Is Arceus worth grading?
Pokémon · XY Black Star Promos · XY116 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A CGC 10 Arceus sells for $581 against $58.30 raw: a $523 spread, 10.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($277) 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)
- $58.30
- CGC 10
- $581
- PSA 9
- $277
- Gem premium
- 10.0×
- 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 — CGC 10 | $581 | +$498 | +$473 | +$373 |
| PSA 9 | $277 | +$194 | +$169 | +$68.55 |
| PSA 8 | $131 | +$47.70 | +$22.70 | −$77.30 |
Net = sale price − $58.30 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% | $353 | +$245 |
| 50% | $429 | +$321 |
| 75% | $505 | +$397 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $581 | best | 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 XY Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Arceus — FAQ
Is Arceus worth grading?
A CGC 10 Arceus sells for $581 against $58.30 raw: a $523 spread, 10.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($277) 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.
What centering does Arceus need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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.
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.
