Best S Cards to Grade

The S cards where grading pays off most — ranked by net profit from raw to PSA 10 after real grading costs, with each card's estimated gem rate and risk-adjusted return. Top pick: Rocket's Snorlax ex (Team Rocket Returns) at +$47,982 best-case net.

Best cards to grade, ranked by risk-adjusted grading profit

#	Card	Raw	PSA 10	Cost	Net (best)	Risk-adj.
1	Rocket's Snorlax exTeam Rocket Returns #104 · 7.2% gem rate	$595	$49,694	$1,117	+$47,982	+$3,044
2	Rocket's Mewtwo exTeam Rocket Returns #99 · 6.1% gem rate	$565	$38,768	$1,008	+$37,195	+$2,130
3	Rocket's Suicune exTeam Rocket Returns #105 · 7.3% gem rate	$455	$24,000	$660	+$22,885	+$1,529
4	Rocket's MewtwoBest of Game #8	$434	$19,999	$620	+$18,945	—
5	Rocket's Raikou exDeoxys #108 · 4.1% gem rate	$285	$12,000	$540	+$11,175	+$40
6	Rocket's Articuno exTeam Rocket Returns #96 · 6.9% gem rate	$380	$10,980	$530	+$10,070	+$484
7	Rocket's Entei exTeam Rocket Returns #97 · 8.5% gem rate	$306	$10,350	$524	+$9,521	+$568
8	Sabrina's GengarGym Heroes #14 · 0.4% gem rate	$466	$9,500	$515	+$8,519	−$373
9	Rocket's Moltres exTeam Rocket Returns #100 · 8.2% gem rate	$350	$8,845	$508	+$7,987	+$501
10	Rocket's Zapdos exTeam Rocket Returns #106 · 8% gem rate	$292	$8,400	$504	+$7,604	+$363
11	Rocket's Hitmonchan exTeam Rocket Returns #98 · 6.7% gem rate	$210	$7,625	$496	+$6,919	+$154
12	Rocket's Scizor exTeam Rocket Returns #101 · 9.3% gem rate	$341	$6,970	$490	+$6,139	+$299
13	Blaine's MoltresGym Heroes #1 · 0.6% gem rate	$136	$6,750	$488	+$6,126	−$432
14	Rocket's Scyther exTeam Rocket Returns #102 · 5.5% gem rate	$352	$6,390	$484	+$5,554	+$24
15	Blaine's CharizardGym Challenge #2 · 1.9% gem rate	$598	$6,500	$485	+$5,417	−$269
16	Rocket's MewtwoGym Challenge #14 · 1.7% gem rate	$245	$4,800	$243	+$4,312	−$102
17	Team Aqua's Kyogre-EXDouble Crisis #6 · 0% gem rate	$504	$4,809	$243	+$4,062	−$194
18	Team Magma's GroudonTeam Magma vs Team Aqua #9 · 9.5% gem rate	$122	$4,200	$237	+$3,841	+$286
19	Sabrina's GengarGym Challenge #29 · 6.5% gem rate	$315	$4,000	$235	+$3,450	+$59
20	Rocket's Persian exUnseen Forces #116 · 4.1% gem rate	$200	$3,650	$231	+$3,219	−$21
21	Rocket's Sneasel exTeam Rocket Returns #103 · 11.8% gem rate	$340	$3,720	$232	+$3,148	+$262
22	Team Magma's Groudon-EXDouble Crisis #15 · 0.6% gem rate	$472	$3,512	$230	+$2,810	−$68
23	Team Magma's HoundoomTeam Magma vs Team Aqua #10 · 4.2% gem rate	$158	$2,900	$224	+$2,518	−$7
24	Erika's VenusaurGym Challenge #4 · 0.9% gem rate	$177	$2,911	$224	+$2,510	−$167
25	Team Magma's AggronTeam Magma vs Team Aqua #7	$14	$2,700	$222	+$2,464	—
26	Lt. Surge's FearowGym Heroes #7 · 1.7% gem rate	$41	$2,705	$222	+$2,442	−$158
27	Blaine's ArcanineGym Challenge #1 · 1% gem rate	$99	$2,569	$221	+$2,249	−$155
28	Giovanni's GyaradosGym Challenge #5 · 2% gem rate	$129	$2,496	$130	+$2,237	−$37
29	Team Aqua's SharpedoTeam Magma vs Team Aqua #5 · 6.2% gem rate	$62	$2,206	$127	+$2,018	+$25
30	Koga's BeedrillGym Challenge #9 · 1.2% gem rate	$37	$2,000	$125	+$1,838	−$87
31	Sabrina's AlakazamGym Challenge #16 · 2.1% gem rate	$72	$1,975	$125	+$1,778	−$59
32	Rocket's ScytherGym Heroes #13 · 1.3% gem rate	$85	$1,980	$125	+$1,771	−$78
33	Erika's DragonairGym Heroes #4 · 2.2% gem rate	$117	$1,975	$125	+$1,733	−$62
34	Misty's GyaradosGym Challenge #13 · 4.4% gem rate	$157	$1,971	$125	+$1,690	+$4
35	Ash's PikachuSM Black Star Promos #SM109	$135	$1,908	$124	+$1,649	—
36	Team Aqua's KyogreTeam Magma vs Team Aqua #3	$6	$1,725	$122	+$1,596	—
37	Rocket's MoltresGym Heroes #12 · 1.6% gem rate	$80	$1,740	$122	+$1,537	−$69
38	Rocket's HideoutNeo Revelation #63	$9	$1,500	$120	+$1,371	—
39	Giovanni's PersianGym Challenge #8 · 0.9% gem rate	$51	$1,200	$117	+$1,032	−$91
40	Team Magma's RhydonTeam Magma vs Team Aqua #11 · 12.4% gem rate	$34	$1,143	$116	+$992	+$62
41	Brock's RhydonGym Heroes #2 · 1.5% gem rate	$40	$1,127	$116	+$971	−$85
42	Erika's ClefableGym Heroes #3 · 2.6% gem rate	$49	$1,100	$116	+$935	−$73
43	Rocket's ZapdosGym Challenge #15 · 3.6% gem rate	$102	$1,148	$116	+$930	−$50
44	Rocket's HitmonchanGym Heroes #11 · 2.2% gem rate	$53	$1,097	$116	+$928	−$75
45	Giovanni's NidokingGym Challenge #7 · 4.6% gem rate	$76	$1,110	$116	+$918	−$43
46	Misty's GolduckGym Challenge #12 · 1% gem rate	$61	$1,082	$116	+$905	−$86
47	Misty's PsyduckGym Heroes #54	$8	$1,000	$90	+$902	—
48	Ash's PikachuSM Black Star Promos #SM110	$58	$1,075	$116	+$901	—
49	Erika's VileplumeGym Heroes #5 · 2.3% gem rate	$28	$978	$90	+$860	−$52
50	Ash's PikachuSM Black Star Promos #SM111	$57	$989	$90	+$842	—

Net (best) = PSA 10 value − raw value − grading cost (PSA fees as of 2026-06-28). Risk-adjusted weights every grade by its estimated likelihood from PSA population (cumulative and biased toward nicer copies — a guide, not a guarantee).

← All S cardsGrading ROI indexROI calculator