Barrel Dragon [1st Edition] #MRD-126

Barrel Dragon [1st Edition] #MRD-126 collector guide

About Barrel Dragon

Barrel Dragon is an Effect Monster, printed as MRD-126 in Metal Raiders (2002) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 7 DARK Machine monster with 2,600 ATK and 2,200 DEF. At its Level it needs two Tributes to Normal Summon. Its ATK is the 5th highest of the 122 monsters in the set. Metal Raiders was the second English booster set. It added Summoned Skull, Gate Guardian, Mirror Force and Change of Heart, and many of its cards shaped how the early game was played. Ungraded, this printing ranks 9th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track, one of the chase cards of the set. The top card is Gate Guardian at €301.65.

Character and collecting appeal

Barrel Dragon is Bandit Keith's ace in the anime, a Machine that destroys monsters on coin tosses. In play, it is a card for destroying cards and luck, with a coin toss or a dice roll.

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 MRD-126. The code MRD-126, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRD-E126, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Metal Raiders has 3 other printings of Barrel Dragon: MRD-126 (€5.38), MRD-E126 (€7.96) and MRD-E126 1st Edition (€71.24). 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 €101.11, a PSA 9 for €382.77 and a PSA 10 for €1,047. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 92%, and up 69% in the last month. The current price is its high point on our records. PSA 10 copies have moved up 81% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Barrel Dragon we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Metal Raiders MRD-126 at €5.38. 1st Edition copies sell for about 18.8× the Unlimited printing (€101.11 against €5.38).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 10.4× the ungraded price and 2.7× a PSA 9. That gap is big enough that grading a sharp, well-centred copy can pay for itself. Early English Yu-Gi-Oh! cards often have off-centre cuts and wear on the dark brown back borders, which is why high grades are hard to reach.

Investment potential

In its favour: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 92% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; lasting fame from the anime or the competitive game; an active market (125 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €101.11 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €382.77. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-126, the "1st Edition" text and the Ultra 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.