Ancient Elf [1st Edition] #SDY-024

Ancient Elf [1st Edition] #SDY-024 collector guide

About Ancient Elf

Ancient Elf is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as SDY-024 in Starter Deck: Yugi (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 4 LIGHT Spellcaster monster with 1,450 ATK and 1,200 DEF. Starter Deck: Yugi was one of the two pre-built decks that launched the English game in 2002, built around the cards Yugi Muto plays in the anime, with Dark Magician at its centre. Ungraded, this printing ranks 21st of the 162 Starter Deck: Yugi cards we track. The top card is Castle Walls at €356.09.

Character and collecting appeal

Spellcasters have been popular since Dark Magician, and the Type has some of the most sought-after artwork in the game. Normal Monsters like this one are mostly collected for their art and to complete the set.

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 SDY-024. The code SDY-024, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as SDY-E024, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Starter Deck: Yugi has 3 other printings of Ancient Elf: SDY-024 (€0.23), SDY-E022 (€1.78) and SDY-E022 1st Edition. Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Metal Raiders, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €6.36, a PSA 9 for €28.53 and a PSA 10 for €49.58. Our monthly prices for it go back to December 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 43%, and flat in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €7.58 in September 2024, 16% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 1% over the same 12 months. Of the 6 printings of Ancient Elf we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Starter Deck: Yugi SDY-024 at €0.23. 1st Edition copies sell for about 27.7× the Unlimited printing (€6.36 against €0.23).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 7.8× the ungraded price and 1.7× 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: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 43% in a year; 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 (22 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 €6.36 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €28.53. Ask the seller to show the code SDY-024, 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.