near-mint copy — a 17× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $92.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $70.70. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] MRD-073 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.
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