Skull Archfiend of Lightning [1st Edition] #DCR-073

Skull Archfiend of Lightning [1st Edition] #DCR-073 collector guide

About Skull Archfiend of Lightning

Skull Archfiend of Lightning is an Effect Monster, printed as DCR-073 in Dark Crisis (2003) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 6 DARK Fiend monster with 2,500 ATK and 1,200 DEF. At its Level it needs one Tribute to Normal Summon. Its ATK is the 6th 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 5th 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

Fiends are one of the largest Types in the game, home to many of its darker and more unusual designs. In play, it is a card for negating cards and effects, destroying cards and luck, with a coin toss or a dice roll.

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-073. The code DCR-073, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as DCR-E073, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Dark Crisis has one other printing of Skull Archfiend of Lightning: DCR-073 (€7.39). 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 €26.75, a PSA 9 for €75.79 and a PSA 10 for €577.80. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 120%, and up 20% in the last month. The current price is its high point on our records. PSA 10 copies have moved up 149% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 3.6× the Unlimited printing (€26.75 against €7.39).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 21.6× the ungraded price and 7.6× 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: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 120% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (90 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 €26.75 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €75.79. Ask the seller to show the code DCR-073, the "1st Edition" text and the Ultra 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.