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Which Pokémon cards are worth grading? November 2026

Short answer: Best expected value after fees: Mudkip #19 (McDonald's Collection 2021), about +$305.74 per card on a $11.22 raw price. Biggest trap: Archeops #132 (White Flare) shows +1,952% to PSA 10 but only 22% of graded copies get a 10, an average loss of $22.73 per card.

By budget: under $30, $30 to $60, $60 to $120, over $120.

A big gap between the raw price and the PSA 10 price looks great, but most copies don't come back a 10. Based on the PSA pop report for every English card from 2021 onwards: what pays off after grading, what is a trap, and where the market moves.

Updated November 15, 2026 · refreshed daily

MudkipBest expected valueMudkipMcDonald's Collection 2021 · 19+$305.74expected profit per card after all fees, on a $11.22 raw priceArcheopsBiggest trapArcheopsWhite Flare · 132−$22.73average loss per card: +1,952% to PSA 10 on paper, but only 22% get a 10CyndaquilEasiest PSA 10CyndaquilMega Evolution Black Star Promos · 4786%of graded copies get a 10PikachuHardest PSA 10PikachuMcDonald's Collection 2022 · 77%of graded copies get a 10 · PSA 10 $343.90Celebi VBiggest 30-day riserCelebi VChilling Reign · 160+59%raw price, now $21.10
Read the key takeaways as text, November 2026
  • Best expected value after fees: Mudkip #19 (McDonald's Collection 2021), about +$305.74 per card on a $11.22 raw price.
  • Biggest trap: Archeops #132 (White Flare) shows +1,952% to PSA 10 but only 22% of graded copies get a 10, an average loss of $22.73 per card.
  • Easiest PSA 10: Cyndaquil #47 (Mega Evolution Black Star Promos), with 86% of graded copies getting a 10.
  • Hardest PSA 10 among popular cards: Pikachu #7 (McDonald's Collection 2022), at only 7%.
  • Biggest 30-day riser: Celebi V #160 (Chilling Reign), 59% on the raw price.

Most worth grading

Highest expected profit per card after all costs. It counts the real chance of a 10, a 9 or an 8, plus PSA grading, shipping both ways and about 13% selling fees. Cards that cost $10–150 raw.

  1. 1MudkipMudkipMcDonald's Collection 2021 · 19Raw price$11.22Exp. profit+$305.74Chance of a 1032%
  2. 2Jirachi VJirachi VAstral Radiance · 170Raw price$25.20Exp. profit+$233.64Chance of a 1058%
  3. 3Lugia VLugia VSilver Tempest · 185Raw price$17.03Exp. profit+$163.24Chance of a 1053%
  4. 4TyrantrumTyrantrumMega Evolution Black Star Promos · 66Raw price$55.47Exp. profit+$129.28Chance of a 1026%
  5. 5Mega Darkrai exMega Darkrai exPitch Black · 120Raw price$116.01Exp. profit+$129.09Chance of a 1024%
  6. 6Celebi VCelebi VChilling Reign · 160Raw price$21.10Exp. profit+$116.18Chance of a 1060%
  7. 7Mimikyu VMimikyu VBattle Styles · 148Raw price$49.42Exp. profit+$113.89Chance of a 1059%
  8. 8Dragonite VDragonite VEvolving Skies · 191Raw price$39.01Exp. profit+$104.77Chance of a 1045%
  9. 9TandemausTandemausPaldean Fates · 209Raw price$27.59Exp. profit+$102.99Chance of a 1045%
  10. 10MausholdMausholdPaldean Fates · 210Raw price$30.20Exp. profit+$102.53Chance of a 1045%

Grading traps

Looks great on paper (a huge gap between the raw and the PSA 10 price), but loses money on average, because too few copies come back a 10.

  1. 1PanpourPanpourBlack Bolt · 101To PSA 10+3,254%Exp. profit−$8.44Chance of a 1017%
  2. 2DarumakaDarumakaBlack Bolt · 97To PSA 10+2,931%Exp. profit−$9.38Chance of a 1018%
  3. 3DondozoDondozoScarlet & Violet · 207To PSA 10+2,659%Exp. profit−$6.57Chance of a 1016%
  4. 4TimburrTimburrBlack Bolt · 125To PSA 10+2,580%Exp. profit−$11.61Chance of a 1021%
  5. 5VanillishVanillishWhite Flare · 112To PSA 10+2,440%Exp. profit−$19.69Chance of a 1018%
  6. 6DeinoDeinoWhite Flare · 146To PSA 10+2,375%Exp. profit−$7.01Chance of a 1023%
  7. 7LechonkLechonkObsidian Flames · 209To PSA 10+2,365%Exp. profit−$15.04Chance of a 1021%
  8. 8ArcheopsArcheopsWhite Flare · 132To PSA 10+1,952%Exp. profit−$22.73Chance of a 1022%
  9. 9GloomGloomObsidian Flames · 198To PSA 10+1,905%Exp. profit−$7.83Chance of a 1019%
  10. 10Paldean WooperPaldean WooperPaldea Evolved · 221To PSA 10+1,896%Exp. profit−$16.70Chance of a 1019%

Easiest PSA 10s

Cards where most graded copies get a 10 (at least 500 graded). Easy to grade is not always profitable, so check the expected profit.

  1. 1CyndaquilCyndaquilMega Evolution Black Star Promos · 47Chance of a 1086%Graded1,205Exp. profit−$21.83
  2. 2ChikoritaChikoritaMega Evolution Black Star Promos · 46Chance of a 1086%Graded1,229Exp. profit−$27.63
  3. 3CharmanderCharmanderMega Evolution Black Star Promos · 38Chance of a 1084%Graded46,260Exp. profit−$32.54
  4. 4Hatterene VMAXHatterene VMAXCrown Zenith Galarian Gallery · GG47Chance of a 1080%Graded1,590Exp. profit−$20.28
  5. 5Lycanroc VMAXLycanroc VMAXEvolving Skies · 213Chance of a 1079%Graded520Exp. profit+$3.11
  6. 6Lapras VMAXLapras VMAXShining Fates Shiny Vault · SV111Chance of a 1078%Graded2,650Exp. profit−$20.62
  7. 7Corviknight VMAXCorviknight VMAXSilver Tempest Trainer Gallery · TG19Chance of a 1078%Graded1,699Exp. profit−$11.47
  8. 8Blaziken VMAXBlaziken VMAXChilling Reign · 200Chance of a 1077%Graded1,463Exp. profit−$26.23
  9. 9Deoxys VMAXDeoxys VMAXCrown Zenith Galarian Gallery · GG45Chance of a 1077%Graded21,249Exp. profit−$4.37
  10. 10Mega Clefable exMega Clefable exPerfect Order · 119Chance of a 1077%Graded6,090Exp. profit−$34.33

Hardest PSA 10s

Popular cards (1,000+ graded) where a 10 is rare. The PSA 10 price is tempting, but most submissions come back lower.

  1. 1PikachuPikachuMcDonald's Collection 2022 · 7Chance of a 107%Graded1,007PSA 10$343.90
  2. 2Mega Charizard X exMega Charizard X exPhantasmal Flames · 130Chance of a 1010%Graded21,310PSA 10$1,922
  3. 3ClauncherClauncherScarlet & Violet · 205Chance of a 1010%Graded1,405PSA 10$251.58
  4. 4FidoughFidoughScarlet & Violet · 213Chance of a 1011%Graded2,230PSA 10$442.78
  5. 5KirliaKirliaScarlet & Violet · 212Chance of a 1014%Graded7,084PSA 10$443.51
  6. 6KrookodileKrookodileBlack Bolt · 137Chance of a 1014%Graded1,160PSA 10$567.88
  7. 7OshawottOshawottWhite Flare · 105Chance of a 1015%Graded3,281PSA 10$903.95
  8. 8DragoniteDragoniteMcDonald's Collection 2024 · 12Chance of a 1015%Graded1,960PSA 10$596.52
  9. 9MagikarpMagikarpPaldea Evolved · 203Chance of a 1015%Graded26,419PSA 10$3,446
  10. 10SeismitoadSeismitoadBlack Bolt · 105Chance of a 1016%Graded7,488PSA 10$1,445

Price movers (30 days)

Biggest raw price changes over the last 30 days. A PSA submission takes months, so these are the picks most sensitive to the price moving before the slab comes back.

Most live eBay finds

Cards ($20–130 raw) with the most live eBay listings that our AI picked as strong grading candidates from the photos. Always check corners and edges yourself before you buy.

  1. 1Pikachu exPikachu ex30th Celebration · 149eBay finds594Raw$32.43Chance of a 10—
  2. 2Mew exMew ex151 · 205eBay finds424Raw$23.22Chance of a 10—
  3. 3CleffaCleffaObsidian Flames · 202eBay finds289Raw$27.78Chance of a 1021%
  4. 4MagikarpMagikarp30th Celebration · 203eBay finds282Raw$62.41Chance of a 10—
  5. 5Misty's PsyduckMisty's PsyduckDestined Rivals · 193eBay finds212Raw$41.80Chance of a 1027%
  6. 6PikachuPikachuCrown Zenith Galarian Gallery · GG30eBay finds212Raw$34.81Chance of a 1028%
  7. 7NinetalesNinetalesObsidian Flames · 199eBay finds209Raw$31.94Chance of a 1022%
  8. 8CharizardCharizardLost Origin Trainer Gallery · TG03eBay finds201Raw$26.37Chance of a 1026%
  9. 9LatiosLatiosSurging Sparks · 203eBay finds201Raw$26.55Chance of a 1027%
  10. 10Mega Zeraora exMega Zeraora exPitch Black · 114eBay finds200Raw$31.93Chance of a 1057%

How this report works

  • English cards released 2021 or later. Prices in USD from market sales data; PSA counts from the PSA population report.
  • Expected value = chance of a PSA 10 × PSA 10 price + chance of a 9 × PSA 9 price + chance of an 8 × PSA 8 price + lower grades at 90% of raw, minus raw price, PSA Standard grading ($59.99, higher tiers for expensive cards), shipping both ways ($10) and ~13% selling fees.
  • Pop reports count submitted cards, and people mostly submit their best copies, so real odds for a random raw card are likely a bit lower.
  • Cards with obviously mismatched price data are left out.

Cite this report

Free to quote with a link. Suggested citation: CardHunt, "Which Pokémon cards are worth grading? November 2026", https://www.cardhunt.io/report (updated November 15, 2026)

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