Guardian of the Throne Room [1st Edition] #MRL-013

Guardian of the Throne Room [1st Edition] #MRL-013 collector guide

About Guardian of the Throne Room

Guardian of the Throne Room is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as MRL-013 in Magic Ruler (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 4 LIGHT Machine monster with 1,650 ATK and 1,600 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 301st of the 321 Magic Ruler cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon at €223.11.

Character and collecting appeal

Machines range from early robots to modern archetypes, and the Type has a loyal following. With no effect, its appeal is its artwork, its stats and its place in Magic Ruler.

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-013. The code MRL-013, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRL-E013, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Magic Ruler has 3 other printings of Guardian of the Throne Room: MRL-013 (€0.28), MRL-E013 and MRL-E013 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 €0.16, a PSA 9 for €26.75 and a PSA 10 for €53.49. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 90%, and down 16% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €3.66 in October 2024, 96% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 70% over the same 12 months. Unusually, Unlimited copies currently sell for as much as or more than 1st Edition ones (€0.28 against €0.16).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 334.3× the ungraded price and 2× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. 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 October 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 (29 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 90% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.16 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €26.75. Ask the seller to show the code MRL-013, 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.