Barrel Dragon #MRD-126

Barrel Dragon #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 96th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track. 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 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 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 1st Edition (€112.96), 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 €5.38, a PSA 9 for €47.70 and a PSA 10 for €121.57. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are unchanged, and down 33% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €20.90 in February 2022, 74% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 1% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Barrel Dragon we track, this one ranks 4th by ungraded value. The most valuable is Metal Raiders MRD-126 1st Edition at €112.96. 1st Edition copies sell for about 21× the Unlimited printing (€112.96 against €5.38).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 22.6× the ungraded price and 2.5× 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: a price well below its February 2022 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the first years of the English game, which are no longer printed; lasting fame from the anime or the competitive game; an active market (120 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 €5.38 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €47.70. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-126, 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.