Best Pokemon Base Set 2 Cards to Grade

Top 13 Pokemon Base Set 2 Cards by PSA 10 Payoff, All with Positive Expected Value

Looking for the best Pokemon Base Set 2 cards to grade? These are the 13 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 1, 2026

Hitmonchan #8

Positive EV $55.29

Raw $17.09 → PSA 10 $12,699.00Gem Rate 0.8%ROI 12981%

$12,601.92

if PSA 10

Charizard #4

Positive EV $107.56

Raw $305.00 → PSA 10 $8,616.19Gem Rate 0.3%ROI 2138%

$8,231.20

if PSA 10

Blastoise #2

Positive EV $59.43

Raw $70.50 → PSA 10 $7,500.00Gem Rate 0.5%ROI 4884%

$7,349.51

if PSA 10

Pidgeot #14

Positive EV $4.43

Raw $19.99 → PSA 10 $6,430.00Gem Rate 0.8%ROI 6331%

$6,330.02

if PSA 10

Mewtwo #10

Positive EV $62.87

Raw $40.98 → PSA 10 $5,100.00Gem Rate 1.7%ROI 4116%

$4,979.03

if PSA 10

Alakazam #1

Positive EV $9.52

Raw $31.33 → PSA 10 $3,365.57Gem Rate 1.3%ROI 2923%

$3,254.25

if PSA 10

Venusaur #18

Positive EV $22.89

Raw $52.46 → PSA 10 $2,425.63Gem Rate 1%ROI 1731%

$2,293.18

if PSA 10

Ninetales #13

Positive EV $16.78

Raw $17.88 → PSA 10 $2,328.75Gem Rate 2.4%ROI 2279%

$2,230.88

if PSA 10

Wartortle [W Stamp] #63

Positive EV $294.97

Raw $60.00 → PSA 10 $2,059.32Gem Rate 16.5%ROI 1371%

$1,919.33

if PSA 10

Zapdos #20

Positive EV $1.27

Raw $22.50 → PSA 10 $1,327.40Gem Rate 2.9%ROI 1195%

$1,224.91

if PSA 10

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Snorlax #30

Positive EV $2.62

Raw $17.79 → PSA 10 $380.02Gem Rate 15.1%ROI 289%

$282.24

if PSA 10

Pikachu #87

Positive EV $5.43

Raw $3.00 → PSA 10 $320.27Gem Rate 20.9%ROI 286%

$237.28

if PSA 10

Meowth #80

Positive EV $3.01

Raw $1.47 → PSA 10 $270.00Gem Rate 25.8%ROI 231%

$188.54

if PSA 10

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