Tongyo [1st Edition] #MRD-045

Tongyo [1st Edition] #MRD-045 collector guide

About Tongyo

Tongyo is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as MRD-045 in Metal Raiders (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 4 WATER Fish monster with 1,350 ATK and 800 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 388th of the 508 Metal Raiders cards we track. The top card is Gate Guardian at €301.65.

Character and collecting appeal

Fish monsters are a small Type that often works with water Field Spells. As a Normal Monster it is collected for its artwork and its spot in the set rather than for play. Deepsea Shark mentions Tongyo 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-045. The code MRD-045, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRD-E045, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Metal Raiders has 3 other printings of Tongyo: MRD-045 (€0.18), MRD-E045 (€1.32) and MRD-E045 1st Edition (€3.29). 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 €0.93, a PSA 9 for €7.58 and a PSA 10 for €34.18. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 44%, and up 2% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €2.19 in April 2023, 58% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 1% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Tongyo we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Metal Raiders MRD-E045 1st Edition at €3.29. 1st Edition copies sell for about 5.2× the Unlimited printing (€0.93 against €0.18).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 36.8× the ungraded price and 4.5× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. 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 April 2023 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 (33 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 44% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.93 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €7.58. Ask the seller to show the code MRD-045, 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.