Lava Golem [Ultimate Rare] #RA01-EN001

Lava Golem [Ultimate Rare] #RA01-EN001 collector guide

About Lava Golem

Lava Golem is an Effect Monster, printed as RA01-EN001 in 25th Anniversary Rarity Collection (2023) as an Ultimate Rare. It is a Level 8 FIRE Fiend monster with 3,000 ATK and 2,500 DEF. Its ATK is the 2nd highest of the 49 monsters in the set. 25th Anniversary Rarity Collection marked the game's 25th anniversary in 2023 by reprinting popular cards, each in several rarities up to the Quarter Century Secret Rare. Ungraded, this printing ranks 157th of the 587 25th Anniversary Rarity Collection cards we track. The top card is Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion at €51.83.

Character and collecting appeal

Fiends are one of the largest Types in the game, home to many of its darker and more unusual designs. Its text is about Special Summoning. It cannot be Normal Summoned, so it has to be brought out by its own conditions.

Version and identification

Check the code printed below the artwork on the right: it should read RA01-EN001. RA01-EN001 is the English printing. Other languages use their own letters in place of EN, such as DE or FR, and are priced separately. It is the Ultimate Rare version. Ultimate Rares have embossed artwork, borders and card name. 25th Anniversary Rarity Collection has 6 other printings of Lava Golem: RA01-EN001 Collector's Rare (€4.63), RA01-EN001 Platinum Secret Rare (€6.51), RA01-EN001 Quarter Century Secret Rare (€26.09), RA01-EN001 Secret Rare (€3.51), RA01-EN001 Super Rare (€1.78) and RA01-EN001 Ultra Rare (€2.53). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Pharaonic Guardian, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €3.79, a PSA 9 for €16.05 and a PSA 10 for €47.43. Our monthly prices for it go back to November 2023. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 5%, and down 19% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €5.07 in December 2023, 25% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 5% over the same 12 months. Of the 9 printings of Lava Golem we track, this one ranks 6th by ungraded value. The most valuable is Pharaonic Guardian PGD-107 1st Edition at €26.67.

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 12.5× the ungraded price and 3× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. Even pack-fresh modern cards can have surface scratches or curling foil, so a 10 is never guaranteed.

Investment potential

In its favour: an active market (26 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: large modern print runs, which tend to cap prices unless a card becomes iconic; reprints in another set, which keep playable copies easy to find. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €3.79 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €16.05. Ask the seller to show the code RA01-EN001 and the Ultimate Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. Modern foils can be scratched or curled straight from the pack, so check the surface under a light if you plan to grade.

Card details and image from YGOPRODeck. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a trademark of Konami; Search Cards is not affiliated with Konami.