Lava Golem #PGD-107

Lava Golem #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 11th of the 216 Pharaonic Guardian cards we track. 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 effect centres on 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 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 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 1st Edition (€26.67). 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 €9.51, a PSA 9 for €64.83 and a PSA 10 for €222.92. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 77%, and down 17% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €22.16 in January 2023, 57% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 21% over the same 12 months. Of the 9 printings of Lava Golem we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Pharaonic Guardian PGD-107 1st Edition at €26.67. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2.8× the Unlimited printing (€26.67 against €9.51).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 23.4× the ungraded price and 3.4× 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 77% in a year; a price well below its January 2023 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the first years of the English game, which are no longer printed; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors; an active market (62 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €9.51 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €64.83. Ask the seller to show the code PGD-107, the missing "1st Edition" text and the Secret Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. 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.