Axe of Despair #MRL-002

Axe of Despair #MRL-002 collector guide

About Axe of Despair

Axe of Despair is an Equip Spell Card, printed as MRL-002 in Magic Ruler (2002) as an Ultra Rare. Magic Ruler was the third English booster set and brought Pegasus's Toon cards into the game. Magic Cards were later renamed Spell Cards and the set was reprinted as Spell Ruler, so Magic Ruler copies are the original printing. Ungraded, this printing ranks 71st of the 321 Magic Ruler cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon at €223.11.

Character and collecting appeal

Its effect centres on changing ATK and DEF.

Version and identification

This guide covers the Unlimited printing, without the "1st Edition" text below the artwork. 1st Edition copies of the same card have their own, usually higher, prices. Check the code printed below the artwork on the right: it should read MRL-002. The code MRL-002, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRL-E002, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Magic Ruler has 3 other printings of Axe of Despair: MRL-002 1st Edition (€16.80), MRL-E002 and MRL-E002 1st Edition (€11.24). 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 €4.98, a PSA 9 for €23.18 and a PSA 10 for €52.11. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 24%, and up 4% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €9.91 in September 2022, 50% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 9% over the same 12 months. Of the 3 printings of Axe of Despair we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Magic Ruler MRL-002 1st Edition at €16.80. 1st Edition copies sell for about 3.4× the Unlimited printing (€16.80 against €4.98).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 10.5× the ungraded price and 2.2× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. 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: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 24% in a year; a price well below its September 2022 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the first years of the English game, which are no longer printed; an active market (49 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 €4.98 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €23.18. Ask the seller to show the code MRL-002, the missing "1st Edition" text and the Ultra Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. Cards from 2002 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.