Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] #MRD-E018

Black Skull Dragon [1st Edition] #MRD-E018 collector guide

About Black Skull Dragon

Black Skull Dragon is a Fusion Monster, made from its Fusion Materials with a card such as Polymerization, printed as MRD-E018 in Metal Raiders (2002) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 9 DARK Dragon monster with 3,200 ATK and 2,500 DEF. Its ATK is the 2nd 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 13th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track. The top card is Gate Guardian at €301.65.

Character and collecting appeal

Black Skull Dragon fuses Summoned Skull with Red-Eyes Black Dragon, joining Yugi's and Joey's monsters, which makes it a favourite with fans of the original series. Its Fusion Materials include Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Summoned Skull.

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-E018. The E in MRD-E018 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 Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Metal Raiders has 3 other printings of Black Skull Dragon: MRD-018 (€22.46), MRD-018 1st Edition (€267.74) and MRD-E018 (€11.91). 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 €75.85, a PSA 9 for €398.31 and a PSA 10 for €3,735. Our monthly prices for it go back to May 2026. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €80.14 in September 2026, 5% above today. Of the 4 printings of Black Skull Dragon we track, this one ranks 2nd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Metal Raiders MRD-018 1st Edition at €267.74. 1st Edition copies sell for about 6.4× the Unlimited printing (€75.85 against €11.91).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 49.2× the ungraded price and 9.4× 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: 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. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €75.85 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €398.31. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-E018, 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.