Lava Golem [1st Edition] #PGD-107

Lava Golem [1st Edition] #PGD-107 collector guide

About Lava Golem

Lava Golem is an Effect Monster, printed as PGD-107 in Pharaonic Guardian (2003) as a Secret Rare. It is a Level 8 FIRE Fiend monster with 3,000 ATK and 2,500 DEF. No monster in Pharaonic Guardian has more ATK. Pharaonic Guardian is the Ancient Egypt-themed set of 2003 that brought the Gravekeeper's monsters and Necrovalley, alongside cards such as Ring of Destruction and Don Zaloog. Ungraded, this printing ranks 2nd of the 216 Pharaonic Guardian cards we track, one of the chase cards of the set. The top card is Ring of Destruction at €35.21.

Character and collecting appeal

Fiends are one of the largest Types in the game, home to many of its darker and more unusual designs. Its text is about Special Summoning. It cannot be Normal Summoned, so it has to be brought out by its own conditions.

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 PGD-107. The code PGD-107, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as PGD-E107, and are priced separately. It is the Secret Rare version. Secret Rares have a rainbow-foil name and diagonal holographic artwork. Pharaonic Guardian has one other printing of Lava Golem: PGD-107 (€9.51). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in 25th Anniversary Rarity Collection, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €21.91, a PSA 9 for €126.79 and a PSA 10 for €609.07. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 64%, and down 14% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €43.17 in February 2023, 49% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 70% over the same 12 months. Of the 9 printings of Lava Golem we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is 25th Anniversary Rarity Collection RA01-EN001 Super Rare at €1.78. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2.3× the Unlimited printing (€21.91 against €9.51).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 27.8× the ungraded price and 4.8× a PSA 9. That gap is big enough that grading a sharp, well-centred copy can pay for itself. 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: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 64% in a year; a price well below its February 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; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors; an active market (132 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €21.91 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €126.79. Ask the seller to show the code PGD-107, the "1st Edition" text and the Secret Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. At this price fakes are worth checking for: genuine cards have a small holographic seal (the Eye of Anubis) in the bottom-right corner, and the font, colours and card back should match a copy you know is genuine. Look up the certificate number of any graded copy on the grading company's website. Cards from 2003 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.