Mirage of Nightmare [1st Edition] #PGD-036

Mirage of Nightmare [1st Edition] #PGD-036 collector guide

About Mirage of Nightmare

Mirage of Nightmare is a Continuous Spell Card, printed as PGD-036 in Pharaonic Guardian (2003) as a Super Rare. 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 19th of the 216 Pharaonic Guardian cards we track. The top card is Ring of Destruction at €35.21.

Character and collecting appeal

Its effect centres on discarding.

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-036. The code PGD-036, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as PGD-E036, and are priced separately. It is the Super Rare version. Super Rares have holographic artwork and a plain name. Pharaonic Guardian has one other printing of Mirage of Nightmare: PGD-036 (€2.65). 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 €6.30, a PSA 9 for €24.82 and a PSA 10 for €67.15. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 36%, and up 39% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €8.02 in February 2023, 21% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 6% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2.4× the Unlimited printing (€6.30 against €2.65).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 10.7× 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: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 36% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (60 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €6.30 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €24.82. Ask the seller to show the code PGD-036, the "1st Edition" text and the Super 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.