How PSA and BGS Influence Impidimp Card Prices Today

In TCG ·

Impidimp card art from Rebel Clash by Kouki Saitou

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Grading, Confidence, and the Market: Impidimp Prices Under PSA and BGS Scrutiny

Every collector dreams of a master set, a shelf that shines with pristine cards and well-graded slabs. When a humble common like Impidimp from the Rebel Clash era enters the conversation, it’s a perfect case study for how grading can nudge prices, even for cards that most players encountered as a quick slam on the table. Impidimp, a Basic Darkness Pokémon with 70 HP, embodies the tension between accessibility and prestige. Its simple beats—Beat for 10, Stampede for 20—paired with a modest Grass-type weakness and a single retreat cost of one, make it a creature that’s easy to pick up, but not so easy to price with confidence without considering grading dynamics. ⚡

In the world of the Pokémon TCG market, PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) and BGS (Beckett Grading Services) act as trust signals. A PSA or BGS grade doesn't just reflect physical condition; it acts as a marketing stamp that informs buyers about centering, edge wear, surface gloss, and even corner sharpness. For Impidimp—an officially common rarity in swsh2, Rebel Clash—grading can yield a modest premium, particularly if a copy lands a high grade. Yet the economics of grading common cards tell a nuanced story: the return on grading a non-rare, paper-thin copy is different from a sought-after holo or rare. Still, for completionists and focus collectors, a high-graded Impidimp can stand out in a binder, a conversation piece that says, “this set is complete, even in its most unassuming forms.” 🎴

To ground this discussion, it helps to know the card’s basics. Impidimp in swsh2 is a Darkness-type Basic Pokémon with 70 HP, illustrated by Kouki Saitou. It bears two modest attacks: Beat (Darkness) for 10 damage and Stampede (Darkness plus a Colorless) for 20. Its vulnerability to Grass-type attacks—x2—adds a little risk when players rely on grass-rich matchups, and it has a retreat cost of 1. This card appears in the Rebel Clash set as swsh2-123, with rarity listed as Common. The level of popularity for common cards in graded form often hinges on whether a collector prize is attached to the grade and whether the edition is forward-looking for a family collection. The legality note is also relevant: while this Impidimp is expanded-legal, it isn’t standard-legal in some rotations, which can influence demand depending on a player’s format preference. 🔎

Impidimp at a glance

  • Name/ID: Impidimp (swsh2-123)
  • Set: Rebel Clash (swsh2)
  • Rarity: Common
  • Stage: Basic
  • HP: 70
  • Type: Darkness
  • Illustrator: Kouki Saitou
  • Attacks: Beat (Darkness) 10; Stampede (Darkness, Colorless) 20
  • Weakness: Grass ×2
  • Retreat: 1
  • Evolution: Basic (no evolution)
  • Legal: Expanded legal, not standard

The pricing snapshot for Impidimp paints a picture of the market’s baseline: CardMarket shows an official avg around €0.06 with a low around €0.02 and a gentle uptrend around €0.04, illustrating how common cards drift in a narrow corridor. On the US side, TCGplayer data reflects a broader spread for non-holo versions: a low around $0.01, mid around $0.11, and high near $4.99 for exceptional cases—often tied to special listings or near-mint copies in good conditions. The presence of holo or reverse-holo variants can push the price higher, with reverse-holo listings often claiming a market price around $0.20 and highs near $4.99 when graded or exceptionally centered. These numbers shape the baseline expectations for a grading decision on a card like Impidimp. 💎

“Grading isn’t a magic wand; it’s a signal. A PSA 9 or a BGS 9.5 tells the market the card has been handled with care, but the real driver of value is demand for the format, the edition, and the story the card tells in a binder.”

So how exactly do PSA and BGS influence Impidimp prices today? For a card with common rarity and modest damage thresholds, the premium for a high-grade copy tends to be smaller than for chase rares. PSA’s widely recognized scale and consistent curation of centering and surface condition can unlock a modest uplift when buyers are seeking “sealed‑in‑box” confidence and standardized presentation. BGS, with its subgrades and the reputation of a clear slab label, can yield a similar uplift, particularly when the subgrades point to exceptional corners and pristine surface. Still, the ROI for grading a non-foil common is typically conservative: many players and collectors place tighter budgets on non-holo commons, so the premium often translates into a matter of taste, not necessity. The trade-off becomes potential long-term appreciation versus the immediate grading cost. ⚡🔥

For Impidimp, the value proposition is accentuated by the card’s place in the Rebel Clash set, and the collector’s appetite for a complete collection. The fact that it’s not Standard-legal in some rotations can influence who buys graded copies; Expanded formats keep it relevant for a subset of players and collectors who are chasing older or off-trend cards. The artist’s contribution—Kouki Saitou—also adds an aesthetic appeal that some buyers will weigh when considering a graded slab. Art, rarity, and presentation all combine to influence price in a way that grading alone cannot guarantee. 🎨

Market snapshot and takeaways for collectors

  • Common Impidimp swsh2-123 remains affordable in raw form, with CardMarket and TCGplayer data signaling a low barrier to entry.
  • Grading can add a modest premium, especially if a copy attains a high grade (PSA 9/10 or BGS 9.5/10) and the card is preserved in a near-flawless condition.
  • Format legality matters: Expanded-legal copies may receive more attention from older-set collectors than Standard-only players.
  • Art and edition context matter: Kouki Saitou’s depiction and Rebel Clash’s place in the history of the TCG contribute to the narrative value of even common cards.
  • For budget-conscious collectors, a non-graded Impidimp may deliver the best ROI, while a well-graded copy can serve as a long-term collection anchor for completists.

If you’re weighing whether to grade a copy of Impidimp, consider your collecting goals, budget, and the likelihood that the card’s story will resonate with future buyers. The small, deliberate steps—secure centering, crisp edges, and a pristine surface—can push a humble common into the stratosphere of “nice to have” in a binder, especially when paired with PSA or BGS authentication. And if you’re shopping around for tactile gear that makes the hobby even more enjoyable, the Neon Gaming Mouse Pad you’ll find linked below is a delightful reminder that even the smallest accessories can elevate your gaming and collecting setup. 🚀

Neon Gaming Mouse Pad 9x7 Custom Neoprene Stitched Edges

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