Guides

How grading value actually works

The reasoning behind every verdict on this site — the break-even framework, the Japanese-vs-English market question, and how to choose a grader. Start at the top.

Cornerstone guides

4 guides

Cornerstone Is your Pokémon card worth grading? The honest framework How to decide whether grading pays off — the decision framework SlabVerdict is built on, explained with a worked example. Read → Cornerstone How to read a verdict page A tour of every number on a SlabVerdict verdict page — what each one is, where it comes from, and which ones actually decide the call. Read → Cornerstone Japanese vs English Pokémon cards: which is worth more, and should you grade them? English usually carries the higher price; Japanese is often cheaper raw for the same character — with real exceptions. What that gap means for grading, and what doesn't change at all. Read → Cornerstone PSA or CGC for Pokémon cards? How to choose PSA holds the resale premium; CGC grades stricter, costs less, and has built real recognition — especially for Japanese cards. The right grader depends on whether you're selling or keeping. Read →

Reference The full methodology How every verdict is computed — the expected-value model, the four calls, and the data behind them. Read the methodology →