Yata-Garasu [1st Edition] #LOD-000

Yata-Garasu [1st Edition] #LOD-000 collector guide

About Yata-Garasu

Yata-Garasu is a Spirit monster, which returns to the hand at the end of the turn it is summoned or flipped, printed as LOD-000 in Legacy of Darkness (2003) as a Secret Rare. It is a Level 2 WIND Fiend monster with 200 ATK and 100 DEF. Legacy of Darkness was a smaller 2003 set with a wave of Spirit monsters, including Yata-Garasu, alongside Injection Fairy Lily and Airknight Parshath. This printing is the most valuable ungraded card of the 206 Legacy of Darkness cards we track.

Character and collecting appeal

Yata-Garasu skips the opponent's next Draw Phase when it deals damage. With Chaos Emperor Dragon it formed the notorious Yata-lock and was later Forbidden. In play, it is a card for Special Summoning and dealing damage.

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-000. The code LOD-000, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LOD-E000, and are priced separately. It is the Secret Rare version. Secret Rares have a rainbow-foil name and diagonal holographic artwork. Legacy of Darkness has one other printing of Yata-Garasu: LOD-EN000 (€30.66). 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 €78.18, a PSA 9 for €289.79 and a PSA 10 for €2,239. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 18%, and up 11% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €122.83 in October 2021, 36% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 61% over the same 12 months.

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 28.6× the ungraded price and 7.7× 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 18% 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 (159 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 €78.18 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €289.79. Ask the seller to show the code LOD-000, the "1st Edition" text and the Secret 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.