Shadow Ghoul [1st Edition] #MRD-090

Shadow Ghoul [1st Edition] #MRD-090 collector guide

About Shadow Ghoul

Shadow Ghoul is an Effect Monster, printed as MRD-090 in Metal Raiders (2002) as a Rare. It is a Level 5 DARK Zombie monster with 1,600 ATK and 1,300 DEF. At its Level it needs one Tribute to Normal Summon. 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 84th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track. The top card is Gate Guardian at €301.65.

Character and collecting appeal

Zombies are built around the Graveyard, bringing monsters back again and again. Its text is about changing ATK and DEF.

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-090. The code MRD-090, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRD-E090, and are priced separately. It is the Rare version. Rares have a silver-foil name and plain artwork. Metal Raiders has 3 other printings of Shadow Ghoul: MRD-090 (€1.20), MRD-E090 (€1.86) and MRD-E090 1st Edition (€3.61). 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 €6.43, a PSA 9 for €20.72 and a PSA 10 for €185.64. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 32%, and down 13% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €17.83 in September 2021, 64% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 438% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Shadow Ghoul we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Metal Raiders MRD-090 at €1.20. 1st Edition copies sell for about 5.4× the Unlimited printing (€6.43 against €1.20).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 28.9× the ungraded price and 9× 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 September 2021 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 (44 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 32% in a year. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €6.43 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €20.72. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-090, the "1st Edition" text and the 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.