Best Pokemon Generations Cards to Grade

Top 13 Pokemon Generations Cards by PSA 10 Payoff, All with Positive Expected Value

Looking for the best Pokemon Generations 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 5, 2026

M Charizard EX #12

Positive EV $227.37

Raw $80.50 → PSA 10 $3,000.00Gem Rate 8.1%ROI 1769%

$2,839.51

if PSA 10

Gengar #35

Positive EV $25.05

Raw $31.00 → PSA 10 $2,325.00Gem Rate 1.4%ROI 1995%

$2,214.01

if PSA 10

Articuno #25

Positive EV $93.89

Raw $30.00 → PSA 10 $1,912.50Gem Rate 6.6%ROI 1639%

$1,802.51

if PSA 10

Zapdos #29

Positive EV $39.53

Raw $29.99 → PSA 10 $1,263.14Gem Rate 5.3%ROI 1049%

$1,153.16

if PSA 10

Charizard EX #11

Positive EV $69.26

Raw $19.90 → PSA 10 $1,225.00Gem Rate 9.9%ROI 1126%

$1,125.11

if PSA 10

Clefairy [Toys R Us] #50

Positive EV $42.25

Raw $35.29 → PSA 10 $1,094.54Gem Rate 10.9%ROI 849%

$979.26

if PSA 10

Vaporeon EX #24

Positive EV $38.30

Raw $19.73 → PSA 10 $676.00Gem Rate 14.2%ROI 578%

$576.28

if PSA 10

M Blastoise EX #18

Positive EV $36.08

Raw $18.63 → PSA 10 $650.00Gem Rate 11.9%ROI 559%

$551.38

if PSA 10

Jolteon EX #28

Positive EV $50.40

Raw $20.18 → PSA 10 $625.00Gem Rate 16.4%ROI 524%

$524.83

if PSA 10

Leafeon EX #10

Positive EV $39.77

Raw $23.21 → PSA 10 $609.88Gem Rate 15.7%ROI 491%

$506.68

if PSA 10

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Pikachu [Toys R Us] #26

Positive EV $24.63

Raw $74.07 → PSA 10 $621.39Gem Rate 3.8%ROI 303%

$467.33

if PSA 10

Gyarados [Reverse Holo] #23

Positive EV $19.15

Raw $8.30 → PSA 10 $413.40Gem Rate 12.1%ROI 368%

$325.11

if PSA 10

M Venusaur EX #2

Positive EV $10.36

Raw $17.09 → PSA 10 $387.49Gem Rate 17%ROI 299%

$290.41

if PSA 10

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