Hyper Hammerhead [1st Edition] #IOC-074

Hyper Hammerhead [1st Edition] #IOC-074 collector guide

About Hyper Hammerhead

Hyper Hammerhead is an Effect Monster, printed as IOC-074 in Invasion of Chaos (2004) as a Common. It is a Level 4 EARTH Dinosaur monster with 1,500 ATK and 1,200 DEF. 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 45th 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

Dinosaurs are a favourite Type of Rex Raptor in the anime and have had strong modern support. Its text is about destroying cards and returning cards to the hand or Deck.

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-074. The code IOC-074, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as IOC-E074, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Invasion of Chaos has one other printing of Hyper Hammerhead: IOC-074 (€0.16). 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 €1.85, a PSA 9 for €9.26 and a PSA 10 for €107.88. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 19%, and down 2% in the last month. It is trading at or near its highest recorded value. PSA 10 copies have moved up 68% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 11.6× the Unlimited printing (€1.85 against €0.16).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 58.3× the ungraded price and 11.7× 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 19% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (25 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 €1.85 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €9.26. Ask the seller to show the code IOC-074, the "1st Edition" text and the Common 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.