Invader of Darkness [1st Edition] #IOC-111

Invader of Darkness [1st Edition] #IOC-111 collector guide

About Invader of Darkness

Invader of Darkness is an Effect Monster, printed as IOC-111 in Invasion of Chaos (2004) as a Secret Rare. It is a Level 8 DARK Fiend monster with 2,900 ATK and 2,500 DEF. At its Level it needs two Tributes to Normal Summon. Its ATK is the 3rd 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 9th 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

Fiends are one of the largest Types in the game, home to many of its darker and more unusual designs.

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-111. The code IOC-111, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as IOC-E111, and are priced separately. It is the Secret Rare version. Secret Rares have a rainbow-foil name and diagonal holographic artwork. Invasion of Chaos has one other printing of Invader of Darkness: IOC-111 (€1.37). 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 €15.37, a PSA 9 for €80.82 and a PSA 10 for €396.02. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 57%, and up 9% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €17.83 in October 2021, 14% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 25% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 11.2× the Unlimited printing (€15.37 against €1.37).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 25.8× 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. 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 57% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (93 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 €15.37 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €80.82. Ask the seller to show the code IOC-111, 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 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.