Des Feral Imp [1st Edition] #DCR-014

Des Feral Imp [1st Edition] #DCR-014 collector guide

About Des Feral Imp

Des Feral Imp is a Flip Effect Monster, whose effect happens when it is flipped face-up, printed as DCR-014 in Dark Crisis (2003) as a Rare. It is a Level 4 DARK Reptile monster with 1,600 ATK and 1,800 DEF. Dark Crisis closed out 2003 with cards such as Exodia Necross, Vampire Lord and Skull Archfiend of Lightning. Ungraded, this printing ranks 113th of the 216 Dark Crisis cards we track. The top card is Contract with the Abyss at €53.55.

Character and collecting appeal

Reptiles are a small Type that has grown with modern archetypes.

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-014. The code DCR-014, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as DCR-E014, and are priced separately. It is the Rare version. Rares have a silver-foil name and plain artwork. Dark Crisis has one other printing of Des Feral Imp: DCR-014 (€0.73). 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 €0.66, a PSA 9 for €12.48 and a PSA 10 for €56.21. Our monthly prices for it go back to November 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 62%, and flat in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €3.57 in November 2021, 82% above today. Unusually, Unlimited copies currently sell for as much as or more than 1st Edition ones (€0.73 against €0.66).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 85.2× the ungraded price and 4.5× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. 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: a price well below its November 2021 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (27 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 62% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.66 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €12.48. Ask the seller to show the code DCR-014, the "1st Edition" text and the Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. 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.