Skull Knight [1st Edition] #MRD-123

Skull Knight [1st Edition] #MRD-123 collector guide

About Skull Knight

Skull Knight is a Fusion Monster, made from its Fusion Materials with a card such as Polymerization, printed as MRD-123 in Metal Raiders (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 7 DARK Spellcaster monster with 2,650 ATK and 2,250 DEF. Its ATK is the 4th 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 227th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track. The top card is Gate Guardian at €301.65.

Character and collecting appeal

Spellcasters have been popular since Dark Magician, and the Type has some of the most sought-after artwork in the game. Its Fusion Materials include Ancient Brain and Tainted Wisdom.

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-123. The code MRD-123, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRD-E123, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Metal Raiders has 3 other printings of Skull Knight: MRD-123 (€0.93), MRD-E123 (€2.12) and MRD-E123 1st Edition. 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 €2.22, a PSA 9 for €40.12 and a PSA 10 for €107.04. Our monthly prices for it go back to March 2022. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 12%, and flat in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €15.19 in March 2022, 85% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 50% over the same 12 months. Of the 3 printings of Skull Knight we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Metal Raiders MRD-123 at €0.93. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2.4× the Unlimited printing (€2.22 against €0.93).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 48.2× the ungraded price and 2.7× 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 March 2022 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 (36 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 12% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €2.22 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €40.12. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-123, 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.