Vampire Lord [1st Edition] #DCR-000

Vampire Lord [1st Edition] #DCR-000 collector guide

About Vampire Lord

Vampire Lord is an Effect Monster, printed as DCR-000 in Dark Crisis (2003) as a Secret Rare. It is a Level 5 DARK Zombie monster with 2,000 ATK and 1,500 DEF. At its Level it needs one Tribute to Normal Summon. Dark Crisis closed out 2003 with cards such as Exodia Necross, Vampire Lord and Skull Archfiend of Lightning. Ungraded, this printing ranks 2nd 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

Zombies are built around the Graveyard, bringing monsters back again and again. In play, it is a card for Special Summoning, destroying cards and dealing damage.

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-000. The code DCR-000, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as DCR-E000, and are priced separately. It is the Secret Rare version. Secret Rares have a rainbow-foil name and diagonal holographic artwork. Dark Crisis has 2 other printings of Vampire Lord: DCR-000 (€10.89) and DCR-000 Misprint (€14.96). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Quarter Century Bonanza, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €51.04, a PSA 9 for €173.12 and a PSA 10 for €901.47. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 65%, and up 11% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €133.75 in October 2021, 62% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 65% over the same 12 months. Of the 5 printings of Vampire Lord we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Quarter Century Bonanza RA03-EN128 Platinum Secret Rare at €1.78. 1st Edition copies sell for about 4.7× the Unlimited printing (€51.04 against €10.89).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 17.7× the ungraded price and 5.2× a PSA 9. That gap is big enough that grading a sharp, well-centred copy can pay for itself. 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: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 65% in a year; a price well below its October 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; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors; an active market (129 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 €51.04 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €173.12. Ask the seller to show the code DCR-000, the "1st Edition" text and the Secret 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.