The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler [1st Edition] #LOD-013

The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler [1st Edition] #LOD-013 collector guide

About The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler

The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler is a Normal Spell Card, printed as LOD-013 in Legacy of Darkness (2003) as a Common. Legacy of Darkness was a smaller 2003 set with a wave of Spirit monsters, including Yata-Garasu, alongside Injection Fairy Lily and Airknight Parshath. Ungraded, this printing ranks 174th of the 206 Legacy of Darkness cards we track. The top card is Yata-Garasu at €78.25.

Character and collecting appeal

Its effect centres on banishing cards and 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 LOD-013. The code LOD-013, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LOD-E013, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Legacy of Darkness has one other printing of The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler: LOD-013 (€0.17). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €0.24, a PSA 9 for €43.69 and a PSA 10 for €52.61. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2022. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 29%, and up 4% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €0.36 in May 2026, 33% above today. 1st Edition copies sell for about 1.4× the Unlimited printing (€0.24 against €0.17).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 219.2× the ungraded price and 1.2× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. 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: it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (24 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 29% in a year. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.24 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €43.69. Ask the seller to show the code LOD-013, the "1st Edition" text and the Common finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. Cards from 2003 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.