Spellbinding Circle #MRL-006

Spellbinding Circle #MRL-006 collector guide

About Spellbinding Circle

Spellbinding Circle is a Continuous Trap Card, printed as MRL-006 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 50th of the 321 Magic Ruler cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon at €223.11.

Character and collecting appeal

Its text is about destroying cards and stopping attacks.

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-006. The code MRL-006, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRL-E006, 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 Spellbinding Circle: MRL-006 1st Edition (€22.31), MRL-E006 and MRL-E006 1st Edition (€12.50). 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 €7.53, a PSA 9 for €50.32 and a PSA 10 for €188.14. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 13%, and down 5% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €10.32 in January 2022, 27% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 142% over the same 12 months. Of the 3 printings of Spellbinding Circle we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Magic Ruler MRL-006 1st Edition at €22.31. 1st Edition copies sell for about 3× the Unlimited printing (€22.31 against €7.53).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 25× the ungraded price and 3.7× 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 13% in a year; it comes from the first years of the English game, which are no longer printed; an active market (63 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 €7.53 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €50.32. Ask the seller to show the code MRL-006, 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.