Dark Hole [1st Edition] #SDY-022

Dark Hole [1st Edition] #SDY-022 collector guide

About Dark Hole

Dark Hole is a Normal Spell Card, printed as SDY-022 in Starter Deck: Yugi (2002) as a Common. 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 101st of the 162 Starter Deck: Yugi cards we track. The top card is Castle Walls at €356.09.

Character and collecting appeal

Dark Hole destroys every monster on the field. It is one of the oldest board-clearing Spells and has been reprinted many times. Its effect centres on clearing the field.

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-022. The code SDY-022, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as SDY-E022, 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 Dark Hole: SDY-022 (€0.39), SDY-E020 (€1.86) and SDY-E020 1st Edition. Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon and Starter Deck: Kaiba, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €1.77, a PSA 9 for €15.06 and a PSA 10 for €71.32. Our monthly prices for it go back to May 2022. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 1%, and up 3% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €2.92 in April 2023, 39% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved sideways over the same 12 months. Of the 9 printings of Dark Hole we track, this one ranks 7th by ungraded value. The most valuable is Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon LOB-052 1st Edition at €38.46. 1st Edition copies sell for about 4.5× the Unlimited printing (€1.77 against €0.39).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 40.3× the ungraded price and 4.7× 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: it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; lasting fame from the anime or the competitive game; an active market (32 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: reprints in 2 other sets, which keep playable copies easy to find. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €1.77 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €15.06. Ask the seller to show the code SDY-022, 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.