Pokémon grading verdicts
Grade the Japanese card — or the English one?
Same card, two languages, real sold prices. We tell you which is worth grading — or whether to skip both.
The verdict, card by card
All cards →
EN reference art Start with the method
Three guides on how grading value actually works for Japanese cards.
Cornerstone
Is a Japanese Pokémon card worth grading? The honest framework
How to decide whether grading a Japanese Pokémon card pays off — the probability-weighted method behind every SlabVerdict, explained with a worked example.
Read →Cornerstone
Do Japanese Pokémon cards really grade higher? The gem-rate paradox
The reputation says Japanese Pokémon cards grade higher. It's true for modern cards and misleading for vintage — and the gem rate is what actually decides your odds.
Read →Cornerstone
PSA or CGC for Japanese Pokémon cards? How to choose
PSA holds the resale premium; CGC grades stricter, costs less, and has built real recognition for Japanese cards. The right grader depends on whether you're selling or keeping — here's how to decide.
Read →How we judge
Every verdict weighs the probable graded value against the raw price plus the real cost of grading — at the odds, not the best case. When the listings are too thin to be sure, we say “not enough data” instead of guessing. The verdict is computed before any buy link is placed — it never depends on what's for sale.
Read the methodology