Is Basic Lightning Energy worth grading?
Pokémon · Scarlet & Violet · 257/198 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Basic Lightning Energy brings $43.07 versus $3.88 raw — a $39.19 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($19.72) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.88
- PSA 10
- $43.07
- PSA 9
- $19.72
- Gem premium
- 11×
- 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 | $43.07 | +$14.19 | −$10.81 | −$111 |
| PSA 9 | $19.72 | −$9.16 | −$34.16 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $5.99 | −$22.89 | −$47.89 | −$148 |
Net = sale price − $3.88 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% | $25.56 | −$28.32 |
| 50% | $31.39 | −$22.48 |
| 75% | $37.23 | −$16.65 |
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 | $43.07 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $15.41 | −$27.66 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $14.50 | −$28.57 | 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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Grading Basic Lightning Energy — FAQ
Is Basic Lightning Energy worth grading?
A PSA 10 Basic Lightning Energy brings $43.07 versus $3.88 raw — a $39.19 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($19.72) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Basic Lightning Energy worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Basic Lightning Energy (Scarlet & Violet 257/198) sells for about $43.07 versus $3.88 for a raw near-mint copy — a 11× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Basic Lightning Energy?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $43.07, ahead of CGC 10 at $15.41. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Basic 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.
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