![Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 (YuGiOh Rise of Destiny) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/yMgAAeSwpAlqT-zi/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 worth grading?
Yu-Gi-Oh! · YuGiOh Rise of Destiny · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 sells for $2,015 against $49.86 raw: a $1,965 spread, 40× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($178) 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)
- $49.86
- PSA 10
- $2,015
- PSA 9
- $178
- Gem premium
- 40×
- As of
- Sep 13, 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 | $2,015 | +$1,940 | +$1,915 | +$1,815 |
| PSA 9 | $178 | +$103 | +$78.15 | −$21.85 |
| PSA 8 | $114 | +$39.04 | +$14.04 | −$85.96 |
Net = sale price − $49.86 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% | $637 | +$537 |
| 50% | $1,096 | +$997 |
| 75% | $1,556 | +$1,456 |
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 | $2,619 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,015 | −$604 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,209 | −$1,410 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,209 | −$1,410 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Grading Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 — FAQ
Is Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 sells for $2,015 against $49.86 raw: a $1,965 spread, 40× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($178) 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 Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 (YuGiOh Rise of Destiny) sells for about $2,015 versus $49.86 for a raw near-mint copy — a 40× premium as of Sep 13, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,619, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,015. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch [Ultimate Rare] RDS-EN021 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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