Tyrant Dragon [1st Edition] #LOD-034

Tyrant Dragon [1st Edition] #LOD-034 collector guide

About Tyrant Dragon

Tyrant Dragon is an Effect Monster, printed as LOD-034 in Legacy of Darkness (2003) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 8 FIRE Dragon monster with 2,900 ATK and 2,500 DEF. At its Level it needs two Tributes to Normal Summon. No monster in Legacy of Darkness has more ATK. 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 4th of the 206 Legacy of Darkness cards we track, one of the chase cards of the set. The top card is Yata-Garasu at €78.25.

Character and collecting appeal

Dragons are the most collected monster Type in Yu-Gi-Oh!, largely thanks to Blue-Eyes and Red-Eyes. Its effect centres on negating cards and effects, Special Summoning and destroying cards.

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-034. The code LOD-034, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LOD-E034, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Legacy of Darkness has 2 other printings of Tyrant Dragon: LOD-034 (€6.47) and LOD-034 Misprint (€6.53). 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 €26.75, a PSA 9 for €126.76 and a PSA 10 for €2,078. Our monthly prices for it go back to November 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 47%, and up 36% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €40.31 in March 2022, 34% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 30% over the same 12 months. Of the 3 printings of Tyrant Dragon we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Legacy of Darkness LOD-034 at €6.47. 1st Edition copies sell for about 4.1× the Unlimited printing (€26.75 against €6.47).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 77.7× the ungraded price and 16.4× 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 47% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (85 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 €26.75 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €126.76. Ask the seller to show the code LOD-034, 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.