Is Darkrai worth grading?
Pokémon · XY Black Star Promos · XY22 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 9 Darkrai sells for $210 against $13.71 raw: a $197 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($210) 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)
- $13.71
- PSA 9
- $210
- PSA 9
- $210
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 9 | $210 | +$172 | +$147 | +$46.60 |
| PSA 9 | $210 | +$172 | +$147 | +$46.60 |
| PSA 8 | $91.73 | +$53.02 | +$28.02 | −$71.98 |
Net = sale price − $13.71 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% | $210 | +$147 |
| 50% | $210 | +$147 |
| 75% | $210 | +$147 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $99.99 | 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 →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 Darkrai — FAQ
Is Darkrai worth grading?
A PSA 9 Darkrai sells for $210 against $13.71 raw: a $197 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($210) 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 Darkrai 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.
