Swarm of Locusts [1st Edition] #PGD-022

Swarm of Locusts [1st Edition] #PGD-022 collector guide

About Swarm of Locusts

Swarm of Locusts is an Effect Monster, printed as PGD-022 in Pharaonic Guardian (2003) as a Common. It is a Level 3 DARK Insect monster with 1,000 ATK and 500 DEF. 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 146th of the 216 Pharaonic Guardian cards we track. The top card is Ring of Destruction at €35.21.

Character and collecting appeal

Insects are a small Type best known from Weevil Underwood's deck in the anime. Its text is about destroying cards.

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-022. The code PGD-022, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as PGD-E022, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Pharaonic Guardian has one other printing of Swarm of Locusts: PGD-022 (€0.69). 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 €0.45, a PSA 9 for €6.24 and a PSA 10 for €46.95. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 67%, and flat in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €2.67 in December 2021, 83% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 51% over the same 12 months. Unusually, Unlimited copies currently sell for as much as or more than 1st Edition ones (€0.69 against €0.45).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 104.3× the ungraded price and 7.5× 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 December 2021 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 (25 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 67% in a year. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.45 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €6.24. Ask the seller to show the code PGD-022, the "1st Edition" text and the Common 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.