Boar Soldier [1st Edition] #MRL-089

Boar Soldier [1st Edition] #MRL-089 collector guide

About Boar Soldier

Boar Soldier is an Effect Monster, printed as MRL-089 in Magic Ruler (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 4 EARTH Beast-Warrior monster with 2,000 ATK and 500 DEF. Its ATK is the 8th highest of the 66 monsters in the set. 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 298th of the 321 Magic Ruler cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon at €223.11.

Character and collecting appeal

Beast-Warriors mix animal and warrior designs and have been part of the game since the first sets. In play, it is a card for 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 MRL-089. The code MRL-089, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRL-E089, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Magic Ruler has 3 other printings of Boar Soldier: MRL-089 (€0.12), MRL-E089 (€1.94) and MRL-E089 1st Edition. 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 €0.18, a PSA 9 for €13.37 and a PSA 10 for €69.10. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 80%, and down 18% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €1.26 in August 2024, 86% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 64% over the same 12 months. Of the 3 printings of Boar Soldier we track, this one ranks 2nd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Magic Ruler MRL-E089 at €1.94. 1st Edition copies sell for about 1.5× the Unlimited printing (€0.18 against €0.12).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 383.9× the ungraded price and 5.2× 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: a price well below its August 2024 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (36 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 80% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.18 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €13.37. Ask the seller to show the code MRL-089, the "1st Edition" text and the Common 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.