Is Lightning Energy worth grading?
Pokémon · Guardians Rising · 168/145 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lightning Energy sells for $69.72 against $20.69 raw: a $49.03 spread, 3.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.72) 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)
- $20.69
- PSA 10
- $69.72
- PSA 9
- $53.72
- Gem premium
- 3.4×
- As of
- Aug 10, 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 | $69.72 | +$24.03 | −$0.97 | −$101 |
| PSA 9 | $53.72 | +$8.03 | −$16.97 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $20.00 | −$25.69 | −$50.69 | −$151 |
Net = sale price − $20.69 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% | $57.72 | −$12.97 |
| 50% | $61.72 | −$8.97 |
| 75% | $65.72 | −$4.97 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $69.72 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $27.00 | −$42.72 | 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 | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $69.72 | $27.00 | — |
| 9 | $53.72 | — | $29.99 |
| 8 | $20.00 | — | — |
| 7 | $20.00 | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Guardians Rising cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Lightning Energy — FAQ
Is Lightning Energy worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lightning Energy sells for $69.72 against $20.69 raw: a $49.03 spread, 3.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.72) 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 Lightning Energy worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lightning Energy (Guardians Rising 168/145) sells for about $69.72 versus $20.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.4× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lightning Energy?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $69.72, ahead of CGC 10 at $27.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lightning Energy 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.
Is your Pokémon 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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