Protector of the Throne #MRD-087

Protector of the Throne #MRD-087 collector guide

About Protector of the Throne

Protector of the Throne is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as MRD-087 in Metal Raiders (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 4 EARTH Warrior monster with 800 ATK and 1,500 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 486th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track. The top card is Gate Guardian at €301.65.

Character and collecting appeal

Warriors are one of the oldest and largest Types, and have had support in almost every era of the game. As a Normal Monster it is collected for its artwork and its spot in the set rather than for play. Giltia the D. Knight mentions Protector of the Throne in its text, which keeps it relevant.

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-087. The code MRD-087, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRD-E087, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Metal Raiders has 3 other printings of Protector of the Throne: MRD-087 1st Edition (€0.98), MRD-E087 (€2.20) and MRD-E087 1st Edition (€4.11). 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 €0.31, a PSA 9 for €5.35 and a PSA 10 for €38.53. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 77%, and down 39% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €1.60 in June 2023, 81% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 58% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Protector of the Throne we track, this one ranks 4th by ungraded value. The most valuable is Metal Raiders MRD-E087 1st Edition at €4.11. 1st Edition copies sell for about 3.2× the Unlimited printing (€0.98 against €0.31).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 124.3× the ungraded price and 7.2× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. 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 June 2023 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the first years of the English game, which are no longer printed; an active market (25 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 77% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.31 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €5.35. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-087, the missing "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.