Nin-Ken Dog [1st Edition] #DCR-002

Nin-Ken Dog [1st Edition] #DCR-002 collector guide

About Nin-Ken Dog

Nin-Ken Dog is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as DCR-002 in Dark Crisis (2003) as a Common. It is a Level 4 WIND Beast-Warrior monster with 1,800 ATK and 1,000 DEF. Dark Crisis closed out 2003 with cards such as Exodia Necross, Vampire Lord and Skull Archfiend of Lightning. Ungraded, this printing ranks 189th of the 216 Dark Crisis cards we track. The top card is Contract with the Abyss at €53.55.

Character and collecting appeal

Beast-Warriors mix animal and warrior designs and have been part of the game since the first sets. As a Normal Monster it is collected for its artwork and its spot in the set rather than for play.

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-002. The code DCR-002, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as DCR-E002, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Dark Crisis has one other printing of Nin-Ken Dog: DCR-002 (€0.19). 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 €0.20, a PSA 9 for €18.00 and a PSA 10 for €36.71. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 83%, and down 9% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €2.26 in May 2024, 91% above today. 1st Edition copies sell for about 1.1× the Unlimited printing (€0.20 against €0.19).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 183.5× the ungraded price and 2× 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 May 2024 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 (26 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 83% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.20 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €18.00. Ask the seller to show the code DCR-002, the "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.