Which Scarlet & Violet Pokémon Cards Are Easiest to Grade? A Data-Driven Analysis for Sellers

Understanding PSA 10 Gem Rate

Before diving into the lists, it's important to understand the key metric: the PSA 10 gem rate. This is simply the percentage of all graded cards from a specific set that received a PSA 10. For example, a 50% gem rate means one out of every two cards submitted from that set comes back as a Gem Mint 10.

Of course, this is an average. Even in a set with a high gem rate, you still have to be vigilant. A single flaw—poor centering, edge whitening, a corner ding, or a surface scratch—is all it takes to get knocked down to a 9.

Top 10 Scarlet & Violet Sets by PSA 10 Gem Rate

Based on current population report data, some sets are clearly coming off the presses cleaner than others. Here are the top performers from the Scarlet & Violet era, ranked by their gem rate.

1. Scarlet & Violet—Promo (2024 Series): 50.1%
2. Twilight Masquerade: 50.0%
3. Paldean Fates: 47.9%
4. Temporal Forces: 47.5%
5. Stellar Crown: 42.1%
6. Paradox Rift: 42.0%
7. Shrouded Fable: 41.2%
8. Scarlet & Violet—Promo (2025 Series): 40.4%
9. Scarlet & Violet—Promo (2023 Series): 39.2%
10. Journey Together: 38.3%

With more than half of all submissions landing a PSA 10, the 2024 series of S&V Promos is statistically the easiest set to grade in the entire era.

A Note on Graded Population

Gem rate isn't the whole story. The total number of cards submitted for grading also provides important context. The 151 set, for example, has been graded far more than any other, with over 400,000 submissions. This volume can suppress the gem rate, which sits lower on the list.

On the other end of the spectrum is a set like Obsidian Flames, which has the lowest gem rate of the era at just 29%. Pulling a PSA 10 from that set is a genuinely difficult achievement.

The Top 10 Easiest Individual Cards to Grade

Looking at individual cards gives us an even clearer picture. The following list filters for cards with at least 100 graded copies to ensure data quality. The gem rates here are incredibly high, showing that great quality control is possible.

1. An unnamed Scarlet & Violet Promo Card: 77.2%
2. Iron Treads ex (S&V Promo): 76.2%
3. Survival Brace (Twilight Masquerade): 70.2%
4. Wugtrio ex (Temporal Forces): 69.0%
5. Crocalor (Shiny, S&V Promo): 68.9%
6. Kirlia (Shiny, Paldean Fates): 68.3%
7. Feraligatr ex (Temporal Forces): 68.0%
8. Dragapult ex (Twilight Masquerade): 67.8%
9. Kingdra ex (Shrouded Fable): 67.7%
10. Feraligatr ex (Temporal Forces): 67.5%

Seeing rates above 70% is wild. It suggests that if you pull one of these specific cards and it looks clean to the naked eye, it has a very strong chance of coming back a 10.

Practical Tips to Increase Your PSA 10 Odds

Beyond picking the right set or card, your handling process is critical. Here are a few non-negotiables.

Check Centering on Both Sides

Don't just eyeball it. A centering tool or ruler is a cheap investment that can save you hundreds in grading fees on cards that were never going to make the cut. Remember to check the back, too.

Sleeve Your Hits Immediately

The journey from pack to sleeve should be as short as possible. Surface scratches are easy to miss until you get the card back from PSA with a 9 and a note.

Ship to PSA in Card Savers, Not Toploaders

This is a direct instruction from PSA. They prefer and recommend submissions in semi-rigid card savers. They're easier for PSA staff to handle safely and are considered the industry standard for submissions.

Final Takeaway: Easy-to-Grade vs. Smart-to-Grade

This analysis focuses on one thing: which cards are easiest to get a PSA 10. It doesn't factor in the card's value or the potential profit from grading. A high gem rate is useful information, but it's not a complete strategy.

Sometimes, the smartest cards to grade are the ones with low gem rates, like from Obsidian Flames. If you can secure a PSA 10 on a popular card that is notoriously hard to grade, its value will reflect that rarity. Use this gem rate data as one tool in your arsenal, not as your only guide.