Best Ho-Oh Cards to Grade

The Ho-Oh cards worth grading, ranked by expected profit per submission — every grade outcome weighted by how often the card actually receives it — after current grading fees. The PSA 10 best case is shown on every row but does not decide the order. Top pick: Ho-oh (Skyridge) at an expected +$3,128.

Worth grading26

With a gem-rate sample2077%

Positive expected value9

Median gem rate4.8%

PSA fees as of2026-06-28

Ranked by expected profit 20

Ho-Oh cards worth grading, ranked by expected grading profit
#	Card	Raw	PSA 9	PSA 10	Cost	Best case	Gem rate	Expected	Sample
1	Ho-ohSkyridge #149 · Vintage (1999–2003) Expected +$3,128 per submission: 8.3% of 1,294 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($20,883), and a PSA 9 ($6,200) still clears the $2,399 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$1,171	$6,200	$20,883	$1,228	+$18,484	8.3%	+$3,128	1,294 high
2	Ho-Oh-EXBREAKpoint #121 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected +$175 per submission: 26% of 2,737 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($990), and only a PSA 10 covers the $154 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$44	$136	$990	$110	+$836	26%	+$175	2,737 high
3	Ho-Oh exUnseen Forces #104 · Classic (2004–2010) Expected +$166 per submission: 4.8% of 971 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($25,000), and only a PSA 10 covers the $1,589 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$320	$1,035	$25,000	$1,269	+$23,411	4.8%	+$166	971 high
4	Ho-OhCall of Legends #SL5 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected +$110 per submission: 3.1% of 852 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($9,750), and a PSA 9 ($1,876) still clears the $1,030 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$313	$1,876	$9,750	$717	+$8,720	3.1%	+$110	852 high
5	Ho-OhSecret Wonders #10 · Classic (2004–2010) Expected +$72 per submission: 2.2% of 587 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($443), and a PSA 9 ($430) still clears the $118 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$44	$430	$443	$74	+$324	2.2%	+$72	587 high
6	Ethan's Ho-Oh exDestined Rivals #230 · Current (2020–) Expected +$52 per submission: 57.7% of 14,150 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($400), and only a PSA 10 covers the $249 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$175	$170	$400	$74	+$151	57.7%	+$52	14,150 high
7	Ho-Oh LEGENDHeartGold & SoulSilver #112 · Classic (2004–2010) Expected +$38 per submission: 3.1% of 1,022 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,363), and a PSA 9 ($550) still clears the $223 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$109	$550	$1,363	$114	+$1,140	3.1%	+$38	1,022 high
8	Ho-OhXY Black Star Promos #XY153 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected +$26 per submission: 4.8% of 124 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($300), and a PSA 9 ($207) still clears the $85 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$12	$207	$300	$73	+$215	4.8%	+$26	124 high
9	Ho-ohNeo Revelation #18 · Vintage (1999–2003) Expected +$14 per submission: 17.9% of 413 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($390), and only a PSA 10 covers the $95 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$21	$68	$390	$74	+$295	17.9%	+$14	413 high
10	Ho-Oh-GXBurning Shadows #131 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$7 per submission: 17.3% of 758 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($515), and only a PSA 10 covers the $121 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$16	$46	$515	$105	+$394	17.3%	−$7	758 high
11	Ho-Oh-GXHidden Fates Shiny Vault #SV50 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$7 per submission: 61.5% of 7,249 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($145), and only a PSA 10 covers the $111 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$40	$40	$145	$71	+$34	61.5%	−$7	7,249 high
12	Ho-Oh VSilver Tempest #187 · Current (2020–) Expected loss −$11 per submission: 59.7% of 1,355 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($96), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$9	$32	$96	$71	+$16	59.7%	−$11	1,355 high
13	Ho-ohNeo Revelation #7 · Vintage (1999–2003) Expected loss −$12 per submission: 1.4% of 3,583 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,283), and a PSA 9 ($566) still clears the $376 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$263	$566	$1,283	$113	+$908	1.4%	−$12	3,583 high
14	Ho-Oh-GXBurning Shadows #21 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$12 per submission: 28.8% of 950 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($182), and only a PSA 10 covers the $78 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$6	$23	$182	$72	+$104	28.8%	−$12	950 high
15	Ho-Oh-EXDragons Exalted #119 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$21 per submission: 1% of 101 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,170), and a PSA 9 ($806) still clears the $254 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$142	$806	$1,170	$112	+$917	1%	−$21	101 high
16	Ho-Oh-EXBREAKpoint #92 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$43 per submission: 7.6% of 288 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($100), and only a PSA 10 covers the $76 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$5	$48	$100	$71	+$24	7.6%	−$43	288 high
17	Shining Ho-OhSM Black Star Promos #SM70 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$82 per submission: 0% of 10 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($520), and only a PSA 10 covers the $136 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence low on that sample.	$31	$85	$520	$105	+$384	0%	−$82	10 low
18	Ho-Oh-GXSM Black Star Promos #SM80 · Modern (2011–2019) Expected loss −$89 per submission: 1.9% of 481 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($527), and only a PSA 10 covers the $124 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$19	$48	$527	$105	+$403	1.9%	−$89	481 high
19	Ho-Oh exPOP Series 3 #17 · Classic (2004–2010) Expected loss −$125 per submission: 1.7% of 175 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,242), and a PSA 9 ($715) still clears the $320 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample.	$129	$715	$2,242	$191	+$1,921	1.7%	−$125	175 high
20	Ho-Oh LEGENDHeartGold & SoulSilver #111 · Classic (2004–2010) Expected loss −$376 per submission: 3.2% of 1,063 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($5,600), and only a PSA 10 covers the $816 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample.	$141	$700	$5,600	$675	+$4,784	3.2%	−$376	1,063 high

Best case only — no gem-rate evidence 6

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.

Ho-Oh 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
21	Ho-OhCall of Legends #9 · Modern (2011–2019)	$27	—	$8,500	$704	+$7,769	—	—	none <10
22	Ho-Oh-EXDragons Exalted #22 · Modern (2011–2019)	$6	—	$600	$106	+$488	—	—	none <10
23	Ho-ohWizards Black Star Promos #52 · Vintage (1999–2003)	$56	—	$450	$74	+$320	—	—	none <10
24	Ho-Oh-GXSM Black Star Promos #SM57 · Modern (2011–2019)	$8	—	$389	$74	+$307	—	—	none <10
25	Ho-OhUnseen Forces #27 · Classic (2004–2010)	$32	—	$392	$74	+$286	—	—	none <10
26	Ho-Oh BREAKXY Black Star Promos #XY154 · Modern (2011–2019)	$25	—	$218	$72	+$121	—	—	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 2026-06-28). 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.

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