Black Skull Dragon #MRD-018

Black Skull Dragon #MRD-018 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-018 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 31st 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 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-018. The code MRD-018, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRD-E018, 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 Black Skull Dragon: MRD-018 1st Edition (€267.74), MRD-E018 (€11.91) and MRD-E018 1st Edition (€75.92). 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 €24.52, a PSA 9 for €99.00 and a PSA 10 for €523.81. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 38%, and up 8% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €37.15 in May 2022, 34% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 108% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Black Skull Dragon we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Metal Raiders MRD-018 1st Edition at €267.74. 1st Edition copies sell for about 10.9× the Unlimited printing (€267.74 against €24.52).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 21.4× the ungraded price and 5.3× 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 38% in a year; 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 (74 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 €24.52 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €99.00. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-018, the missing "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.