Is Basic Fire Energy worth grading?
Pokémon · Obsidian Flames · 230/197 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 13× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Basic Fire Energy sells for $48.97 against $3.85 raw: a $45.12 spread, 13× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.30) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.85
- PSA 10
- $48.97
- PSA 9
- $17.30
- Gem premium
- 13×
- 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 | $48.97 | +$20.12 | −$4.88 | −$105 |
| PSA 9 | $17.30 | −$11.55 | −$36.55 | −$137 |
| PSA 8 | $10.60 | −$18.25 | −$43.25 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $3.85 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% | $25.22 | −$28.63 |
| 50% | $33.13 | −$20.72 |
| 75% | $41.05 | −$12.80 |
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 | $48.97 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $15.83 | −$33.14 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $10.99 | −$37.98 | 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 Fire Energy — FAQ
Is Basic Fire Energy worth grading?
A PSA 10 Basic Fire Energy sells for $48.97 against $3.85 raw: a $45.12 spread, 13× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.30) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Basic Fire Energy worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Basic Fire Energy (Obsidian Flames 230/197) sells for about $48.97 versus $3.85 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Basic Fire Energy?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $48.97, ahead of CGC 10 at $15.83. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Basic Fire 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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