Is Slowpoke worth grading?
Pokémon · Scarlet & Violet · 042/198 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Slowpoke sells for $50.00 against $0.21 raw: a $49.79 spread, 238× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.99) 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)
- $0.21
- PSA 10
- $50.00
- PSA 9
- $26.99
- Gem premium
- 238×
- 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 | $50.00 | +$24.79 | −$0.21 | −$100 |
| PSA 9 | $26.99 | +$1.78 | −$23.22 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $0.21 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% | $32.74 | −$17.47 |
| 50% | $38.49 | −$11.72 |
| 75% | $44.25 | −$5.96 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $600 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $280 | −$320 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $50.00 | −$550 | 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 | $50.00 | $280 | $600 |
| 9 | $26.99 | $24.71 | — |
Run your own numbers
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Other Scarlet & Violet cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Slowpoke — FAQ
Is Slowpoke worth grading?
A PSA 10 Slowpoke sells for $50.00 against $0.21 raw: a $49.79 spread, 238× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.99) 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 Slowpoke worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Slowpoke (Scarlet & Violet 042/198) sells for about $50.00 versus $0.21 for a raw near-mint copy — a 238× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Slowpoke?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $600, ahead of CGC 10 at $280. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Slowpoke need for a TAG 10?
TAG publishes 55/45 front and 72/28 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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