Top 5 Scarlet & Violet Pokémon Cards to Grade in 2026

Since the release of the Scarlet & Violet era, the Pokémon TCG has experienced a renaissance. The franchise had steady momentum during the Sword & Shield era, but Scarlet & Violet reignited global interest with stunning art, innovative mechanics, and a wave of nostalgia, especially with the return of Gen I favorites in sets like Pokémon 151.

But with popularity comes scarcity. Finding sealed product has become increasingly difficult, and prices for raw (ungraded) cards have skyrocketed. In this climate, card grading has evolved from a niche hobby into a serious investment strategy, and if you're smart about it, grading can yield massive returns, especially when you know which cards to target.

GradingHunt is a simple tool that lets you scan for the best Pokémon cards to grade across the modern era (XY, S&M, SW&SH, S&V). My tool scans thousands of data points to gauge the most accurate up-to-date prices across trusted sources like eBay and TCGPlayer. The goal is to help graders buy low, grade smart, and sell high.

In this guide, I'm breaking down the Top 5 Scarlet & Violet-era Pokémon cards that offer the highest return on grading, based on one key metric: PSA 10 value relative to raw price. Grade whichever card lights up your heart, of course, but this list sticks to the investment angle: finding the PSA 10s that actually pay off.

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Why Scarlet & Violet Cards Are Great for Grading

Before the list, it's worth covering why the Scarlet & Violet era is such a strong opportunity for graders.

1. High Pull Rates, Lower Rarity Barriers

Unlike earlier sets like Evolving Skies, where pulling a single Alt-Art VMAX could take over 300 packs, Scarlet & Violet sets offer much better odds. In Destined Rivals, for example, the chance of pulling a Special Illustration Rare (SIR) is 1 in 93 packs, a massive improvement over the Sword & Shield era, according to TCGPlayer.

More pulls means more grading candidates.

2. Print Quality Issues = Higher Grading Premiums

The upside comes down to print quality, oddly enough. Many SIRs and Illustration Rares from SV have print defects (micro-scratches, ink smudges, edge flaws) because of the full-art, high-detail designs, and that makes PSA 10s genuinely rare.

When a card is hard to grade but highly desirable, the PSA 10 version commands a serious premium. That's where the ROI comes in.

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The Top 5 Scarlet & Violet Cards to Grade in 2026

All data below is current as of Q2 2026, based on PSA 10 sales history and raw card market values.

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1. Tarountula #199/198 – Scarlet & Violet (SV1)

Raw Price: $6.47
PSA 10 Price: $413.27
Return on Grading: +1,327%

A $6 card can turn into a $413+ graded gem. Yes, really.

Tarountula is one of the most underrated success stories in grading. Despite featuring a lesser-known Pokémon, its full-art Illustration Rare design is plagued by print lines and surface imperfections. Most copies show visible flaws under bright light, which keeps PSA 10s scarce.

Reddit communities like r/PokemonTCG have documented this issue extensively, including this thread showing common print defects. A clean copy is a genuine find.

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2. Dolliv #200/198 – Scarlet & Violet (SV1)

Raw Price $6.47
PSA 10 Price $413.27
Return on Grading +1,327%

Identical stats to Tarountula, and for good reason. Dolliv shares the same Illustration Rare template, print batch, and quality control issues, so it's just as hard to find in PSA 10 condition.

There's a dual opportunity here too. Open a SV base set pack and pull either Tarountula or Dolliv, and you've hit a potential grading win. Two cards, same risk, same upside.

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3. Koraidon #14/102 – Pokémon Center Black Star Promo

Raw Price $53.95
PSA 10 Price $699.99
Return on Grading: +816%

Promo cards are often overlooked in grading strategies, but this Pokémon Center-exclusive Koraidon is an exception. With its bold metallic finish and exclusive artwork, it's a favorite among collectors.

The foil texture and soft edges make it prone to dings and scratches, though, so PSA 10s stay rare while demand remains strong. At nearly $700 for a PSA 10, this is one of the most consistent high-value promos to grade.

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4. Mew ex #151/156 – Pokémon 151 (SV3)

Raw Price: $8.18
PSA 10 Price: $253.00
Return on Grading: +725%

The Pokémon 151 set was a love letter to fans, and Mew ex was its crown jewel. With its nostalgic design, the card sells itself to longtime collectors.

Despite being a high pull, centering and surface quality are inconsistent. Many copies have off-center borders or micro-abrasions from packaging, so a true PSA 10 is a standout, and it sells fast.

This card also benefits from emotional value. Mew is legendary, and the Gen I revival gave it a second wind in popularity. Read more about Mew

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5. Armarouge #203/198 – Scarlet & Violet (SV1)

Raw Price: $11.19
PSA 10 Price: $277.43
Return on Grading: +723%

Armarouge might not be a household name, but its fiery full-art design is stunning, and notoriously hard to print cleanly. The red gradients often show clouding or ink pooling, and the metallic foil scratches easily. A common theme in the Scarlet & Violet base set, eh.

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Honorable Mention: Magikarp #203/193 – Paldea Evolved (SV2)

Raw Price: $239.59
PSA 10 Price: $1,800
Return on Grading: +587%

Everybody loves Magikarp, such a funny little character from the Pokémon anime, and it's wild that he has a card doing numbers like this.

Yes, the raw price is high, but so is the ceiling. It's one of the most visually striking cards in the entire SV era, and while I think it's a bit overhyped, that visual appeal alone makes it worth holding.

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Are Scarlet & Violet Cards Better to Grade Than Sword & Shield?

Short answer: Yes.

Here's why:

• Better pull rates mean more opportunities to find grading candidates.
• Worse print quality (ironically) means higher premiums for PSA 10s.
• Higher collector demand due to modern art styles and nostalgia plays.
• More accessible entry points, many SV grading targets cost under $10 raw.

Compare that to Evolving Skies, where pulling a specific Alt-Art VMAX like Moonbreon could take nearly 2,000 packs, according to a Reddit analysis of 8,000 packs. The odds were brutal, and the market is now saturated with graded copies.

SV-era cards, on the other hand, are still in the sweet spot: high demand, limited supply of PSA 10s, and strong growth potential.

Which Scarlet & Violet Era Sets Are Best for Grading?

"Best set" often comes down to personal taste (art style, nostalgia, favorite Pokémon), but not every set is created equal when it comes to grading potential.

From a profitability standpoint, the most rewarding Scarlet & Violet sets tend to share these traits:

• High chase appeal (Gen I throwbacks, ultra-rare art variants)
• Full-art Illustration Rares with known print defects
• Strong long-term demand from collectors

For more on aesthetics, rarity, and collector appeal, I recommend PokeOz's detailed ranking of every SV set, from worst to best. He breaks down art direction, pull rates, and standout cards in a way that's both informative and fun.

But the "best" set for you might not be the one with the prettiest art. It might be the one where a $6 card turns into a $400 slab.

Use GradingHunt, a completely free tool, to track which sets are producing the most high-value PSA 10s, so you don't have to guess. Signup here