Guardian Angel Joan [1st Edition] #IOC-087

Guardian Angel Joan [1st Edition] #IOC-087 collector guide

About Guardian Angel Joan

Guardian Angel Joan is an Effect Monster, printed as IOC-087 in Invasion of Chaos (2004) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 7 LIGHT Fairy monster with 2,800 ATK and 2,000 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 15th of the 224 Invasion of Chaos cards we track. The top card is Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning at €143.91.

Character and collecting appeal

Fairies are known for their light, angelic artwork and for cards that protect Life Points. Its text is about destroying cards and gaining Life Points.

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-087. The code IOC-087, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as IOC-E087, 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 Guardian Angel Joan: IOC-087 (€2.45). 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 €8.27, a PSA 9 for €52.47 and a PSA 10 for €255.60. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 31%, and down 4% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €23.10 in December 2021, 64% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved sideways over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 3.4× the Unlimited printing (€8.27 against €2.45).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 30.9× the ungraded price and 4.9× 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: a price well below its December 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; an active market (79 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 31% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €8.27 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €52.47. Ask the seller to show the code IOC-087, the "1st Edition" text and the Ultra Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. 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.