Curse of the Masked Beast [1st Edition] #LON-016

Curse of the Masked Beast [1st Edition] #LON-016 collector guide

About Curse of the Masked Beast

Curse of the Masked Beast is a Ritual Spell Card, printed as LON-016 in Labyrinth of Nightmare (2003) as a Short Print. Labyrinth of Nightmare arrived in early 2003 and is best remembered for Torrential Tribute, Magic Cylinder, Gemini Elf and Dark Necrofear. Ungraded, this printing ranks 234th of the 331 Labyrinth of Nightmare cards we track. The top card is Torrential Tribute at €92.89.

Character and collecting appeal

Its text names The Masked Beast, so collectors often look for them together. The Masked Beast mentions Curse of the Masked Beast 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 LON-016. The code LON-016, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LON-E016, and are priced separately. It is the Short Print version. Short Prints look like Commons but were printed in smaller numbers. Labyrinth of Nightmare has 4 other printings of Curse of the Masked Beast: LON-016 (€0.48), LON-E016, LON-E016 1st Edition (€3.25) and LON-EN016. 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 €0.65, a PSA 9 for €39.23 and a PSA 10 for €109.24. Our monthly prices for it go back to January 2022. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 66%, and down 14% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €2.65 in April 2024, 75% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 2% over the same 12 months. Of the 3 printings of Curse of the Masked Beast we track, this one ranks 2nd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Labyrinth of Nightmare LON-E016 1st Edition at €3.25. 1st Edition copies sell for about 1.4× the Unlimited printing (€0.65 against €0.48).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 168.1× the ungraded price and 2.8× 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: a price well below its April 2024 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 (29 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 66% in a year. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.65 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €39.23. Ask the seller to show the code LON-016, the "1st Edition" text and the Short Print finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. 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.