Is Arceus VSTAR worth grading?
Pokémon · Brilliant Stars · 123/172 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Arceus VSTAR sells for $109 against $5.62 raw: a $103 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.05) 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)
- $5.62
- PSA 10
- $109
- PSA 9
- $32.05
- Gem premium
- 19×
- 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 | $109 | +$77.97 | +$52.97 | −$47.03 |
| PSA 9 | $32.05 | +$1.43 | −$23.57 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $19.64 | −$10.98 | −$35.98 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $5.62 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% | $51.19 | −$4.43 |
| 50% | $70.32 | +$14.70 |
| 75% | $89.45 | +$33.83 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 31%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $109 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $27.91 | −$80.68 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $23.89 | −$84.70 | 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 Brilliant Stars cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Arceus VSTAR — FAQ
Is Arceus VSTAR worth grading?
A PSA 10 Arceus VSTAR sells for $109 against $5.62 raw: a $103 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.05) 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 Arceus VSTAR worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Arceus VSTAR (Brilliant Stars 123/172) sells for about $109 versus $5.62 for a raw near-mint copy — a 19× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Arceus VSTAR?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $109, ahead of CGC 10 at $27.91. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Arceus VSTAR 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.
What gem rate makes grading Arceus VSTAR break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Arceus VSTAR breaks even when it gems about 31% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $32.05).
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.
