Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] #MRD-073

Castle of Dark Illusions [1st Edition] #MRD-073 collector guide

About Castle of Dark Illusions

Castle of Dark Illusions is a Flip Effect Monster, whose effect happens when it is flipped face-up, printed as MRD-073 in Metal Raiders (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 4 DARK Fiend monster with 920 ATK and 1,930 DEF. 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 117th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track. The top card is Gate Guardian at €301.65.

Character and collecting appeal

Fiends are one of the largest Types in the game, home to many of its darker and more unusual designs. Its text is about changing ATK and DEF. Pumpking the King of Ghosts mentions Castle of Dark Illusions in its text, which keeps it relevant.

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-073. The code MRD-073, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRD-E073, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Metal Raiders has 3 other printings of Castle of Dark Illusions: MRD-073 (€0.95), MRD-E073 (€2.00) and MRD-E073 1st Edition (€3.62). 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 €4.01, a PSA 9 for €52.64 and a PSA 10 for €136.05. Our monthly prices for it go back to November 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 3%, and down 12% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €7.48 in August 2025, 46% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 54% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Castle of Dark Illusions we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Metal Raiders MRD-073 at €0.95. 1st Edition copies sell for about 4.2× the Unlimited printing (€4.01 against €0.95).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 33.9× the ungraded price and 2.6× 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: a price well below its August 2025 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (41 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 €4.01 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €52.64. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-073, the "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.