Yu-Gi-Oh cards are trading cards that boast top-class name recognition in Japan. While many players enjoy its unique gameplay, it is also attracting attention as an investment target. Therefore, in this article, we have summarized the attractions, risks, and how to start investing in Yu-Gi-Oh cards for beginners.
There are cards whose value has increased more than 10 times, so if you are looking for a new
investment target, please check it out.
What is a Yu-Gi-Oh Card?
Yu-Gi-Oh Card is a trading card game (TCG) that was born from the 1996 manga “Yu-Gi-Oh (Weekly Shonen Jump)”. The official name is “Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game Duel Monsters”, and since its release in 1999, it has been sold out all over the country and caused a huge boom among children.
The appeal of Yu-Gi-Oh cards lies in their fun as a TCG with well-crafted rules and in their authentic card designs. Among them, the rare cards are decorated with sparkling decorations, creating a special feeling that tickles the collector’s soul.
Many cards are now out of print, so there are cases where rare cards are sold at surprisingly high prices.
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How to Trade Yu-Gi-Oh Cards
There are several ways to Trade Yu-Gi-Oh cards.
| How to buy a Yu-Gi-Oh card | How to sell Yu-Gi-Oh cards |
|---|---|
| ・Stores and EC sites・Magazines with benefits・Net auction・Flea market app・SNS such as Twitter | ・Buyer・Net auction・Flea market app・SNS such as Twitter |
Newly manufactured cards can be purchased through stores and magazines (V Jump). On the other hand, cards that are no longer in print need to be handed over from other collectors, so the purchase method differs depending on the card you are looking for.
Regarding the sales method, it would be safest to consult with the purchaser. There have been cases of high prices at online auctions, etc., but in online transactions, you have to negotiate and deal with various issues yourself.
Are Yu-Gi-Oh Cards Eligible for Investment?
From here, I will introduce an example where Yu-Gi-Oh cards have soared.
A typical example is the “Blue-Eyes White Dragon (commonly known as Shikuburu)” distributed at the 1999 V Jump Festa. This card was distributed in a limited edition of 1,000, and the current estimated price is said to be 3 million yen.
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Also, the prize of the tournament held in 2000, “Black Magician Girl”, is a famous card whose value has skyrocketed. Among them, the secret rare version has steadily increased in value, with a value of 300,000 yen around 2014, 1 million yen around 2019, and more than 7 million yen in 2020.
In addition, there are cases where the box or deck was given a high price instead of the card alone.
| Yu-Gi-Oh card investment targets | Overview |
|---|---|
| BOX | A boxed bonus pack that is officially sold. It can be purchased at a regular price of 4,500 yen, and there are cases where the most popular ones have been priced at up to 500,000 yen. |
| Structure Deck | A pre-built deck that allows you to start playing TCG just by purchasing it. Officially sold regularly, the most popular ones increase in value by 3 to 6 times in a few years. |
Trading cards are long-term storage, but Yu-Gi-Oh cards often rise in price in a few years, so they can be used for short-term investment.
Three Attractions of Yu-Gi-Oh Card Investment
From here, we will introduce three unique charms of Yu-Gi-Oh card investment.
1. You can Easily Arrange the Storage Environment
All you need to store Yu-Gi-Oh cards is a sleeve (*) and a storage case. If you have these two, you can firmly prevent stains, scratches, and fading due to light without special equipment.
(*) A film that protects each card.
Yu-Gi-Oh cards also have a low risk of being stolen, as unless you are a fan or collector, you are unlikely to know their value. Compared to wine and precious metals, it is easier to keep storage and maintenance costs down, so even beginners can easily start.
2. There are Many Investment Cards
One of the attractions of Yu-Gi-Oh cards is that there are many cards that can be invested in. There are only a few cards that are worth hundreds of times, but if you are aiming for several times to tens of times, the following are eligible.
○ Main targets for Yu-Gi-Oh card investment
・Rare single cards
・Cards with strong effects that are useful in TCG
・Boxes and decks sold for a limited time
・Supplements of magazines
・Cards distributed at events
・Limited designs the sleeve of
Yu-Gi-Oh cards suit a variety of investment styles, as some cards increase in value in a short period of time.
3. You can Invest Without Knowing the Value of the Card
When starting trading card investment, many people feel that it is troublesome to check the value. On the other hand, in Yu-Gi-Oh card investment, unopened boxes, decks, magazine appendices, etc. are the investment targets, so there is no need to comprehensively investigate the value of individual cards.
Among them, the first production limited edition box is an investment target whose value can be expected to soar just by storing it after purchase. However, if the purchase timing is delayed, it may be sold out, so basically aim for advance purchase.
What are the Risks and Precautions of Yu-Gi-Oh Card Investment?
On the other hand, there are risks and cautions in investing in Yu-Gi-Oh cards. From here, we have summarized the points that you should be especially aware of, so let’s check it out before you start investing.
The Value Changes Greatly Depending on the Storage Environment
The value of trading cards, not just Yu-Gi-Oh cards, changes depending on how they are stored. Items that have faded due to exposure to light, have scratches or stains, etc., will have a significantly lower transaction price, no matter how rare they are.
Therefore, especially if you purchase individual cards, make sure to prepare the storage environment in advance. Even when selling to traders or Internet users, it is safe to trade with the sleeve still in the sleeve.
For those who are not confident in management, we recommend using the ” Art Warehouse “. The art warehouse is a service that stores and manages assets such as art works, whiskey, and wine. Assets are stored in an optimal environment and handled by professionals.
Fake Exists
Among the many trading cards, Yu-Gi-Oh cards are known to have many fakes. Counterfeits have the following characteristics:
○ Examples of counterfeit cards
・Highly glossy surface
・Smooth texture
・Different
・Printing Fonts
No hologram sticker (*)
(*) Some early official cards did not have a hologram sticker.
It’s difficult to distinguish a fake without knowledge, so if you’re unsure, aim for cards that are officially sold or that have been appraised. Investing in boxes and supplements instead of individual cards will be a sufficient countermeasure.
There is a Risk of a Crash Due to Reprints, etc.
As with any investment, Yu-Gi-Oh cards are subject to the risk of crashes, such as reprints or a decline in popularity.
Trading card investment is based on the assumption that there will be demand from collectors, so if popularity declines, the value of the card will drop significantly. Considering the possibility that boxes and rare cards will be reprinted, trading cards cannot be said to be a safe asset.
Therefore, it is important to start Yu-Gi-Oh card investment with surplus funds. Also, the longer the storage period, the higher the risk of a crash, so always be aware of the timing of the sale.
4 Points for Successful Yu-Gi-Oh Card Investment
For successful Yu-Gi-Oh card investment, it is important to choose an investment style that matches your knowledge and skills. From here, we will introduce four points for beginners to succeed in Yu-Gi-Oh card investment.
1. First, Acquire Knowledge from Books and the Internet
When starting Yu-Gi-Oh card investment, it is necessary to acquire basic knowledge such as trading methods and market prices. Therefore, first of all, use books and the Internet to learn the basics of trading card investment and image the flow of investment.
Many Yu-Gi-Oh cards are already traded at online auctions and flea market apps, so you can gain knowledge just by checking these services. Also, be sure to check out the latest information about events where newly released official boxes, decks, and limited cards are distributed.
2. Enjoy the Game as a Player
If you are not confident that you can acquire knowledge and skills just by reading books and information on the Internet, consider becoming a player. Yu-Gi-Oh cards are also highly rated for their gameplay, and there is a possibility that you can acquire knowledge by enjoying the game as a player.
Another advantage of actually playing the game is that it makes it easier to notice cards with strong effects and rare cards. As the circle of players’ acquaintances expands through events and tournaments, the chances of obtaining rare cards through trading will also increase.
However, when playing as a player, the cards are easily damaged, so care must be taken when managing and handling them.
3. Aim for New Products for Long-term Storage
In Yu-Gi-Oh card investment, cards that are already out of print are trading at particularly high prices. However, investing in out-of-print cards requires careful checking of market prices, and there are many counterfeit cards on the market.
Therefore, if you are a novice investor and want to store for a long time, aim for a new box or deck. All official products are genuine products, and basically you can purchase them only by making a reservation at the store.
4. Follow Trends on Social Media
SNS such as Twitter is useful as an information gathering tool for Yu-Gi-Oh card investment. Yu-Gi-Oh cards are also traded on SNS, and you can collect information on cards that are attracting attention in real time.
Since there are many cases where the purchaser is disseminating information, let’s collect information efficiently by using the keyword search function of SNS.
Beginners Can Easily Start Yu-Gi-Oh Card Investment
Yu-Gi-Oh card investment can be started even by beginners if you hold down the points and tips introduced this time. You can buy cheap ones starting at a few thousand yen, and you don’t need special equipment to store them, so the hurdles to get started aren’t too high.
If you are looking for a new investment destination, please try it while referring to this article.
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