Thousand Dragon [Reverse Foil Misprint] #MRD-143

Thousand Dragon [Reverse Foil Misprint] #MRD-143 collector guide

About Thousand Dragon

Thousand Dragon is a Fusion Monster, made from its Fusion Materials with a card such as Polymerization, printed as MRD-143 in Metal Raiders (2002) as a Secret Rare. It is a Level 7 WIND Dragon monster with 2,400 ATK and 2,000 DEF. Its ATK is the 10th 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 50th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track. The top card is Gate Guardian at €301.65.

Character and collecting appeal

Thousand Dragon is the aged form of Baby Dragon, made by fusing it with Time Wizard. Its Fusion Materials include Baby Dragon and Time Wizard.

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-143. The code MRD-143, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRD-E143, and are priced separately. It is the Secret Rare version. Secret Rares have a rainbow-foil name and diagonal holographic artwork. This is a reverse foil misprint, priced separately from correctly printed copies. Make sure the listing photos show the error. Metal Raiders has 4 other printings of Thousand Dragon: MRD-143 (€7.98), MRD-143 1st Edition (€75.89), MRD-E143 (€8.62) and MRD-E143 1st Edition (€53.67). 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 €15.51. Our monthly prices for it go back to November 2023. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 10%, and flat in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €30.74 in December 2024, 50% above today. Of the 5 printings of Thousand Dragon we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Metal Raiders MRD-143 1st Edition at €75.89.

Investment potential

In its favour: a price well below its December 2024 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; 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 (27 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 10% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €15.51 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-143, the missing "1st Edition" text and the Secret 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.