Best Zapdos Cards to Grade
The Zapdos 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: Zapdos (Aquapolis) at an expected +$2,533.
Ranked by expected profit 31
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  ZapdosAquapolis #H32 · Vintage (1999–2003)Expected +$2,533 per submission: 12.1% of 916 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($16,801), and a PSA 9 ($2,727) still clears the $1,600 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $413 | $2,727 | $16,801 | $1,187 | +$15,201 | 12.1% | +$2,533 | 916 high |
| 2 |  Zapdos exFireRed & LeafGreen #116 · Classic (2004–2010)Expected +$1,947 per submission: 15.3% of 1,348 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($11,700), and a PSA 9 ($1,670) still clears the $1,356 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $220 | $1,670 | $11,700 | $1,136 | +$10,344 | 15.3% | +$1,947 | 1,348 high |
| 3 |  Zapdos exNintendo Black Star Promos #33 · Vintage (1999–2003)Expected +$1,266 per submission: 2.5% of 717 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($40,800), and a PSA 9 ($2,560) still clears the $2,536 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $109 | $2,560 | $40,800 | $2,427 | +$38,264 | 2.5% | +$1,266 | 717 high |
| 4 |  ZapdosSupreme Victors #150 · Classic (2004–2010)Expected +$1,236 per submission: 1.7% of 1,450 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($44,999), and a PSA 9 ($3,149) still clears the $2,751 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $282 | $3,149 | $44,999 | $2,469 | +$42,248 | 1.7% | +$1,236 | 1,450 high |
| 5 |  ZapdosMajestic Dawn #14 · Classic (2004–2010)Expected +$930 per submission: 3% of 335 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($25,200), and a PSA 9 ($1,000) still clears the $2,317 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $46 | $1,000 | $25,200 | $2,271 | +$22,883 | 3% | +$930 | 335 high |
| 6 |  Rocket's Zapdos exTeam Rocket Returns #106 · Classic (2004–2010)Expected +$895 per submission: 7.7% of 1,021 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($9,601), and a PSA 9 ($2,379) still clears the $1,515 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $800 | $2,379 | $9,601 | $715 | +$8,086 | 7.7% | +$895 | 1,021 high |
| 7 |  Zapdos GArceus #12 · Classic (2004–2010)Expected +$438 per submission: 3.8% of 368 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($13,000), and a PSA 9 ($176) still clears the $1,169 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $20 | $176 | $13,000 | $1,149 | +$11,831 | 3.8% | +$438 | 368 high |
| 8 |  ZapdosLegendary Collection #19 · Vintage (1999–2003)Expected +$349 per submission: 6% of 799 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($6,300), and a PSA 9 ($200) still clears the $713 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $31 | $200 | $6,300 | $682 | +$5,588 | 6% | +$349 | 799 high |
| 9 |  ZapdosGenerations #29 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected +$304 per submission: 5.4% of 1,336 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($6,000), and a PSA 9 ($300) still clears the $718 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $39 | $300 | $6,000 | $679 | +$5,282 | 5.4% | +$304 | 1,336 high |
| 10 |  Zapdos-EXPlasma Storm #48 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected +$282 per submission: 6% of 499 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($6,000), and a PSA 9 ($101) still clears the $691 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $12 | $101 | $6,000 | $679 | +$5,309 | 6% | +$282 | 499 high |
| 11 |  ZapdosWizards Black Star Promos #23 · Vintage (1999–2003)Expected +$264 per submission: 53.9% of 6,107 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($634), and only a PSA 10 covers the $103 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $17 | $69 | $634 | $86 | +$531 | 53.9% | +$264 | 6,107 high |
| 12 |  ZapdosPokémon Rumble #8 · Classic (2004–2010)Expected +$143 per submission: 2.4% of 508 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,525), and a PSA 9 ($610) still clears the $449 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $215 | $610 | $1,525 | $234 | +$1,076 | 2.4% | +$143 | 508 high |
| 13 |  ZapdosAquapolis #44 · Vintage (1999–2003)Expected +$114 per submission: 25.5% of 278 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($775), and only a PSA 10 covers the $158 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $70 | $125 | $775 | $88 | +$617 | 25.5% | +$114 | 278 high |
| 14 |  ZapdosSM Black Star Promos #SM145 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected +$91 per submission: 9.1% of 176 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,150), and a PSA 9 ($167) still clears the $121 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $167 | $1,150 | $111 | +$1,028 | 9.1% | +$91 | 176 high |
| 15 | Expected +$69 per submission: 3.5% of 3,281 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($3,000), and a PSA 9 ($300) still clears the $505 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $106 | $300 | $3,000 | $399 | +$2,495 | 3.5% | +$69 | 3,281 high |
| 16 |  ZapdosBase #16 · Vintage (1999–2003)Expected +$69 per submission: 3.6% of 19,234 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,425), and a PSA 9 ($239) still clears the $280 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $37 | $239 | $2,425 | $243 | +$2,145 | 3.6% | +$69 | 19,234 high |
| 17 |  ZapdosLegendary Treasures #46 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected +$63 per submission: 10.7% of 168 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($960), and only a PSA 10 covers the $96 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $6 | $75 | $960 | $90 | +$864 | 10.7% | +$63 | 168 high |
| 18 |  ZapdosBase Set 2 #20 · Vintage (1999–2003)Expected +$61 per submission: 2.9% of 3,673 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($3,000), and a PSA 9 ($199) still clears the $427 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $28 | $199 | $3,000 | $399 | +$2,573 | 2.9% | +$61 | 3,673 high |
| 19 |  Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GXSM Black Star Promos #SM210 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected +$51 per submission: 56.1% of 78,097 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($395), and only a PSA 10 covers the $237 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $153 | $152 | $395 | $84 | +$158 | 56.1% | +$51 | 78,097 high |
| 20 | Expected +$29 per submission: 2.4% of 4,928 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,950), and a PSA 9 ($211) still clears the $270 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $31 | $211 | $1,950 | $239 | +$1,681 | 2.4% | +$29 | 4,928 high |
| 21 |  ZapdosSM Black Star Promos #SM159 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected +$10 per submission: 14.4% of 277 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($500), and only a PSA 10 covers the $105 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $20 | $54 | $500 | $85 | +$395 | 14.4% | +$10 | 277 high |
| 22 |  ZapdosEvolutions #42 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected +$9 per submission: 9.7% of 4,868 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($720), and only a PSA 10 covers the $94 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $7 | $35 | $720 | $87 | +$626 | 9.7% | +$9 | 4,868 high |
| 23 |  Zapdos ex151 #202 · Current (2020–)Expected +$4 per submission: 28.6% of 49,801 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($355), and only a PSA 10 covers the $164 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $80 | $96 | $355 | $84 | +$191 | 28.6% | +$4 | 49,801 high |
| 24 |  Galarian Zapdos VChilling Reign #174 · Current (2020–)Expected +$0 per submission: 56.9% of 6,442 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($169), and only a PSA 10 covers the $130 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $48 | $86 | $169 | $82 | +$39 | 56.9% | +$0 | 6,442 high |
| 25 |  Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GXHidden Fates #44 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected loss −$3 per submission: 65.1% of 19,803 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($156), and only a PSA 10 covers the $124 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $42 | $59 | $156 | $82 | +$32 | 65.1% | −$3 | 19,803 high |
| 26 |  Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GXHidden Fates #66 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected loss −$11 per submission: 50.4% of 18,668 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($160), and only a PSA 10 covers the $117 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $35 | $51 | $160 | $82 | +$43 | 50.4% | −$11 | 18,668 high |
| 27 |  Moltres & Zapdos & Articuno-GXHidden Fates #69 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected loss −$11 per submission: 63.8% of 25,762 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($137), and only a PSA 10 covers the $116 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $35 | $53 | $137 | $81 | +$21 | 63.8% | −$11 | 25,762 high |
| 28 |  Galarian Zapdos VAstral Radiance Trainer Gallery #TG19 · Current (2020–)Expected loss −$12 per submission: 60.4% of 1,724 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($110), and only a PSA 10 covers the $89 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $8 | $31 | $110 | $81 | +$21 | 60.4% | −$12 | 1,724 high |
| 29 |  ZapdosFossil #30 · Vintage (1999–2003)Expected loss −$16 per submission: 8.3% of 1,537 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($500), and only a PSA 10 covers the $95 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $59 | $500 | $85 | +$405 | 8.3% | −$16 | 1,537 high |
| 30 |  Galarian ZapdosSWSH Black Star Promos #SWSH124 · Modern (2011–2019)Expected loss −$30 per submission: 28.5% of 323 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($155), and only a PSA 10 covers the $95 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $13 | $31 | $155 | $82 | +$60 | 28.5% | −$30 | 323 high |
| 31 |  Zapdos ex151 #192 · Current (2020–)Expected loss −$37 per submission: 37.9% of 4,228 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($95), and only a PSA 10 covers the $92 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $11 | $30 | $95 | $81 | +$3 | 37.9% | −$37 | 4,228 high |
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 2026-09-26). 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.
How to read the Zapdos ranking
Every Zapdos card listed here clears one bar: its PSA 10 price beats its raw price by more than the cost of grading it. 31 Zapdos printings pass. 31 of them (100%) have a gem-rate sample of at least ten graded copies in the population reports, and 23 of those keep a positive expected value once every grade outcome is weighted by how often the card actually receives it.
The order is expected profit, not the PSA 10 best case, which rewards the widest raw-to-gem gap whether the card gems one time in two or one in fifty. Here the top row, the Zapdos from Aquapolis, gems 12.1% of the time across 916 graded copies: +$2,533 is what a long run of submissions would average, $15,201 is what one lucky copy returns.
The median gem rate across the sampled Zapdos cards is 9.7%. Roughly one submitted copy in 10 came back PSA 10, and most rows here still cover raw price plus fee at PSA 9, so the PSA 9 price does most of the work. Of the 31 ranked cards, 16 still cover raw price plus fee at PSA 9, 15 need a 10 to break even and 7 lose money on expectation. 31 rest on a hundred or more graded copies.
Before you submit a Zapdos card
Grading pays on condition. The four things every grader scores — centering, corners, edges and surface — can be checked at home before paying a fee, and a copy that is visibly off-centre or has a whitened corner will not gem whatever the population says. Those gem rates come from a self-selected population of clean copies, so a random copy does worse.
The cost column assumes a PSA submission at the tier covering the card's PSA 10 value, fees as of 2026-09-26, and raw is CardTrack's blended near-mint price, not a sale of your copy: pay more, or hold a lighter copy, and the break-even moves against you. Test a card with your own numbers in the ROI calculator, see the printings that fail the bar on the Zapdos card list, or see how gem-mint premiums run across the whole catalogue on the PSA premium index.