Serpent Night Dragon [1st Edition] #MRL-103

Serpent Night Dragon [1st Edition] #MRL-103 collector guide

About Serpent Night Dragon

Serpent Night Dragon is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as MRL-103 in Magic Ruler (2002) as a Secret Rare. It is a Level 7 DARK Dragon monster with 2,350 ATK and 2,400 DEF. At its Level it needs two Tributes to Normal Summon. Its ATK is the 4th 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 12th of the 321 Magic Ruler cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon at €223.11.

Character and collecting appeal

Dragons are the most collected monster Type in Yu-Gi-Oh!, largely thanks to Blue-Eyes and Red-Eyes. Normal Monsters like this one are mostly collected for their art and to complete the set.

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-103. The code MRL-103, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRL-E103, and are priced separately. It is the Secret Rare version. Secret Rares have a rainbow-foil name and diagonal holographic artwork. Magic Ruler has 3 other printings of Serpent Night Dragon: MRL-103 (€7.82), MRL-103 Misprint (€64.66) and MRL-E130 1st Edition (€22.29). 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 €48.75, a PSA 9 for €249.67 and a PSA 10 for €1,248. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 173%, and down 2% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €67.77 in September 2021, 28% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 179% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Serpent Night Dragon we track, this one ranks 2nd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Magic Ruler MRL-103 Misprint at €64.66. 1st Edition copies sell for about 6.2× the Unlimited printing (€48.75 against €7.82).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 25.6× the ungraded price and 5× 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 173% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (141 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €48.75 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €249.67. Ask the seller to show the code MRL-103, 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 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.