Dark Magician [Misprint] #LOB-005

Dark Magician [Misprint] #LOB-005 collector guide

About Dark Magician

Dark Magician is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as LOB-005 in Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon (2002) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 7 DARK Spellcaster monster with 2,500 ATK and 2,100 DEF. At its Level it needs two Tributes to Normal Summon. Its ATK is the 4th highest of the 87 monsters in the set. Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon was the first booster set of the English Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. It brought Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dark Magician, Red-Eyes Black Dragon and the five pieces of Exodia to English-speaking players, so almost every card in it is a piece of the game's history. Ungraded, this printing ranks 57th of the 454 Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes White Dragon at €968.32.

Character and collecting appeal

Dark Magician is Yugi Muto's favourite monster and the card he trusts most in the anime. It has been reprinted and given new support for more than two decades, which keeps demand for its early printings high. Normal Monsters like this one are mostly collected for their art and to complete the set. Dark Cavalry, Dark Flare Knight, Dark Magical Curtain and Dark Magician Girl mention Dark Magician in their text, among other cards, which keeps it relevant.

Version and identification

This guide covers the Unlimited printing, without the "1st Edition" text below the artwork. 1st Edition copies of the same card have their own, usually higher, prices. Check the code printed below the artwork on the right: it should read LOB-005. The code LOB-005, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LOB-E005, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. This is a misprint, priced separately from correctly printed copies. Make sure the listing photos show the error. Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon has 5 other printings of Dark Magician: LOB-005 (€42.83), LOB-005 1st Edition (€410.53), LOB-E003 (€23.86), LOB-E003 1st Edition (€138.01) and LOB-EN005 (€23.75). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Starter Deck: Yugi and Quarter Century Bonanza, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €20.51. Our monthly prices for it go back to July 2025. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 97%, and flat in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €802.50 in July 2025, 97% above today. Of the 12 printings of Dark Magician we track, this one ranks 9th by ungraded value. The most valuable is Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon LOB-005 1st Edition at €410.53.

Investment potential

In its favour: a price well below its July 2025 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the first years of the English game, which are no longer printed; lasting fame from the anime or the competitive game; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors. Against it: falling prices, down 97% in a year. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €20.51 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less. Ask the seller to show the code LOB-005, the missing "1st Edition" text and the Ultra Rare 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.