Giant Germ #MRL-085

Giant Germ #MRL-085 collector guide

About Giant Germ

Giant Germ is an Effect Monster, printed as MRL-085 in Magic Ruler (2002) as a Rare. It is a Level 2 DARK Fiend monster with 1,000 ATK and 100 DEF. 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 169th of the 321 Magic Ruler cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon at €223.11.

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 effect centres on Special Summoning, destroying cards and dealing damage.

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-085. The code MRL-085, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRL-E085, and are priced separately. It is the Rare version. Rares have a silver-foil name and plain artwork. Magic Ruler has 3 other printings of Giant Germ: MRL-085 1st Edition (€3.42), MRL-E085 (€3.07) and MRL-E085 1st Edition (€8.31). 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 €1.55, a PSA 9 for €0.89 and a PSA 10 for €103.99. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 11%, and down 12% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €3.12 in June 2023, 50% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 3% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Giant Germ we track, this one ranks 4th by ungraded value. The most valuable is Magic Ruler MRL-E085 1st Edition at €8.31. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2.2× the Unlimited printing (€3.42 against €1.55).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 67.1× the ungraded price and 116.8× 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 June 2023 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 (29 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 11% in a year. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €1.55 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €0.89. Ask the seller to show the code MRL-085, the missing "1st Edition" text and the 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.