Is Lucario worth grading?
Pokémon · SWSH Black Star Promos · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lucario sells for $252 against $5.59 raw: a $247 spread, 45× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.24) 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)
- $5.59
- PSA 10
- $252
- PSA 9
- $38.24
- Gem premium
- 45×
- 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 | $252 | +$222 | +$197 | +$96.89 |
| PSA 9 | $38.24 | +$7.65 | −$17.35 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $18.50 | −$12.09 | −$37.09 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $5.59 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% | $91.80 | +$36.21 |
| 50% | $145 | +$89.77 |
| 75% | $199 | +$143 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. 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 | $300 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $79.77 | −$220 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $300 | $79.77 |
| 9 | $38.24 | $2.00 |
| 8 | $18.50 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other SWSH Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Lucario — FAQ
Is Lucario worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lucario sells for $252 against $5.59 raw: a $247 spread, 45× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.24) 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 Lucario worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lucario (SWSH Black Star Promos) sells for about $252 versus $5.59 for a raw near-mint copy — a 45× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lucario?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $300, ahead of CGC 10 at $79.77. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lucario 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 Lucario break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lucario breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.24).
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.
Check my card free