Ancient Elf #SDY-E022

Ancient Elf #SDY-E022 collector guide

About Ancient Elf

Ancient Elf is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as SDY-E022 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 103rd 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. As a Normal Monster it is collected for its artwork and its spot in the set rather than for play.

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 SDY-E022. The E in SDY-E022 marks the European English printing. The North American printing uses a code without the letter, sometimes with a different card number, and has its own prices. 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-024 1st Edition (€6.36) 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 €1.77. Our monthly prices for it go back to May 2026. It is trading at or near its highest recorded value. Of the 6 printings of Ancient Elf we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Starter Deck: Yugi SDY-024 1st Edition at €6.36.

Investment potential

In its favour: 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. Against it: thin trading, so selling quickly can mean accepting a lower price. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €1.77 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less. Ask the seller to show the code SDY-E022, the missing "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.