Monster Reborn [1st Edition] #SDY-030

Monster Reborn [1st Edition] #SDY-030 collector guide

About Monster Reborn

Monster Reborn is a Normal Spell Card, printed as SDY-030 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 42nd of the 162 Starter Deck: Yugi cards we track. The top card is Castle Walls at €356.09.

Character and collecting appeal

Monster Reborn revives a monster from either player's Graveyard. It has been printed in many sets and spent long periods on the Forbidden list, so collectors chase its earliest printings. Its text is about Special Summoning.

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-030. The code SDY-030, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as SDY-E030, 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 Monster Reborn: SDY-030 (€0.57), SDY-E028 (€2.02) and SDY-E028 1st Edition (€4.95). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon, Starter Deck: Kaiba and Quarter Century Bonanza, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €3.50, a PSA 9 for €31.21 and a PSA 10 for €79.63. Our monthly prices for it go back to November 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 31%, and down 19% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €798.04 in November 2021, 100% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 1% over the same 12 months. Of the 18 printings of Monster Reborn we track, this one ranks 9th by ungraded value. The most valuable is Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon LOB-118 1st Edition at €189.32. 1st Edition copies sell for about 6.1× the Unlimited printing (€3.50 against €0.57).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 22.8× the ungraded price and 2.6× 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 31% in a year; a price well below its November 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; lasting fame from the anime or the competitive game; an active market (29 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: reprints in 3 other sets, which keep playable copies easy to find. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €3.50 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €31.21. Ask the seller to show the code SDY-030, 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.