Best Surging Sparks Cards to Grade
The Surging Sparks 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: Pikachu ex at an expected +$109.
Worth grading25
With a gem-rate sample2496%
Positive expected value3
Median gem rate32.3%
PSA fees as of2026-08-26
Ranked by expected profit 24
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expected +$109 per submission: 33.9% of 28,226 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($914), and only a PSA 10 covers the $399 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $290 | $265 | $914 | $109 | +$514 | 33.9% | +$109 | 28,226 high |
| 2 | Expected +$22 per submission: 34.5% of 18,961 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($510), and only a PSA 10 covers the $290 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $185 | $178 | $510 | $105 | +$219 | 34.5% | +$22 | 18,961 high |
| 3 | Expected +$3 per submission: 28.1% of 26,141 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($285), and only a PSA 10 covers the $109 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $36 | $46 | $285 | $73 | +$176 | 28.1% | +$3 | 26,141 high |
| 4 | Expected +$0 per submission: 42.8% of 21,757 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($183), and only a PSA 10 covers the $103 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $31 | $45 | $183 | $72 | +$80 | 42.8% | +$0 | 21,757 high |
| 5 | Expected loss −$12 per submission: 33.5% of 17,525 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($190), and only a PSA 10 covers the $96 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $24 | $31 | $190 | $72 | +$94 | 33.5% | −$12 | 17,525 high |
| 6 | Expected loss −$14 per submission: 28.8% of 5,499 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($186), and only a PSA 10 covers the $86 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $14 | $26 | $186 | $72 | +$100 | 28.8% | −$14 | 5,499 high |
| 7 | Expected loss −$16 per submission: 37.7% of 14,431 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($305), and only a PSA 10 covers the $200 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $127 | $111 | $305 | $73 | +$105 | 37.7% | −$16 | 14,431 high |
| 8 | Expected loss −$25 per submission: 32.5% of 5,999 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($144), and only a PSA 10 covers the $86 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $15 | $21 | $144 | $71 | +$58 | 32.5% | −$25 | 5,999 high |
| 9 | Expected loss −$25 per submission: 35.1% of 5,586 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($123), and only a PSA 10 covers the $81 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $20 | $123 | $71 | +$42 | 35.1% | −$25 | 5,586 high |
| 10 | Expected loss −$25 per submission: 42.8% of 12,895 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($95), and only a PSA 10 covers the $77 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $6 | $22 | $95 | $71 | +$18 | 42.8% | −$25 | 12,895 high |
| 11 | Expected loss −$29 per submission: 31.6% of 7,035 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($115), and only a PSA 10 covers the $81 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $24 | $115 | $71 | +$34 | 31.6% | −$29 | 7,035 high |
| 12 | Expected loss −$31 per submission: 30.6% of 3,810 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($110), and only a PSA 10 covers the $77 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $6 | $17 | $110 | $71 | +$33 | 30.6% | −$31 | 3,810 high |
| 13 | Expected loss −$32 per submission: 29.4% of 8,077 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($120), and only a PSA 10 covers the $82 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $11 | $20 | $120 | $71 | +$38 | 29.4% | −$32 | 8,077 high |
| 14 | Expected loss −$32 per submission: 30.7% of 2,648 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($112), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $9 | $20 | $112 | $71 | +$32 | 30.7% | −$32 | 2,648 high |
| 15 | Expected loss −$32 per submission: 35.1% of 3,625 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($100), and only a PSA 10 covers the $81 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $21 | $100 | $71 | +$20 | 35.1% | −$32 | 3,625 high |
| 16 | Expected loss −$34 per submission: 31.1% of 3,472 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($106), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $9 | $20 | $106 | $71 | +$26 | 31.1% | −$34 | 3,472 high |
| 17 | Expected loss −$35 per submission: 27.3% of 2,957 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($110), and only a PSA 10 covers the $78 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $7 | $19 | $110 | $71 | +$31 | 27.3% | −$35 | 2,957 high |
| 18 | Expected loss −$35 per submission: 32.1% of 4,624 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($102), and only a PSA 10 covers the $81 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $20 | $102 | $71 | +$21 | 32.1% | −$35 | 4,624 high |
| 19 | Expected loss −$36 per submission: 32.3% of 4,367 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($100), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $9 | $17 | $100 | $71 | +$20 | 32.3% | −$36 | 4,367 high |
| 20 | Expected loss −$36 per submission: 37.8% of 8,811 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($123), and only a PSA 10 covers the $104 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $33 | $35 | $123 | $71 | +$19 | 37.8% | −$36 | 8,811 high |
| 21 | Expected loss −$36 per submission: 30.9% of 1,416 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($96), and only a PSA 10 covers the $79 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $8 | $19 | $96 | $71 | +$18 | 30.9% | −$36 | 1,416 high |
| 22 | Expected loss −$37 per submission: 38.4% of 9,600 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($125), and only a PSA 10 covers the $109 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $38 | $40 | $125 | $71 | +$16 | 38.4% | −$37 | 9,600 high |
| 23 | Expected loss −$43 per submission: 25.1% of 1,200 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($80), and only a PSA 10 covers the $77 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $6 | $19 | $80 | $71 | +$4 | 25.1% | −$43 | 1,200 high |
| 24 | Expected loss −$50 per submission: 29.3% of 7,019 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($108), and only a PSA 10 covers the $100 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $29 | $27 | $108 | $71 | +$8 | 29.3% | −$50 | 7,019 high |
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.
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $94 | — | $385 | $74 | +$217 | — | — | 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.