Best Empoleon Cards to Grade

Ranked by expected profit 7

Empoleon cards worth grading, ranked by expected grading profit

#	Card	Raw	PSA 9	PSA 10	Cost	Best case	Gem rate	Expected	Sample
1	EmpoleonPlasma Freeze #117 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected +$1,272 per submission: 7.7% of 440 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($15,000), and a PSA 9 ($1,400) still clears the $1,616 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$447	$1,400	$15,000	$1,169	+$13,384	7.7%	+$1,272	440 high
2	Empoleon LV.XDP Black Star Promos #DP11 · Classic (2004–2010) Expected +$142 per submission: 0.6% of 811 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,414), and a PSA 9 ($2,100) still clears the $226 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$33	$2,100	$2,414	$193	+$2,188	0.6%	+$142	811 high
3	Empoleon VBattle Styles #146 · Current (2020–) Expected +$19 per submission: 66.1% of 5,005 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($198), and only a PSA 10 covers the $137 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$65	$75	$198	$72	+$61	66.1%	+$19	5,005 high
4	EmpoleonStormfront #2 · Classic (2004–2010) Expected +$3 per submission: 2.7% of 146 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($172), and a PSA 9 ($137) still clears the $78 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$6	$137	$172	$72	+$94	2.7%	+$3	146 high
5	Empoleon VBattle Styles #145 · Current (2020–) Expected loss −$13 per submission: 62.4% of 221 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($91), and only a PSA 10 covers the $77 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$6	$21	$91	$71	+$13	62.4%	−$13	221 high
6	EmpoleonDark Explorers #29 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$43 per submission: 10.4% of 48 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($86), and only a PSA 10 covers the $77 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample.	$6	$40	$86	$71	+$9	10.4%	−$43	48 medium
7	EmpoleonBW Black Star Promos #BW56 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$55 per submission: 2.8% of 36 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($105), and only a PSA 10 covers the $83 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample.	$12	$42	$105	$71	+$23	2.8%	−$55	36 medium

Best case only — no gem-rate evidence 1

Fewer than 10 graded copies in the PSA and CGC population reports. They clear the grading cost if they gem — that is all the numbers support.

Empoleon cards that clear the grading cost at PSA 10 but have no measurable gem rate

#	Card	Raw	PSA 9	PSA 10	Cost	Best case	Gem rate	Expected	Sample
8	Empoleon BREAKXY Black Star Promos #XY134 · Modern (2011–2019)	$17	—	$659	$107	+$536	—	—	none <10

Expected = every grade outcome weighted by its share of the card's graded population, minus the raw price and the grading cost (PSA tier fee for the graded value plus ~$20 round-trip shipping, fees as of 2026-08-26). Best case is the PSA 10 leg alone. Gem rates come from a self-selected population — collectors grade their cleanest copies — so read them as an upper bound. Raw is a blended market price, not a sale of your copy. Full method and filters on the grading index.