PSA update (Sept 19): Standard is open at $59.99 (estimated 90–100 business days). Value tiers remain paused and can be selected on card pages as hold scenarios using their previous fees. PSA Priority is $79.99 (70–80 business days). Historical article examples retain their dated fees. Pricing, limits and details
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Home/Sets/Pokemon Base Set/Best Cards

Best Pokemon Base Set Cards to Grade

Top 20 Pokemon Base Set Cards by PSA 10 Payoff, All with Positive Expected Value

Looking for the best Pokemon Base Set cards to grade? These are the 20 picks with the highest payoff if the card comes back a PSA 10. Every card here also has positive expected value once every grade outcome is weighted by its real gem rate, so the ranking never recommends a card the math says to skip.

How these numbers work. Expected value weights every PSA grade by how often this card actually earns it, then subtracts the raw price and the $79.99 grading fee. If PSA 10 is the single best-case outcome: PSA 10 price minus raw price minus the grading fee. Selling fees, shipping, and insurance are not deducted — set your own selling fee on any card page.

Prices updated weekly · Last updated October 4, 2026

1
Charizard [1st Edition] #4

Charizard [1st Edition] #4

Positive EV $13,860.14
Raw $8,022.50 → PSA 10 $343,098.00Gem Rate 2.1%ROI 4134%

$334,995.51

if PSA 10

2
Chansey [1st Edition] #3

Chansey [1st Edition] #3

Positive EV $2,451.81
Raw $400.00 → PSA 10 $102,500.00Gem Rate 1.6%ROI 21255%

$102,020.01

if PSA 10

3
Mewtwo [1st Edition] #10

Mewtwo [1st Edition] #10

Positive EV $3,396.52
Raw $350.00 → PSA 10 $56,146.72Gem Rate 2.9%ROI 12958%

$55,716.73

if PSA 10

4
Venusaur [1st Edition] #15

Venusaur [1st Edition] #15

Positive EV $2,871.02
Raw $1,046.88 → PSA 10 $37,210.00Gem Rate 3.7%ROI 3202%

$36,083.13

if PSA 10

5
Blastoise [1st Edition] #2

Blastoise [1st Edition] #2

Positive EV $2,488.49
Raw $1,365.16 → PSA 10 $33,716.20Gem Rate 2.4%ROI 2233%

$32,271.05

if PSA 10

6
Charizard [Shadowless] #4

Charizard [Shadowless] #4

Positive EV $1,288.74
Raw $988.00 → PSA 10 $30,100.00Gem Rate 0.4%ROI 2718%

$29,032.01

if PSA 10

7
Gyarados [1st Edition] #6

Gyarados [1st Edition] #6

Positive EV $1,953.80
Raw $468.54 → PSA 10 $25,746.22Gem Rate 3.4%ROI 4594%

$25,197.69

if PSA 10

8
Pikachu [1st Edition Red Cheeks] #58

Pikachu [1st Edition Red Cheeks] #58

Positive EV $3,694.56
Raw $401.42 → PSA 10 $24,940.49Gem Rate 12.3%ROI 5081%

$24,459.08

if PSA 10

9
Ninetales [1st Edition] #12

Ninetales [1st Edition] #12

Positive EV $1,204.69
Raw $417.50 → PSA 10 $22,113.04Gem Rate 2.9%ROI 4345%

$21,615.55

if PSA 10

10
Charizard [1999-2000] #4

Charizard [1999-2000] #4

Positive EV $774.78
Raw $475.91 → PSA 10 $21,216.84Gem Rate 0.9%ROI 3717%

$20,660.94

if PSA 10

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11
Blastoise [Shadowless] #2

Blastoise [Shadowless] #2

Positive EV $458.46
Raw $249.03 → PSA 10 $20,250.00Gem Rate 0.6%ROI 6055%

$19,920.98

if PSA 10

12
Raichu [1st Edition] #14

Raichu [1st Edition] #14

Positive EV $1,379.41
Raw $339.95 → PSA 10 $20,267.89Gem Rate 2.9%ROI 4726%

$19,847.95

if PSA 10

13
Venusaur [1999-2000] #15

Venusaur [1999-2000] #15

Positive EV $589.03
Raw $55.21 → PSA 10 $19,500.00Gem Rate 2.3%ROI 14323%

$19,364.80

if PSA 10

14
Charizard #4

Charizard #4

Positive EV $454.10
Raw $365.62 → PSA 10 $19,525.00Gem Rate 0.5%ROI 4282%

$19,079.39

if PSA 10

15
Hitmonchan [1st Edition] #7

Hitmonchan [1st Edition] #7

Positive EV $927.21
Raw $300.00 → PSA 10 $18,500.00Gem Rate 2.5%ROI 4769%

$18,120.01

if PSA 10

16
Poliwrath [1st Edition] #13

Poliwrath [1st Edition] #13

Positive EV $1,260.93
Raw $365.72 → PSA 10 $17,700.00Gem Rate 4.2%ROI 3871%

$17,254.29

if PSA 10

17
Alakazam [1st Edition] #1

Alakazam [1st Edition] #1

Positive EV $1,658.94
Raw $600.00 → PSA 10 $17,282.33Gem Rate 3.4%ROI 2442%

$16,602.34

if PSA 10

18
Nidoking [1st Edition] #11

Nidoking [1st Edition] #11

Positive EV $920.82
Raw $417.86 → PSA 10 $14,319.96Gem Rate 3.4%ROI 2776%

$13,822.11

if PSA 10

19
Mewtwo [Shadowless] #10

Mewtwo [Shadowless] #10

Positive EV $232.45
Raw $87.99 → PSA 10 $13,046.88Gem Rate 1%ROI 7667%

$12,878.90

if PSA 10

20
Alakazam [Shadowless] #1

Alakazam [Shadowless] #1

Positive EV $153.07
Raw $99.13 → PSA 10 $11,350.28Gem Rate 0.7%ROI 6237%

$11,171.16

if PSA 10

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© 2026 Should You Grade? Data from PriceCharting & GemRate.
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