Are Pokémon Promo Cards Worth Grading?

Promo cards get overlooked. They come free with tins, boxes, special products, and events. People assume they're worth less than pack-pulled cards. That's not always true, especially when it comes to grading.

What Counts as a Promo Card?

Promo cards are any cards distributed outside of regular booster packs. This includes tin promos, box set promos, prerelease cards, tournament prizes, magazine inserts, and special event giveaways. They're marked with a "PROMO" stamp or a black star symbol instead of a set number.

Which Promos Are Actually Worth Grading?

Not all promos are created equal. The best grading candidates share a few traits: limited distribution, popular Pokémon, and strong artwork.

Ultra Premium Collection promos are excellent grading candidates. The metal Charizard and Pikachu cards from recent UPC releases command serious prices in graded condition. Raw copies trade for £80 to £120. A graded 10 can push past £250.

Prerelease stamped cards have collector appeal because they were only available at specific events. The quantities are much lower than regular set cards. A prerelease stamp on a desirable card adds genuine scarcity.

Vintage WOTC promos like the original movie promo Mewtwo, Ancient Mew, and the Pikachu birthday promo all grade well and carry decent premiums in high grades.

Japanese exclusive promos that never got an English release attract niche collectors willing to pay premiums for graded copies.

Promos to Skip

Standard tin promos from recent sets usually aren't worth grading. They're printed in massive quantities, the artwork is often the same as the set version, and the graded premium is minimal. A Pikachu V promo from a holiday tin isn't going to see a meaningful price jump from grading.

Condition Advantage

Here's something interesting about promos: they often come in better condition than pack-pulled cards. Cards from tins and boxes are typically protected by packaging and haven't been shuffled through a stack of other cards. This means a higher percentage of promos can achieve 9s and 10s compared to pack pulls, where surface damage from adjacent cards is common.