A new year and new gold series... DON'T BUY IT!

<img align="right" src="http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/products/images/jacket_GS04.png" />

This June Konami will follow its annual tradition that really happens year round: re-printing cards! However, these aren't any reprints; they are gold series reprints! The Gold series sets have given us re-prints of hard to find cards like Dark Armed Dragon, Gold Sarcophagus, and Judgment Dragon, but after each installment it seems that the sets get worse and worse, and Gold Series 4 follows this pattern brilliantly.

A new batch of gold cards have been announced, and I was hoping to see something amazing after I saw the first batch, but the only amazing thing I see about this set is the fact that it will run you about thirty U.S. dollars.

When you buy a box of Yu-Gi-Oh cards you usually do it for one reason, and that is to make profit. Sure, some of you do it for the cards you're looking for as well, but the reality is that it would often be cheaper to buy singles than boxes. We buy boxes to get our seventy dollars back by selling back the cards we pull. So is there something that's worth the risk of buying this thirty dollar booster pack that will give you only three gold rares? Let's find out.
<img align="left" src="http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110421201442/yugioh/images/1/13/Yu-Gi-Oh!_Gold_Series_4_Mat_2_-_Yugi.jpg" />The first thing that's most noticeable about this set is the inclusion of a
mat. The mat will have the pictures of Yugi or Kaiba or both, and honestly they are pretty nice looking mats. Most players don't use mats because getting their hands on mats from sneak peaks, regionals, etc., can be a bit pricy, and that's the main problem with these mats. Everyone will have them because of how available they will be, and if the mats are common the re-sell value of them will drop to probably around ten dollars; if not less. Maybe one of the three mats will be rarer than the others and that may boost its value, but I still don't see it going higher than ten. If anything it's worse for you because if you get one of the common mats it may sell for less than ten. Right off the bat, with the most noticeable thing in this set, you are only going to get one third of what you invested.

But wait, there's still some chance to get good cards right? Well yeah.. but notice the emphasis on the "some." Confused? Let's take a look at the latest batch of cards to be announced.


<img align="left" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100521115444/yugioh/images/thumb/0/03/DoomcaliberKnightVG-YGOO.jpg/121px-DoomcaliberKnightVG-YGOO.jpg" /> First, we have the ever popular Doomcaliber Kngiht which is probably the best card on this set so don't get your hopes up too soon. This card was definitely in need of a reprint since the only way to easily obtain it was from the first Turbo Pack and that card went for about sixty dollars. The other way to obtain this guy was by having won a SJC which obviously means the chances were slim. Ever since the announcement of its reprint though the value of its Ultra Rare version has gone down to about thirty dollars making it easier to obtain now. This means that this card won't go for about thirty or fifty dollars like the gold rare version of Dark Armed Dragon once did. If you're lucky, you'll probably get about ten dollars for it assuming you pull it, and assuming it's the short print card of the set.

Next we have the legal version of Obelisk the Tormentor. A card that is mainly aimed at collectors, and is priced at about ten to fifteen dollars. The card was originally a Shonen Jump promo so it's not very hard to obtain, and if you pull it you won't get more than five dollars for it; assuming anyone wants to buy it. The problem with this card is that is a collector's card. It doesn't see a lot of play in competitive decks, and the only time we ever heard of this card being played competitive was about three or four YCS's ago where it was being played in frogs, and that didn't go so well for the player.

Moving on to a more playable card, Gravekeeper's Spy. Spy is a very good card in this format because Gravekeepers see a lot of play competitively, and it will be a good sell for the people trying to add some shine to their Gravekeeper decks, but don't get your hopes up. This card was made available as a reprint in the Marik Structure Deck and you can easily get a set of these for less than five dollars. It also has a Super Rare counter part from a Championship Pack that goes for about fifty dollars, and if a GK player is serious about pimping out their deck they will probably go with the Super Rare version of spy since they can afford to buy Pots of Dualities, and Solemn Warnings. This card will be like the Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind of Gold Series 3 so expect it to sell for around ten dollars at first and then drop down to about five or six.

<img align="right" src="http://www.etcg.de/yugioh/sets/small/CSOC/DE029.jpg" />The next card that was announced is Tytannial, Princess of Camellias. A card available for about fifteen dollars if you're going for its Ultimate Rare version and ten for the Ultra Rare. The card was not expensive to begin with so there's really no point to this re-print. I don't see the price of the ultra and ultimate Tyannials going down by more then three or four dollars and if those cards are available for that much then players will probably be better off aiming to get them instead of a Gold Rare version that will probably be worth less than five dollars.

Another beat stick monster that was announced is Five-Headed Dragon. Again, a card that is probably aimed at collectors because decks like Hopeless and Disaster don't get a lot of competitive play anymore. This card was a very good card six or seven formats ago, but it is now irrelevant to the meta game today so why waste a re-print on it? Maybe if it was hard to get, but it's not. The card was available with a starter deck a while ago, and getting your hands on that deck is a bit difficult, but not expensive. At most you will get it for ten dollars, and at most you will get two to three dollars for this card if you pull it... assuming anyone wants to buy it.

<img align="left" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100826070734/yugioh/images/thumb/b/b2/RoyalOppressionCP08-EN-C-UE.jpg/121px-RoyalOppressionCP08-EN-C-UE.jpg" />Finally the last card from the second batch is Royal Oppression. A very good re-print, and probably a card you're hoping to pull along with Doomcaliber Knight. Royal Oppression has two rare versions of it from two different packs (Dark Beginning 2, and Legacy of Darkness) it also has a common re-print in the Chapionship Pack: 8. The rare version of this card goes for about eight dollars so people will be willing to pay ten dollars, if not more for the first foil version of the card. The problem is that this card is limited and once someone gets their hands on them they won't want to buy any more so you'd need to find a buyer fast. A good thing that could come out of this card is a potential change in the next format where it goes from Limited to Semi-Limited. This would increase its value since there would be a high demand for it. However, if we've learned anything from Konami is that once a card gets re-printed it doesn't stop. Take for example DAD which went from secret, to gold to a tin promo. Remember Gold Sarc? it went from SJC Prize card to gold rare to a special edition promo. How about Icarus Attack? It was hard to get your hands on a common one, forget about obtaining the super one, and then it got the Gold Rare treatment; few months later it was re-printed in the Dragunity structure deck. This card will be very good in the beginning, but expect Konami to re-print it again somewhere down the line.

From the first batch we see that you have a one in three chance of pulling either Doomcal or Oppression, but don't forget that there's more gold rare cards than these ones. The first cards that were announced are the main reason I think this set is bad because a lot of the cards getting re-printed are available for very cheap and aren't very playable. I won't bore you with an in depth analysis of the first batch, but we'll have a quick look.

• Chaos Sorcerer
  This is probably the third card that you would wanna get your hands on, but it won't be worth too much. The card is already available as an Ultra Rare from a turbo pack and that card goes for about thirty dollars so expect this to re-sell for about ten.
  
  
• Morphing Jar
  A very good card that definitely needed a re-print, but it doesn't see too much play. Perhaps because of of the fact that most players don't bother getting one since a common version of this card used to run you about ten dollars. With the Gold reprint the other versions of the card will go down, and you shouldn't expect to get more than ten dollars for this.
  
  
• Black Luster Solider - Envoy of the Begnning
  He's banned! Why re-print a banned card? You won't get a lot of money for a card that nobody can play. This would only be a good reprint if it were to come off the banlist, and if the priority rulings that are taking place in the OCG come over to the TCG it could happen, but until we find out later in September this card will be pretty much worthless
  
  
• Celestia, Lightsworn Angel
  Another card that didn't need a re-print. It's easy to obtain as an Ultimate or Ultra rare because Lightsworns don't see a lot of play anymore.
  
  
• Toon Table of Contents
  This card is another card aimed at collectors, and the few crazy people that are willing to try their luck with an Exodia FTK deck. Don't expect it to go for more than five dollars.
  
  
• Trap Stun
  Saving the best for last. This is the only card that players might actually go bananas trying to get because it's not affected by the ban list and it's actually a good card. It doesn't have any other reprints except from the time it was released as a common in Raging Battle back in 09. However, you may expect to see future reprints in other sets or Special Editions. This card I expect to go as high as Doomcaliber Knight, if not higher because it can be splashed into any deck unlike doomcal.

There will be a total of 18 Gold Rare cards, and hopefully the final batch will include some mind blowing re-prints that will make me eat my words and regret writing this ridiculously long article, but I honestly don't see it happening. I also hope that the commons are actually good cards and not just random archtype cards like the big fail we saw in Gold Series 3's Amazoness reprints... seriously?

Let's do a bit of math, you will have a one in eighteen chance of getting one of the good cards, and maybe if you're lucky you might even pull two. Let's say you are a lucky one and you pull a Doomcaliber Knight, Tytannial, and Oppression. Doomcal and Oppression will go for about 10 each, add your mat to the mix and you'll get your thirty dollars back in addition to Tytannial which will give you a five dollar profit. This is of course assuming you are lucky, but let's be real what are the odds of getting a good box? one in a hundred? Are those odds really worth your thirty dollars? I don't think so. If you want a card from this set I encourage you to buy the singles a month after the set's been released otherwise Konami, and I will troll you when they see your money piling up in their bank account.

(6/18/11) Continued...
Well they've announced the next batch of gold cards and I still don't think this set is worth it. I will admit though that some of the new cards to be made into a gold rare are very welcome... to buy as singles. Buying the box? I don't think so.

The new cards are:

• Darklord Zerato (Gold Rare)
  Some random fairy dude that looks like he belongs in a fiend archtype. A pretty nice effect, but really crappy summoning conditions. I don't see much competitive playability to it and neither should you.
  
  
• Spirit Reaper (Gold Rare)
  Nice gold rare and especially nice that Reaper sits at two on the current ban list. Easily splashable into any deck, and the only other available versions of these card are in common, rare, and super rare if you're a big spender. The only shiny version of this card was ridiculously expensive so this re-print will definitely be welcomed by us the cheap players.
  
  
• Summoner Monk (Gold Rare)
  One of the few Structure Deck exclusive cards that are actually useful gets a well deserved gold treatment. No other reprints have been made for this guy, and he's a very good card. I'm surprised this wasn't done sooner.
  
  
• Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter (Gold Rare)
  Probably the gold rare I'll actually be looking for above them all is this guy. Ryko is such a versatile card as it aids and speeds up lots of decks like plants. It's available as a super rare from when it was first released way back in Light of Destruction, and a Common reprint in the first Turbo Pack. Getting your hands on a Super Rare version is already a tough task so this card going up to gold is pretty exciting for plant users.
  
  
• Gladiator Beast Gyzarus (Gold Rare)
  Gladiators were one of the last few great decks before the synchro era, and to this day they still manage to stay relatively competitive when other great decks like Lightsworns aren't as relative anymore. This is Konami's way of slapping some life into the old archtype so they can make some money, but regardless of that it should please the GB fans out there.
  
  
• Pot of Avarice (Gold Rare)

Pot of Avarice is another of those versatile cards. In the past few major tournaments we've seen it being used a lot in plant decks, and others; especially with the addition of Tengu to the format. This card is available as a common and usually goes for five dollars when you try to get your hands on that. The ultra, and ultimate rare versions of these cards are well above the budget of any regular player. This card will be among the expensive ones in the set, and it's definitely a nice reprint.

Only good cards. - Reasons

Doomcal - Cheap Now

Royal Opp - Would Look Amazing (I'll Stick with DT for now though)

Chaos Sorc - Great and better then common (I'll stick with my Ultras unless they look better)

Morphing Jar - Same as Sorc (Same as Sorc)

and Black Luster - Hint of Ban List Hit. :D

I would have preferred the mats to be separate, but I like the idea of retail mats. I hope the next spoiler is good, because there is a lot of filler or "dud" cards so far (Toon Table as a GR? should have been common).

I do want that Doomcal though.

The only way i am buying this is if Warning is announced.

So i am not buying it ._.

vem123 wrote:The only way i am buying this is if Warning is announced.

So i am not buying it ._.

Yeah, this one was kind of a swing and a miss. I liked that Konami tried to make a theme or whatever they were going for, but why waste a Gold Series?

Honestly, I don't see a problem with this Gold Series so far.

It's not a terrible Gold Series, Gold Black Luster could be giving hints to an unbanning... I wanna see PoD or Warning though...

Only cards like PoD or warning would make this set worthwhile otherwise it's garbage. Not because the cards being reprinted are useless, but because the re-sell value of them are just not worth buying the set.

I'll probably try to get my hands on some Gold Chaos sorcerers and oppressions, but I won't spend 30 bucks on the set when I can probably get those two for 20 dollars later if I buy them in singles.

I prefer these old-school cards more anyway. Duels in the Egyptian God Card sagas of the anime/manga were the best. I just get them online because I look for specific cards. Screw the synchros, I can find powerful combos with the old traditional series

Though it seems like a lot of these are banned while new, POWERFUL cards *cough*synchro*cough* aren't. Synchro combos let you do much more than Pot of Greed can. I've seen someone take 5 minutes to do their turn, constantly drawing and summoning from the graveyard and deck over and over by recycling Synchro summons. Synchro summons don't even need a Spell card to perform like Fusion summons do (that I know of) which makes them easier to pull off.

Meh, I'll always stick to the old traditional format.

Great read.

I agree on many of the points and prices stated on each card.

From what has been announced so far
I don't want any of the cards released
and like the Hidden Arsenal 4 box its not worth the buy. :/

HA04 Box is only good if you manage to pull two trishulas otherwise it's best to get it for 50. If you spend 70 you're very very likely to get the trish, but the other crap is not worth your 20 dollars back probably. You also always run the chance of not getting the trish so then you will be sad.

I would wonder what the pricing on gold rare spy is because I like to have shiny cards in my Gravekeepers deck

i really liked doom,chaos,stun,oppre.i awaited since long for stun and oppre to become holo.

I think the reprint of Doom Caliber makes the entire set worth it, to be honest. And I also love the way gold series cards look, so I would definitely be more likely to go for these than the originals..

It's true the only cards that where realised suck.... I mean royal oppression is probally the only really one I will be looking for.

maybe they unban BLS later, because of the priority ruling

Anyone know when they will announce the next spoiler for the set? I am still on the edge of "whether I want this or not". I would like to know if it will be worth it for me personally to buy it, and the next spoiler of Gold Rares should be the deciding factor.

vantagesp wrote:Anyone know when they will announce the next spoiler for the set? I am still on the edge of "whether I want this or not". I would like to know if it will be worth it for me personally to buy it, and the next spoiler of Gold Rares should be the deciding factor.

It's announced. The other six are:

- Darklord Zerato
- Summoner Monk
- Spirit Reaper
- Ryko
- GB Gyzarus
- Pot of Avarice

Chaos_Blaze wrote:

vantagesp wrote:Anyone know when they will announce the next spoiler for the set? I am still on the edge of "whether I want this or not". I would like to know if it will be worth it for me personally to buy it, and the next spoiler of Gold Rares should be the deciding factor.

It's announced. The other six are:

- Darklord Zerato
- Summoner Monk
- Spirit Reaper
- Ryko
- GB Gyzarus
- Pot of Avarice

Just saw that. Hopefully the commons are good. I like the Gold Pot of Avarice though, that is nice.

Well they've announced the next batch of gold cards and I still don't think this set is worth it. I will admit though that some of the new cards to be made into a gold rare are very welcome... to buy as singles. Buying the box? I don't think so.

The new cards are:

• Darklord Zerato (Gold Rare)
  Some random fairy dude that looks like he belongs in a fiend archtype. A pretty nice effect, but really crappy summoning conditions. I don't see much competitive playability to it and neither should you.
  
  
• Spirit Reaper (Gold Rare)
  Nice gold rare and especially nice that Reaper sits at two on the current ban list. Easily splashable into any deck, and the only other available versions of these card are in common, rare, and super rare if you're a big spender. The only shiny version of this card was ridiculously expensive so this re-print will definitely be welcomed by us the cheap players.
  
  
• Summoner Monk (Gold Rare)
  One of the few Structure Deck exclusive cards that are actually useful gets a well deserved gold treatment. No other reprints have been made for this guy, and he's a very good card. I'm surprised this wasn't done sooner.
  
  
• Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter (Gold Rare)
  Probably the gold rare I'll actually be looking for above them all is this guy. Ryko is such a versatile card as it aids and speeds up lots of decks like plants. It's available as a super rare from when it was first released way back in Light of Destruction, and a Common reprint in the first Turbo Pack. Getting your hands on a Super Rare version is already a tough task so this card going up to gold is pretty exciting for plant users.
  
  
• Gladiator Beast Gyzarus (Gold Rare)
  Gladiators were one of the last few great decks before the synchro era, and to this day they still manage to stay relatively competitive when other great decks like Lightsworns aren't as relative anymore. This is Konami's way of slapping some life into the old archtype so they can make some money, but regardless of that it should please the GB fans out there.
  
  
• Pot of Avarice (Gold Rare)

Pot of Avarice is another of those versatile cards. In the past few major tournaments we've seen it being used a lot in plant decks, and others; especially with the addition of Tengu to the format. This card is available as a common and usually goes for five dollars when you try to get your hands on that. The ultra, and ultimate rare versions of these cards are well above the budget of any regular player. This card will be among the expensive ones in the set, and it's definitely a nice reprint.

The title is now very appropriate... the commons are just.. sigh... nostalgic? I like that it has Toon DMG, Sage's Stone and Magic Formula though. I may pick up a few of thoughs cards.

Everyone needs to shut the hell up about Gold Series 4. In my opinion is it a great gold series. Not one gold reprint disappointed me. Every card was a well needed reprint or a welcomed upgrade. Yes, the price tag of $30 compared to previous prices of $20 sucks, but deal with it. You said it yourself, the mat could be traded for about $10. Are most people likely to buy just singles? Yes. This includes myself. But What singles are you probably gunna buy? Like half the gold rares. For what reason, are you complaining about GS4?

I like Royal Op. Morphing J. Gyzaurus and Ryko L.H.

and the Mat looks so amazing, maybe DN can use this mats

Worst commons in a Gold Series set ever.

I just got ripped off. >.> Jk. XD
Thanks for the warning! Did you buy it DJD?

I will only buy this for 2 reason

1 Doomcaliber Knight
2 to get gold versions of cards like ryko and PoA to bling up my fiancee's deck.

I like a lot of the suff in the set (common Toon DMG, Doomcal Gold, the mats, IFL common, etc.), but why did they have to throw in so many duds... this set has too many meh cards in it.