De-Fusion [1st Edition] #LON-097

De-Fusion [1st Edition] #LON-097 collector guide

About De-Fusion

De-Fusion is a Quick-Play Spell Card, printed as LON-097 in Labyrinth of Nightmare (2003) as a Super Rare. 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 37th of the 331 Labyrinth of Nightmare cards we track. The top card is Torrential Tribute at €92.89.

Character and collecting appeal

Its effect centres on Special Summoning.

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-097. The code LON-097, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LON-E097, and are priced separately. It is the Super Rare version. Super Rares have holographic artwork and a plain name. Labyrinth of Nightmare has 4 other printings of De-Fusion: LON-097 (€1.11), LON-E097, LON-E097 1st Edition and LON-EN097. 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 €10.68, a PSA 9 for €32.99 and a PSA 10 for €147.76. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 20%, and down 8% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €14.99 in June 2022, 29% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved sideways over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 9.6× the Unlimited printing (€10.68 against €1.11).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 13.8× the ungraded price and 4.5× 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: it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (34 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 20% in a year. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €10.68 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €32.99. Ask the seller to show the code LON-097, the "1st Edition" text and the Super Rare 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.