Grading is not a decision to make for every card you pull, but Timeless Bonds' scarcest tiers, 2 Secret Rare and 3 Ultimate Rare card types across the entire 108-card base list, are exactly the kind of cards where a grading submission is worth serious consideration.
General grading guidance applies broadly across trading card games, but the specific math changes when a set's rarest tier only includes 2 or 3 card types total, since that scarcity affects how a graded population is likely to develop over time.
This guide focuses specifically on the grading decision for Timeless Bonds' top two rarity tiers, rather than covering the broader grading process from scratch.
Here is how to think through whether a specific SEC or UR pull is worth submitting.
With only 2 Secret Rare and 3 Ultimate Rare card types in the entire set, both tiers are scarce enough that a well-preserved, high-grade copy is likely to stand out clearly within a small overall population once grading services report data.
That contrasts with grading a Common or Uncommon card, where even a perfect grade rarely commands much premium given how many copies of that same card exist across the set's much larger lower-rarity pool.
Before committing to a grading submission, check centering under good light from all four edges, and look closely for print lines, scuffs, or edge whitening that could cap the maximum achievable grade regardless of the card's rarity.
A visibly off-center or damaged SEC or UR pull is rarely worth the submission fee, since grading cost is generally fixed regardless of the resulting grade, meaning a low grade on a scarce card still may not recoup what you paid to submit it.
Because Timeless Bonds is a new release, secondary market pricing for both SEC and UR cards is still developing, which makes it harder to confidently predict whether a graded copy will sell for enough above submission cost to make the process worthwhile this early.
Waiting for initial secondary market pricing and population data to stabilize before submitting can reduce the risk of paying grading fees on a card whose eventual graded value does not clearly exceed what raw, ungraded copies are already selling for.
Because Secret Rare has 2 card types against Ultimate Rare's 3, a SEC pull is marginally scarcer and may attract slightly more grading interest purely on that basis, though both tiers are close enough in scarcity that condition should matter more than which specific tier a card falls into.
Collectors deciding between grading a SEC or UR pull when budget only allows for one submission should prioritize whichever card is in objectively better condition, rather than assuming tier alone should decide the choice.
Grading services can take weeks to months depending on submission tier and current volume, so collectors planning to grade a fresh Timeless Bonds pull should expect a wait before a graded card is back in hand, particularly during the busy period immediately following a popular new set's release.
Planning ahead for that wait, rather than expecting a quick turnaround right after a new set drops, avoids frustration and helps set realistic expectations for when a graded copy will actually be sellable or displayable.
Whether or not you ultimately submit a SEC or UR pull for grading, storing it in a rigid, protective holder from the moment you pull it preserves the option to grade later without risking damage in the meantime.
A dedicated storage box designed for valuable singles keeps candidate cards secure and organized while you gather more secondary market and population data before making a final grading decision.
The set's 2 Secret Rare and 3 Ultimate Rare card types, given their scarcity relative to the full 108-card list.
No, a low grade on a damaged card is unlikely to recoup submission costs.
Waiting for secondary market pricing and population data to develop can reduce financial risk.
Only marginally by scarcity. Condition should matter more than tier when choosing which pull to submit.
Weeks to months depending on the service and submission tier, especially during a new set's release period.
Keep grading candidates protected in EVORETRO's graded card storage box with TSA lock while you weigh your options.
!
