The Collector’s Dex
The collector’s dream
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Graded Pokémon cards: ACE and PSA

A graded Pokémon card is presented in a protective holder with a label recording the grading company’s assessment. At The Collector’s Dex, the card’s identity, certificate and photographs are central to each graded listing. They help you choose a specific slab rather than relying on the grade alone.

Start with the card, then read the grade

Match the card name, set, language and collector number to the card you want. Preserve suffixes such as VSTAR, VMAX, GX and ex when comparing listings. Similar artwork can appear in different releases, and an English card and its Japanese counterpart should not be treated as the same printing.

The label also records a numerical grade and a grade description. Use the grading company’s own wording. An ACE Gem Mint label and a PSA GEM MT label belong to their respective grading systems; the same number does not establish that two companies apply identical standards.

Front of Mewtwo VSTAR GG44/GG70 Crown Zenith in its ACE 10 Gem Mint slab, certificate 1469949. ACE · Mewtwo VSTAR
Front of Pikachu 127/414 Start Deck 100 in its PSA 10 GEM MT slab, certificate 160806679. PSA · Pikachu
Two grading labels to compare: ACE certificate 1469949 and PSA certificate 160806679. Read the card details and the grader’s own grade wording on each. Select a photograph for a closer look.

Check the certificate number

Compare the number in the listing with the number visible on the slab. Follow the certificate link and check the card details against the photographs. If any detail differs, ask for clarification before choosing the card.

For the grader’s own information, use ACE certificate lookup or PSA certificate verification. A certificate lookup is one part of checking a listing; it should be considered alongside the photographs and the seller’s description.

Read the available subgrades

Where ACE subgrades are recorded, look at Surface, Centring, Edges and Corners individually. An overall grade of 10 does not mean that each subgrade is 10. If a grader or certificate does not provide subgrades, a listing should not fill in those gaps.

Look at the plastic holder too

The card grade is not a separate condition assessment of its plastic case. Examine the front and back photographs for the holder’s appearance, including any disclosed marks, scratches, chips or cracks. Reflections can make a photograph ambiguous, so request another angle if needed.

Choosing a slab

Consider the artwork, language, grade, holder appearance and asking price together. An ungraded card described as Mint is not a promise of a particular grading result, and a graded card is not a guarantee of a future upgrade or return.

Browse the current card collection. For ungraded cards, read our condition guide, or return to the collecting guides.