Lugia V Alternate Art 186/195 is Silver Tempest's clear worth-grading card. The next conditional candidates are Regidrago V alt art 184/195, Unown V alt art 177/195, Serena full art 193/195, Lugia VSTAR secret 202/195 and Alolan Vulpix V secret. Grading means paying a company such as PSA to authenticate a card, score its condition and seal it in a slab. A high grade raises buyer trust and price, but only when the grade premium beats submission cost and wait time.
Table of Contents
- Why Lugia V Alternate Art leads
- Which mid-tier cards can justify grading?
- Which cards should usually stay raw?
- How do you screen a copy before submitting?
- What return makes grading worthwhile?
Why Lugia V Alternate Art leads
Lugia V Alternate Art carries the set's largest price jump between raw and gem-mint copies. According to GrowthScribe, raw near-mint copies sat at $200-$260 while PSA 10 copies reached $900-$1,400 in November 2025 sold-data ranges, detailed in the Silver Tempest price list. As PokeInsider reported, PriceCharting showed Lugia V #186 at $425.50 ungraded versus $1,250 in PSA 10 on Oct. 16, 2026, with CGC 10 at $696.48 and SGC 10 at $423.50, described in the Lugia V holding analysis. That gap shows a PSA-specific premium.
Non-PSA grades return much less. Population makes selection strict. As PokeInsider also reported, PSA had graded 44,363 copies with 24,553 PSA 10s, about 55%, covered in the same Lugia V holding analysis. High grades are common. Submit only pack-fresh, well-centered copies.
Which mid-tier cards can justify grading?
Regidrago V alt art 184/195, Unown V alt art 177/195 and Serena full art 193/195 are conditional second-tier targets. According to GrowthScribe, Regidrago was $45-$70 raw and $180-$320 in PSA 10, Unown was $30-$55 raw and $150-$270 in PSA 10, and Serena was $40-$65 raw and $200-$360 in PSA 10, listed in the Silver Tempest price list. Lugia VSTAR secret 202/195 and Alolan Vulpix V secret also qualify when condition is strong. The Cardrake Research Team rates them Tier 1 grading cases, with PSA 10s at $200-$280 versus $35-$110 raw.
That 2.2x-2.6x multiple can cover grading costs on well-centered copies. These cards need stricter screening than Lugia V alt art. Their raw values are lower, so edge wear, soft corners or off-centering can erase the margin. Only submit copies that look pack-fresh under bright light.
Which cards should usually stay raw?
Lower chase cards have thin grading margins after fees. Rare Candy lists Lugia VSTAR gold 211/195 at $25.30 raw, Rayquaza VMAX TG29 at $24.29 and Alolan Vulpix VSTAR rainbow 197/195 at $24.15. Those prices leave little room for grading, shipping and waiting. A PSA 10 would need a large multiple just to break even.
Most copies are better sold raw, kept for a binder or used in play. The exception is a truly flawless copy you already plan to grade in a bulk order. Even then, compare recent PSA 10 sales first. Do not grade on artwork appeal alone.
How do you screen a copy before submitting?
Submit Silver Tempest cards only when the numbers and condition align. PokemonPriceTracker advises submitting when raw value exceeds about $75-$100, PSA 10 is at least 2x raw, centering is 55/45 or better and corners show no whitening.
Use this quick check under bright light and magnification: If a card fails one check, keep it raw. High-population Silver Tempest cards punish small flaws. One weak corner can mean a PSA 9 and a lost fee.
- Front and back centering looks 55/45 or better.
- Corners are sharp with no white dots.
- Edges show no nicks, silvering or whitening.
- Surface has no scratches, dents, print lines or fingerprints.
- Card appears pack-fresh, not binder-handled.
What return makes grading worthwhile?
Grading pays when the PSA 10 multiple is large enough to absorb cost and risk. The PreGradeCards Research Team finds modern Pokemon grading can multiply value 3x-25x, exemplified by Lugia V alt art at $60 raw versus $650 PSA 10 for a 10.8x premium. That math favors collectors who submit only mint candidates.
A 2x multiple can work for lower-cost submissions with strong centering. Below that level, raw sales usually keep more profit. Treat Lugia V alt art as the priority, the $30-$70 alts and secrets as selective submissions and sub-$25 hits as binder cards.
You Might Also Like
- Which Pokemon GO Pokemon Cards Are Worth Grading?
- Which Lost Origin Pokemon Cards Are Worth Grading?
- Which Astral Radiance Pokemon Cards Are Worth Grading?