![Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 (YuGiOh Metal Raiders) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ucsAAeSwvU5qWUCw/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 worth grading?
Yu-Gi-Oh! · YuGiOh Metal Raiders · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 sells for $169 against $21.99 raw: a $147 spread, 7.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($57.50) 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)
- $21.99
- PSA 10
- $169
- PSA 9
- $57.50
- Gem premium
- 7.7×
- 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 | $169 | +$122 | +$96.51 | −$3.49 |
| PSA 9 | $57.50 | +$10.51 | −$14.49 | −$114 |
| PSA 8 | $51.54 | +$4.55 | −$20.45 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $21.99 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% | $85.25 | +$13.26 |
| 50% | $113 | +$41.01 |
| 75% | $141 | +$68.76 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $219 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $169 | −$50.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $101 | −$118 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $101 | −$118 | 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 | $169 | $101 | $219 | $101 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $63.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $57.50 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $51.54 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $32.55 |
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
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![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 Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 — FAQ
Is Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 sells for $169 against $21.99 raw: a $147 spread, 7.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($57.50) 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 Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 (YuGiOh Metal Raiders) sells for about $169 versus $21.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 7.7× premium as of Aug 9, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $219, ahead of PSA 10 at $169. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 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.
What gem rate makes grading Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Thunder Dragon [1st Edition] MRD-097 breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $57.50).
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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