Dark Flare Knight [1st Edition] #DCR-017

Dark Flare Knight [1st Edition] #DCR-017 collector guide

About Dark Flare Knight

Dark Flare Knight is a Fusion Monster, made from its Fusion Materials with a card such as Polymerization, printed as DCR-017 in Dark Crisis (2003) as a Super Rare. It is a Level 6 DARK Warrior monster with 2,200 ATK and 800 DEF. Its ATK is the 10th highest of the 59 monsters in the set. Dark Crisis closed out 2003 with cards such as Exodia Necross, Vampire Lord and Skull Archfiend of Lightning. Ungraded, this printing ranks 10th of the 216 Dark Crisis cards we track, one of the chase cards of the set. The top card is Contract with the Abyss at €53.55.

Character and collecting appeal

Warriors are one of the oldest and largest Types, and have had support in almost every era of the game. Its text is about Special Summoning and destroying cards. Its Fusion Materials include Dark Magician, Flame Swordsman and Mirage Knight. Mirage Knight mentions Dark Flare Knight in its text, which keeps it relevant.

Version and identification

This guide covers the 1st Edition printing. The words "1st Edition" are printed below the artwork on the left; copies without them are the Unlimited printing and usually sell for less. Check the code printed below the artwork on the right: it should read DCR-017. The code DCR-017, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as DCR-E017, and are priced separately. It is the Super Rare version. Super Rares have holographic artwork and a plain name. Dark Crisis has one other printing of Dark Flare Knight: DCR-017 (€6.68). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €14.39, a PSA 9 for €80.25 and a PSA 10 for €311.33. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 9%, and down 3% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €20.78 in January 2026, 31% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 71% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2.2× the Unlimited printing (€14.39 against €6.68).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 21.6× the ungraded price and 3.9× a PSA 9. That gap is big enough that grading a sharp, well-centred copy can pay for itself. Early English Yu-Gi-Oh! cards often have off-centre cuts and wear on the dark brown back borders, which is why high grades are hard to reach.

Investment potential

In its favour: it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (88 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €14.39 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €80.25. Ask the seller to show the code DCR-017, the "1st Edition" text and the Super Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. At this price fakes are worth checking for: genuine cards have a small holographic seal (the Eye of Anubis) in the bottom-right corner, and the font, colours and card back should match a copy you know is genuine. Look up the certificate number of any graded copy on the grading company's website. Cards from 2003 often show white wear on the back edges and corners, so ask for photos of the back before you buy.

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