Regrading a PSA 5 Alakazam is rarely worth the investment, primarily because the cost of grading often exceeds any gain in card value. A PSA 5 represents a card with significant wear and visible flaws—centering issues, corner wear, edge wear, or surface damage—that puts it solidly in the middle of the grading spectrum. The jump from a 5 to a 6 or 7, even if achieved, typically adds only $20 to $50 in value for most Alakazam printings, while grading alone costs $20 to $100 depending on your service tier. Consider a first edition Base Set Alakazam graded PSA 5: resubmitting it might cost $50 and yield no improvement, or it could return as the same PSA 5, leaving you with a double-graded card and a net loss.
The real challenge is that cards graded as PSA 5 have already been examined by professional graders. Resubmission doesn’t change the card itself—it’s the same physical object with the same flaws. Unless the original grading was genuinely inconsistent with PSA’s standards, or you’ve cleaned or repaired the card (which would be grading fraud), a second submission is unlikely to produce a different result. The grading companies have become increasingly consistent with their standards, meaning the odds of a favorable reevaluation are low, and the financial risk-to-reward ratio makes regrading a PSA 5 Alakazam a decision that requires careful thought.
Table of Contents
- What Does a PSA 5 Grade Actually Tell You About Your Alakazam?
- The Economics of Regrading: Cost vs. Potential Gain
- Grading Consistency and the Unlikelihood of Improvement
- When Regrading Might Make Sense (and When It Doesn’t for PSA 5)
- Risk Factors and Downside Scenarios
- Market Timing and the Alakazam Factor
- The Psychological Factor and Collector Decision-Making
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Does a PSA 5 Grade Actually Tell You About Your Alakazam?
A PSA 5 (“Good”) indicates a card that has seen moderate to heavy play or storage. The card shows obvious wear across multiple areas: corner rounding, edge wear visible to the naked eye, possible creases or folds, and surface wear that affects both front and back. For Alakazam specifically, the centering is often noticeably off, which is a major grading factor. The card is still presentable—it’s not in terrible condition—but it’s far from the “near mint” or “mint” threshold that commands premium prices. What makes a PSA 5 Alakazam difficult to upgrade is that these grading points are cumulative.
A card doesn’t go from PSA 5 to PSA 6 because one small area improved; it requires the overall condition to be significantly better. If your Alakazam has a visible crease, even slight corner wear on all four edges, and off-center printing, it’s unlikely to improve without restoration. Restoration, of course, violates PSA’s authentication standards and is considered grading fraud. A real-world example: a Base Set Alakazam showing play from the 1990s—slight creases in the lower left corner, wear on the top edge, and centering that’s off by 20 percent—would receive a PSA 5. That same card wouldn’t become a PSA 6 just from sitting in a sleeve; the physical damage is permanent. This is why regrading speculation doesn’t work: the card’s condition is fixed, and professional graders are trained to be consistent.
The Economics of Regrading: Cost vs. Potential Gain
The financial case against regrading a PSA 5 Alakazam is straightforward. A standard grading submission from PSA costs between $20 and $100, depending on turnaround time. Faster turnarounds command premium prices. Even if your card moves from PSA 5 to PSA 6, the value increase is modest—typically $25 to $50 for common or uncommon Alakazam printings. For illustration: a PSA 5 Alakazam from Base Set might sell for $150 to $300, depending on the specific edition and market conditions. A PSA 6 of the same card might fetch $200 to $400.
That’s a potential gain of $50 to $100, but after paying for regrading, you’re looking at a net gain of only $0 to $80, assuming the card actually improves. If it doesn’t, you’ve paid $20 to $100 for no return and now have a double-graded card that’s harder to sell. Double-graded cards—cards submitted and graded twice—often sell at a discount because collectors see them as speculative failures. The limitation is that this equation gets worse with lower-value cards. A PSA 5 Alakazam from a modern set or later printing might only be worth $30 to $80. Regrading costs would consume most of any potential gain. This is why regrading makes sense only for high-value cards where a single grade jump could mean hundreds of dollars—not for mid-range cards like a PSA 5 Alakazam.
Grading Consistency and the Unlikelihood of Improvement
PSA has refined its grading standards over decades and now employs highly trained, consistent graders. This consistency is actually a reason *not* to regrade. If your Alakazam came back as a PSA 5, it’s unlikely to be bumped up by a different grader from the same company. PSA’s own data shows that resubmitted cards are graded within one point of their original grade in the vast majority of cases. The card that comes back as a PSA 5 in 2024 or 2025 has been evaluated by graders familiar with current standards.
Those standards don’t shift dramatically year to year. If anything, modern grading has become *stricter*, not more lenient, as companies try to maintain investment-grade consistency. A Alakazam that received a PSA 5 today is unlikely to receive a PSA 6 tomorrow, even if regraded. One specific example illustrates this: Alakazam cards from the Base Set are heavily represented in PSA’s database, meaning graders see them constantly and have established consistent thresholds. A moderately worn Base Set Alakazam graded PSA 5 is unlikely to surprise a newer grader into upgrading it. The centering, corner wear, and surface conditions are already documented in the original slab, and those photos are available to future evaluators.
When Regrading Might Make Sense (and When It Doesn’t for PSA 5)
Regrading can be rational in specific scenarios: when you’ve had a card professionally restored and want a fresh assessment, when a card was initially graded under older standards and newer standards might be more favorable, or when the market price has climbed significantly enough to justify the regrading cost. However, none of these scenarios apply neatly to a PSA 5 Alakazam. Restoration is off the table for obvious reasons. Modern standards aren’t significantly more lenient than recent standards, especially for a card already graded recently. And while Alakazam is a popular card, the market for PSA 5 copies isn’t volatile enough to justify speculative regrading.
A PSA 6 isn’t suddenly in high demand while PSA 5s languish; the market absorbs both grades at expected price points. The comparison to regrading a PSA 4 or PSA 3 is instructive: those grades are further from PSA 6 and above, so the percentage gain in value is larger. A PSA 3 to PSA 4 jump might be worth pursuing if the card is valuable enough. But a PSA 5 is already in the “middle of the road” grade—the jump to PSA 6 is smaller in both monetary terms and as a percentage of value. The regrading cost relative to the potential gain is simply less favorable.
Risk Factors and Downside Scenarios
Regrading a PSA 5 Alakazam exposes you to several risks beyond just the grading cost. First, the card could come back as the same PSA 5, locking you into a double-graded card. Collectors actively avoid double-graded slabs because they signal that someone has already tried to upgrade the card and failed. A double-graded PSA 5 might actually sell for *less* than a single-graded PSA 5 of the same physical card. Second, there’s the small but real risk that the card could be downgraded. This is uncommon, but it happens.
Regrading occasionally surfaces issues that the original grader missed or that were less obvious at the time. A card could return as a PSA 4, which would significantly damage its value. This risk increases if your card is near the boundary between grades—on the borderline between PSA 5 and PSA 4 material. Third, regrading ties up your capital and your card. While the card is in transit and being regraded, it’s not generating any return and can’t be sold. For high-value cards, this opportunity cost matters. For a PSA 5 Alakazam worth $150 to $300, the opportunity cost is minor, but it’s still a consideration if you could be selling the card instead.
Market Timing and the Alakazam Factor
Alakazam is a popular, recognizable Pokémon, but its card market has specific dynamics. Base Set Alakazam is sought after, but the market is mature and well-supplied with all grades. There’s no shortage of PSA 5 copies, which means upgrading yours doesn’t address any scarcity or demand issue. Regrading makes more sense for cards where a single higher grade is rare—a card where PSA 6 copies are scarce and command a premium over PSA 5s.
For Alakazam, the premium for a grade jump is modest and steady, not volatile. This means there’s no advantage to timing the regrading—waiting for the market to “heat up” won’t improve the risk-reward profile. The card’s condition is fixed, the market is stable, and the potential gain is marginal. A PSA 5 Alakazam graded today is likely to be worth roughly what it will be worth in six months, so there’s no incentive to hold and regrading later.
The Psychological Factor and Collector Decision-Making
Regrading often reflects a collector’s frustration with their current grade rather than a rational financial decision. If you’re unhappy with a PSA 5, the instinct is to try again, hoping for better luck. This “one more try” mindset can lead to chasing losses. The $50 you spend regrading a PSA 5 Alakazam isn’t a small amount if you’re a casual collector, and the low probability of improvement makes it poor risk management.
The better approach is to accept the PSA 5 as a snapshot of your card’s condition and plan accordingly. If the card matters to your collection, keep it and enjoy it. If the value concerns you, consider selling it and upgrading to a PSA 6 or higher by purchasing a different example. Buying a PSA 6 outright is often cheaper and faster than the regrading gamble, especially when you factor in the risk of receiving the same PSA 5 back.
Conclusion
Regrading a PSA 5 Alakazam makes little financial sense in most scenarios. The cost of regrading ($20 to $100) competes directly with the potential value gain ($25 to $50), leaving you with a poor risk-reward ratio. Professional graders are consistent, meaning the card that received a PSA 5 is unlikely to be upgraded by a second evaluation. The physical card hasn’t changed—its flaws are permanent and documented—so regrading is speculation without a strong foundation.
Before regrading, ask yourself: Is the potential gain of $50 to $100 worth the $20 to $100 cost and the risk of a double-graded card or downgrade? For most PSA 5 Alakazams, the answer is no. If you want a higher grade, save the regrading costs and purchase a PSA 6 example outright. If you’re attached to your current Alakazam, keep it and enjoy it as part of your collection. Regrading makes sense for high-value cards where a single grade jump is worth hundreds—not for mid-range cards like a PSA 5 Alakazam, where the math simply doesn’t work in your favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PSA 5 Alakazam ever become a PSA 6 with regrading?
It’s possible but unlikely. The card’s condition is fixed, and professional graders are consistent. Most resubmitted cards come back within one point of their original grade. Unless the initial grading was genuinely inconsistent, expect the card to return as a PSA 5.
What’s the value difference between a PSA 5 and PSA 6 Alakazam?
Typically $25 to $100, depending on the specific printing and edition. Base Set first edition commands the largest spreads, while later printings have smaller gaps. This difference usually doesn’t justify regrading costs.
Will a double-graded card hurt my selling chances?
Yes. Collectors see double-graded cards as unsuccessful regrading attempts and often price them at a discount. A PSA 5 that’s been resubmitted may sell for less than a single-graded PSA 5 of the same condition.
Should I regradeonly if my Alakazam was professionally restored?
Even then, proceed cautiously. Restoration violates PSA’s standards and can be detected during regrading, resulting in a holder that indicates the card has been altered. If your card has been restored, selling it as-is without regrading is often the better choice.
Is there ever a good time to regrade a PSA 5?
Regrading makes sense when the target grade represents a significant value jump (hundreds of dollars) and the card is borderline between grades. For a PSA 5 Alakazam, neither condition typically applies, so regrading is rarely justified.
