Dark Magician of Chaos [1st Edition] #IOC-065

Dark Magician of Chaos [1st Edition] #IOC-065 collector guide

About Dark Magician of Chaos

Dark Magician of Chaos is an Effect Monster, printed as IOC-065 in Invasion of Chaos (2004) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 8 DARK Spellcaster monster with 2,800 ATK and 2,600 DEF. At its Level it needs two Tributes to Normal Summon. Its ATK is the 4th highest of the 67 monsters in the set. Invasion of Chaos, released in 2004, brought Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End and Dark Magician of Chaos. The Envoys went on to dominate competitive play, which makes it one of the most important sets of the early game. Ungraded, this printing ranks 3rd of the 224 Invasion of Chaos cards we track, one of the chase cards of the set. The top card is Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning at €143.91.

Character and collecting appeal

Dark Magician of Chaos was one of the chase cards of Invasion of Chaos: a stronger Dark Magician that brings back a Spell Card from the Graveyard when it is summoned. Its effect centres on banishing cards, Special Summoning and destroying cards. Its once-per-turn limits are typical of modern card design. Dedication through Light and Darkness mentions Dark Magician of Chaos in its text, which keeps it relevant.

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 IOC-065. The code IOC-065, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as IOC-E065, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Invasion of Chaos has one other printing of Dark Magician of Chaos: IOC-065 (€32.89). 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 €111.46, a PSA 9 for €650.19 and a PSA 10 for €4,538. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 69%, and down 1% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €189.17 in February 2022, 41% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 130% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Dark Magician of Chaos we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Quarter Century Bonanza RA03-EN134 Platinum Secret Rare at €8.92. 1st Edition copies sell for about 3.4× the Unlimited printing (€111.46 against €32.89).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 40.7× the ungraded price and 7× 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 69% in a year; a price well below its February 2022 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; lasting fame from the anime or the competitive game; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors; an active market (159 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €111.46 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €650.19. Ask the seller to show the code IOC-065, 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 2004 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.