Is Vespiquen ex worth grading?
Pokémon · Obsidian Flames · 096/197 · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
PSA 10 copies of Vespiquen ex sell for $11.73, only $10.79 above the $0.94 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.73) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.94
- PSA 10
- $11.73
- PSA 9
- $11.73
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $11.73 | −$14.21 | −$39.21 | −$139 |
| PSA 9 | $11.73 | −$14.21 | −$39.21 | −$139 |
| PSA 8 | $12.40 | −$13.54 | −$38.54 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $0.94 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% | $11.73 | −$39.21 |
| 50% | $11.73 | −$39.21 |
| 75% | $11.73 | −$39.21 |
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 | $55.99 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $15.46 | −$40.53 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $11.73 | −$44.26 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Obsidian Flames cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Vespiquen ex — FAQ
Is Vespiquen ex worth grading?
PSA 10 copies of Vespiquen ex sell for $11.73, only $10.79 above the $0.94 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.73) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
How much is a PSA 10 Vespiquen ex worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Vespiquen ex (Obsidian Flames 096/197) sells for about $11.73 versus $0.94 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Vespiquen ex?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $55.99, ahead of CGC 10 at $15.46. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Vespiquen ex 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Pokémon card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
