The Diamond & Pearl cards most worth grading are Stormfront Charizard #103, Luxray GL LV.X, Leafeon LV.X, Glaceon LV.X, Charizard G LV.X DP45, and POP Series 5 Espeon and Umbreon Gold Star. Grading means paying PSA, CGC, or a similar firm to authenticate a card, assign a 1-10 condition score, and seal it in a labeled holder. Those cards earn the fee because gem-mint copies sell for thousands more than raw copies. Lower-grade holos and damaged ultra-rares usually do not clear costs, so selection and condition decide everything.
Table of Contents
- Why does Stormfront Charizard lead the list?
- Which LV.X cards pay for grading?
- Are promos and Gold Stars worth submitting?
- When should you leave a card ungraded?
Why does Stormfront Charizard lead the list?
Charizard #103/100 from 2008 Diamond & Pearl Stormfront is a Secret Rare chase. Secret Rares are cards numbered above the set total, printed in lower quantities for collectors. According to CardCodex, it has only 49 PSA 10s from 3,128 graded, with about $7,694 in PSA 10 versus $737 raw CardCodex Stormfront price guide. High grades still command strong premiums below gem mint.
PSA cert verification values a PSA 9 copy at $3,625 with population 502 and only 49 graded higher PSA cert verification for Charizard #103. Submit only sharp, pack-fresh copies with clean edges, corners, and foil. Even light whitening or print lines can drop the grade below the profitable tier.
Which LV.X cards pay for grading?
LV.X cards are ultra-powerful leveled-up versions of regular Pokemon, marked with LV.X after the name. Luxray GL LV.X #109 from Rising Rivals lists at $2,150 in PSA 10 versus about $59 ungraded, with an estimated PSA 10 population of 27, according to the PriceCharting/PokeInvest price guide Rising Rivals price guide. Leafeon LV.X #99 from Majestic Dawn shows a larger spread and tougher odds.
According to PokeInvest/GRLD, it sells for about $6,103 in PSA 10 versus $315 raw, but has a 0.9% gem rate with 6 PSA 10s from 673 submissions Majestic Dawn price data. Glaceon LV.X from Majestic Dawn also belongs on the short list. TheGamer ranks it among the most valuable Diamond & Pearl-era cards and most expensive Glaceons ever, sought by set collectors and Eeveelution collectors alike.
Are promos and Gold Stars worth submitting?
Diamond & Pearl Black Star Promo Charizard G LV.X DP45 earns grading premiums. PSA cert verification places a PSA 9 copy at a $4,508 estimate with population 196 and only 19 higher. Espeon Gold Star and Umbreon Gold Star from POP Series 5 are league-reward cards from the Diamond & Pearl period.
Pojo.com reports POP Series 5 cards were distributed as Pokemon Organized Play league rewards and notes about $3,000 sales in Nov. 2017. These promos attract registry builders, character collectors, and Gold Star specialists. Check centering, surface scratches, and edge wear under bright light before paying a fee.
When should you leave a card ungraded?
Grading pays only when the graded sale minus the raw sale exceeds all-in fees. PKMHobby/PureGrail puts 2026 costs at about $17-$20 at CGC and $59.99-$79.99 at PSA, so common Diamond & Pearl holos and damaged LV.X cards generally lose money. Use this quick screen before submitting: Keep borderline cards raw, sell them as-is, and reserve grading for flawless chase cards.
- Raw value is low and even PSA 9 adds little premium.
- Corners, edges, or foil show whitening, scratches, dents, or bends.
- Centering is visibly off top to bottom or side to side.
- The card is a common holo without collector demand for high grades.
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