Guardian Elma #DCR-005

Guardian Elma #DCR-005 collector guide

About Guardian Elma

Guardian Elma is an Effect Monster, printed as DCR-005 in Dark Crisis (2003) as a Common. It is a Level 3 WIND Fairy monster with 1,300 ATK and 1,200 DEF. Dark Crisis closed out 2003 with cards such as Exodia Necross, Vampire Lord and Skull Archfiend of Lightning. Ungraded, this printing ranks 206th of the 216 Dark Crisis cards we track. The top card is Contract with the Abyss at €53.55.

Character and collecting appeal

Fairies are known for their light, angelic artwork and for cards that protect Life Points. Its effect centres on Special Summoning. Its text names Butterfly Dagger - Elma, so collectors often look for them together.

Version and identification

This guide covers the Unlimited printing, without the "1st Edition" text below the artwork. 1st Edition copies of the same card have their own, usually higher, prices. Check the code printed below the artwork on the right: it should read DCR-005. The code DCR-005, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as DCR-E005, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Dark Crisis has one other printing of Guardian Elma: DCR-005 1st Edition (€0.61). 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 €0.27, a PSA 9 for €5.35 and a PSA 10 for €33.92. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 74%, and down 27% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €1.65 in March 2022, 84% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 41% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2.3× the Unlimited printing (€0.61 against €0.27).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 125.6× the ungraded price and 6.3× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. On cards from the early 2000s, the dark brown backs show every scuff and white edge, so top grades are scarce.

Investment potential

In its favour: a price well below its March 2022 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the first years of the English game, which are no longer printed; an active market (25 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 74% in a year. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.27 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €5.35. Ask the seller to show the code DCR-005, the missing "1st Edition" text and the Common 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.