Dark Necrofear [1st Edition] #LON-065

Dark Necrofear [1st Edition] #LON-065 collector guide

About Dark Necrofear

Dark Necrofear is an Effect Monster, printed as LON-065 in Labyrinth of Nightmare (2003) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 8 DARK Fiend monster with 2,200 ATK and 2,800 DEF. Its ATK is the 5th highest of the 57 monsters in the set. 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 4th of the 331 Labyrinth of Nightmare cards we track, one of the chase cards of the set. The top card is Torrential Tribute at €92.89.

Character and collecting appeal

Dark Necrofear is Yami Bakura's ace monster in the anime. In play, it is a card for taking control of an opponent's monster, banishing cards and Special Summoning. It cannot be Normal Summoned, so it has to be brought out by its own conditions.

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-065. The code LON-065, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LON-E065, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Labyrinth of Nightmare has 4 other printings of Dark Necrofear: LON-065 (€4.98), LON-E065 (€10.82), LON-E065 1st Edition (€28.67) and LON-EN065 (€3.94). 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 €55.18, a PSA 9 for €216.23 and a PSA 10 for €1,644. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 127%, and up 4% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €70.22 in January 2022, 21% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 108% over the same 12 months. Of the 5 printings of Dark Necrofear we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Labyrinth of Nightmare LON-EN065 at €3.94. 1st Edition copies sell for about 11.1× the Unlimited printing (€55.18 against €4.98).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 29.8× the ungraded price and 7.6× 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 127% in a year; 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; an active market (116 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 €55.18 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €216.23. Ask the seller to show the code LON-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 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.