Is Gloom worth grading?
Pokémon · Obsidian Flames · 198/197 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Gloom sells for $296 against $17.18 raw: a $279 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.95) 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)
- $17.18
- PSA 10
- $296
- PSA 9
- $42.95
- Gem premium
- 17×
- As of
- Oct 11, 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 | $296 | +$254 | +$229 | +$129 |
| PSA 9 | $42.95 | +$0.77 | −$24.23 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $26.77 | −$15.41 | −$40.41 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $17.18 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% | $106 | +$39.04 |
| 50% | $169 | +$102 |
| 75% | $233 | +$166 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 10%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $307 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $296 | −$10.87 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $95.00 | −$212 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $82.42 | −$224 | 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 Gloom — FAQ
Is Gloom worth grading?
A PSA 10 Gloom sells for $296 against $17.18 raw: a $279 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.95) 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 Gloom worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Gloom (Obsidian Flames 198/197) sells for about $296 versus $17.18 for a raw near-mint copy — a 17× premium as of Oct 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Gloom?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $307, ahead of PSA 10 at $296. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Gloom 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.
What gem rate makes grading Gloom break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Gloom breaks even when it gems about 10% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $42.95).
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