Is Thundurus worth grading?
Pokémon · Black Bolt · 033/086 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Thundurus brings $34.33 versus $0.16 raw — a $34.17 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.43) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.16
- PSA 10
- $34.33
- PSA 9
- $17.43
- Gem premium
- 215×
- 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 | $34.33 | +$9.17 | −$15.83 | −$116 |
| PSA 9 | $17.43 | −$7.73 | −$32.73 | −$133 |
| PSA 8 | $13.39 | −$11.77 | −$36.77 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $0.16 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% | $21.66 | −$28.50 |
| 50% | $25.88 | −$24.28 |
| 75% | $30.10 | −$20.06 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $171 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $12.50 | −$159 | 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 | $49.12 | $12.50 |
| 9 | $29.16 | $24.90 |
| 8 | $13.39 | — |
| 7 | — | $9.50 |
Run your own numbers
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Other Black Bolt cards worth checking
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Grading Thundurus — FAQ
Is Thundurus worth grading?
A PSA 10 Thundurus brings $34.33 versus $0.16 raw — a $34.17 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.43) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Thundurus worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Thundurus (Black Bolt 033/086) sells for about $34.33 versus $0.16 for a raw near-mint copy — a 215× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Thundurus?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $171, ahead of CGC 10 at $12.50. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Thundurus 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.
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.
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