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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.
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7 guides Update PSA paused its cheapest tiers. Here's what grading a Japanese Pokémon card costs now. PSA paused its four Value tiers on June 2, 2026, and reshaped its US tiers again on September 14 — the cheapest entry now sits at about $60 a card. PSA Japan has since suspended its Value tiers too. Here's what grading a Japanese Pokémon card actually costs now, and which cards still clear the bar. Read → Guide 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 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 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 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 → Guide PSA vs CGC for Japanese Pokémon Cards: The Full Breakdown CGC has built real recognition specifically in the Japanese card market, and PSA Japan gives collectors submitting from Japan their own domestic route — one whose pricing has shifted twice in 2026. The numbers, and the rule of thumb. Read → Cornerstone PSA vs CGC for Pokémon Cards: Which Grader to Choose PSA holds the resale premium and the deepest buyer pool; CGC grades stricter and costs far less. The right grader depends on whether you're selling or keeping — and Japanese cards tilt the math further. Read →