Grading Watch: 8 Raw Cards With Serious PSA 10 Premiums (28 July 2026)

Grading Watch
Monster Card Corner · Editorial

Eight raw cards with serious PSA 10 premiums

Our weekly screening of raw singles where the gem-graded price towers over the raw one. A watchlist - not a submission tip.

Issue #2 · 28 July 2026 • 10 min read • PSA only
Kirlia
01THE LEADERBOARD

Ranked two ways

Screening spread is the money figure - cash left after costs. Premium ratio shows how many times the raw price a gem copy fetches. They rank differently.

By screening spreadGBP
Estimated £ left after grading + selling costs
Kirlia
£343
Groudon
£305
Blastoise ex
£269
Espeon VMAX
£265
Pikachu V
£253
Cleffa
£238
Latias ex
£235
Galarian Moltres V
£225
By premium ratio× RAW
PSA 10 comp ÷ raw price
Kirlia
18.1×
Cleffa
12.2×
Groudon
5.9×
Pikachu V
5.4×
Blastoise ex
4.8×
Galarian Moltres V
3.7×
Latias ex
3.4×
Espeon VMAX
2.8×
02TOP CANDIDATE

The widest premium on the board

#1 · Top screening spread

Kirlia

SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set · 212/198 · Illustration Rare
Raw
£24.50
PSA 9
£51.83
PSA 10
£442
18.1×
Premium ratio
£343
Screening spread · est.

Kirlia 212/198 from SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set carries the widest screening spread on this list, driven by a PSA 10 value that sits dramatically above the raw price. The Illustration Rare treatment places Kirlia in a warmly lit domestic interior alongside a seated trainer cradling a small figure, the soft greens and oranges of the room rendered in a loose, painterly style that feels closer to a picture book than a standard card illustration. That intimate scene, combined with a low raw entry point, makes the gap between raw and PSA 10 particularly striking, though the relatively modest PSA 10 hit rate means condition discipline at submission is essential.

03THE CANDIDATES

All eight, card by card

Each screened card in its own dossier: raw and graded prices, the premium multiple, the estimated spread, why it's here and what could go wrong.

#1Illustration Rare
Top spread
Kirlia
SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set · 212/198 · Illustration Rare
Premium ratio
18.1×
Spread · est.
£343
RAW
£24.50
PSA 9
£51.83
PSA 10
£442
A gem copy fetches 18.1× the raw price for this illustration rare.
Risk: 6,970 graded at a 14% PSA 10 rate, so genuine gem copies stay relatively scarce.
#2Special Illustration Rare
Blastoise ex
SV: Scarlet & Violet 151 · 200/165 · Special Illustration Rare
Premium ratio
4.8×
Spread · est.
£269
RAW
£90.23
PSA 9
£114
PSA 10
£433
A gem copy fetches 4.8× the raw price for this special illustration rare.
Risk: 64,021 graded at a 30% PSA 10 rate, so genuine gem copies stay relatively scarce.
#3Secret Rare
Espeon VMAX
SWSH08: Fusion Strike · 270/264 · Secret Rare
Premium ratio
2.8×
Spread · est.
£265
RAW
£200
PSA 9
£240
PSA 10
£554
A gem copy fetches 2.8× the raw price for this secret rare.
Risk: PSA 10s are common here — a 60% gem rate across 21,172 graded can compress the premium.
#4Ultra Rare
Pikachu V
SWSH11: Lost Origin Trainer Gallery · TG16/TG30 · Ultra Rare
Premium ratio
5.4×
Spread · est.
£253
RAW
£72.65
PSA 9
£114
PSA 10
£394
A gem copy fetches 5.4× the raw price for this ultra rare.
Risk: PSA 10s are common here — a 52% gem rate across 16,210 graded can compress the premium.
#5Illustration Rare
Groudon
SV04: Paradox Rift · 199/182 · Illustration Rare
Premium ratio
5.9×
Spread · est.
£305
RAW
£77.40
PSA 9
£90.45
PSA 10
£459
A gem copy fetches 5.9× the raw price for this illustration rare.
Risk: a PSA 9 barely clears grading costs over raw.
#6Special Illustration Rare
Latias ex
SV08: Surging Sparks · 239/191 · Special Illustration Rare
Premium ratio
3.4×
Spread · est.
£235
RAW
£129
PSA 9
£117
PSA 10
£437
A gem copy fetches 3.4× the raw price for this special illustration rare.
Risk: a PSA 9 barely clears grading costs over raw.
#7Ultra Rare
Galarian Moltres V
SWSH06: Chilling Reign · 177/198 · Ultra Rare
Premium ratio
3.7×
Spread · est.
£225
RAW
£110
PSA 9
£145
PSA 10
£405
A gem copy fetches 3.7× the raw price for this ultra rare.
Risk: PSA 10s are common here — a 57% gem rate across 13,001 graded can compress the premium.
#8Illustration Rare
Cleffa
SV03: Obsidian Flames · 202/197 · Illustration Rare
Premium ratio
12.2×
Spread · est.
£238
RAW
£26.63
PSA 9
£51.74
PSA 10
£324
A gem copy fetches 12.2× the raw price for this illustration rare.
Risk: 14,390 graded at a 21% PSA 10 rate, so genuine gem copies stay relatively scarce.
04AT A GLANCE

The whole screen in one table

Every candidate, one row each - built to be screenshotted. Sorted by screening spread.

Card Raw PSA 9 PSA 10 Ratio Spread
SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set · 212/198 · Illustration Rare
£24.50 £51.83 £442 18.1× £343
SV: Scarlet & Violet 151 · 200/165 · Special Illustration Rare
£90.23 £114 £433 4.8× £269
SWSH08: Fusion Strike · 270/264 · Secret Rare
£200 £240 £554 2.8× £265
SWSH11: Lost Origin Trainer Gallery · TG16/TG30 · Ultra Rare
£72.65 £114 £394 5.4× £253
SV04: Paradox Rift · 199/182 · Illustration Rare
£77.40 £90.45 £459 5.9× £305
SV08: Surging Sparks · 239/191 · Special Illustration Rare
£129 £117 £437 3.4× £235
SWSH06: Chilling Reign · 177/198 · Ultra Rare
£110 £145 £405 3.7× £225
SV03: Obsidian Flames · 202/197 · Illustration Rare
£26.63 £51.74 £324 12.2× £238
05RISK & REALITY

What could go wrong

Grading is a bet on condition. The risks below apply to every card here - plus the sharper downside on the cards where a PSA 9 leaves little over raw.

Applies to every card
  • Condition cannot be judged from a catalogue image.
  • Most raw cards will not grade 10.
  • Grading fees, timelines and premiums all move.
  • PSA 10 comps reflect recent last-sold prices; future realisations may differ.
Sharper downside · PSA 9 close to raw
Groudon
SV04: Paradox Rift · 199/182 · Illustration Rare
Raw £77.40 → PSA 9 £90.45
A 9 barely clears grading costs
Latias ex
SV08: Surging Sparks · 239/191 · Special Illustration Rare
Raw £129 → PSA 9 £117
A 9 barely clears grading costs
06NEARLY QUALIFIED

What just missed the cut

Runner-ups from the pool that cleared the ratio bar but landed below the eight widest spreads.

Sylveon VMAX
SWSH07: Evolving Skies · 212/203
£247 spread
A strong 2.6× multiple - edged out of the eight on absolute spread.
Held back by SPREAD
Venusaur ex
SV: Scarlet & Violet 151 · 198/165
£235 spread
A strong 4.6× multiple - edged out of the eight on absolute spread.
Held back by SPREAD
Lillie's Clefairy ex
SV09: Journey Together · 184/159
£220 spread
A strong 4.2× multiple - edged out of the eight on absolute spread.
Held back by SPREAD
Aerodactyl V
SWSH11: Lost Origin · 180/196
£216 spread
A strong 3.1× multiple - edged out of the eight on absolute spread.
Held back by SPREAD
07FAQ

Grading, premiums & how we screen

The questions readers ask most about PSA grading and how Grading Watch is put together.

01What is PSA grading?⌄

PSA grading is a professional authentication and condition assessment service provided by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Cards are examined for centering, corners, edges and surface before being assigned a grade from 1 to 10, with PSA 10 Gem Mint representing the highest standard.

02Is PSA grading worth it?⌄

Grading can be worthwhile when the graded premium outweighs the cost of grading and selling the card. Not every card benefits, and even valuable cards may not justify grading if they are unlikely to reach a high grade. Grading Watch highlights cards with strong PSA 10 premiums, but it is not a prediction that any given copy will grade a 10.

03How does Grading Watch choose cards?⌄

Each issue we screen the catalogue on price, era and rarity, then verify the shortlist against recent graded and raw comparables from live market data. We rank the survivors by screening spread and feature the eight widest. It is a screening list, not a submission recommendation.

04What is the “screening spread”?⌄

Screening spread is the PSA 10 price minus the raw price, minus estimated grading, shipping, selling and transaction costs. It is labelled as an estimate before tax and condition risk - the exact cost assumptions are printed in the methodology box and are placeholders pending confirmation.

05Does a big premium mean I will make money?⌄

No. The premium only pays out on a genuine PSA 10. Most raw cards will not grade 10, condition cannot be judged from a catalogue image, and premiums move with the market. Treat every figure as a screen, not a promise.

06How often is Grading Watch updated?⌄

Grading Watch runs fortnightly, with a fresh screen of raw cards and their graded premiums each issue.

Before you submit

Inspect corners, edges, surface and centering under good light, sleeve the card immediately, and grade yourself conservatively before paying a fee. A premium only pays off on a 10.

This is a screening list, not a grade prediction or submission recommendation. Condition determines outcome. Premiums are not guaranteed and move with the market. Nothing here is financial advice.

TagsGrading WatchPokemon TCG
Monster Card Corner · Editorial · Grading Watch

Last updated 6 Nov 2026


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