Upstart Goblin #MRL-E033

Upstart Goblin #MRL-E033 collector guide

About Upstart Goblin

Upstart Goblin is a Normal Spell Card, printed as MRL-E033 in Magic Ruler (2002) as a Common. 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 69th of the 321 Magic Ruler cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon at €223.11.

Character and collecting appeal

Upstart Goblin draws a card at the cost of giving the opponent 1000 Life Points, and it was long used to thin decks. In play, it is a card for drawing cards.

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-E033. The E in MRL-E033 marks the European English printing. The North American printing uses a code without the letter, sometimes with a different card number, and has its own prices. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Magic Ruler has 3 other printings of Upstart Goblin: MRL-033 (€1.91), MRL-033 1st Edition (€4.46) and MRL-E033 1st Edition (€4.77). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Quarter Century Bonanza, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €5.16, a PSA 9 for €25.66 and a PSA 10 for €283.82. Our monthly prices for it go back to May 2026. It is trading at or near its highest recorded value. Of the 6 printings of Upstart Goblin we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Quarter Century Bonanza RA03-EN096 Quarter Century Secret Rare at €93.71. Unusually, Unlimited copies currently sell for as much as or more than 1st Edition ones (€5.16 against €4.77).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 55× the ungraded price and 11.1× 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: it comes from the first years of the English game, which are no longer printed; lasting fame from the anime or the competitive game; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors. Against it: thin trading, so selling quickly can mean accepting a lower price. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €5.16 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €25.66. Ask the seller to show the code MRL-E033, the missing "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.