Dark Ruler Ha Des [1st Edition] #LOD-001

Dark Ruler Ha Des [1st Edition] #LOD-001 collector guide

About Dark Ruler Ha Des

Dark Ruler Ha Des is an Effect Monster, printed as LOD-001 in Legacy of Darkness (2003) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 6 DARK Fiend monster with 2,450 ATK and 1,600 DEF. At its Level it needs one Tribute to Normal Summon. Its ATK is the 4th highest of the 56 monsters in the set. Legacy of Darkness was a smaller 2003 set with a wave of Spirit monsters, including Yata-Garasu, alongside Injection Fairy Lily and Airknight Parshath. Ungraded, this printing ranks 12th of the 206 Legacy of Darkness cards we track. The top card is Yata-Garasu at €78.25.

Character and collecting appeal

Fiends are one of the largest Types in the game, home to many of its darker and more unusual designs. Its text is about negating cards and effects, Special Summoning and destroying cards. Opticlops mentions Dark Ruler Ha Des 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 LOD-001. The code LOD-001, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LOD-E001, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Legacy of Darkness has one other printing of Dark Ruler Ha Des: LOD-001 (€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 €16.41, a PSA 9 for €87.08 and a PSA 10 for €403.54. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 35%, and up 25% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €25.78 in September 2022, 36% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 9% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 4.2× the Unlimited printing (€16.41 against €3.94).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 24.6× the ungraded price and 4.6× 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 35% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (105 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 €16.41 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €87.08. Ask the seller to show the code LOD-001, 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.