Exodia the Forbidden One [1st Edition] #LOB-124

Exodia the Forbidden One [1st Edition] #LOB-124 collector guide

About Exodia the Forbidden One

Exodia the Forbidden One is an Effect Monster, printed as LOB-124 in Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon (2002) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 3 DARK Spellcaster monster with 1,000 ATK and 1,000 DEF. 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 2nd of the 454 Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon cards we track, one of the chase cards of the set. The top card is Blue-Eyes White Dragon at €968.32.

Character and collecting appeal

Exodia the Forbidden One is the head of the five-piece Exodia set. Holding all five pieces in your hand wins the duel on the spot, which is how Yugi beats Kaiba in the first episode of the anime. Its text is about an alternative way to win the duel. Its text names Left Arm of the Forbidden One, Left Leg of the Forbidden One and Right Arm of the Forbidden One, so collectors often look for them together. Contract with Exodia and Exodia Necross mention Exodia the Forbidden One in their text, which keeps it relevant.

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 LOB-124. The code LOB-124, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LOB-E124, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon has 3 other printings of Exodia the Forbidden One: LOB-124 (€26.77), LOB-E101 (€29.45) and LOB-E101 1st Edition (€151.68). 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 €608.83, a PSA 9 for €2,173 and a PSA 10 for €10,888. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 128%, and up 18% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €2,034 in September 2021, 70% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 159% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Exodia the Forbidden One we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon LOB-124 at €26.77. 1st Edition copies sell for about 22.7× the Unlimited printing (€608.83 against €26.77).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 17.9× the ungraded price and 5× 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 128% in a year; a price well below its September 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 (192 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €608.83 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €2,173. Ask the seller to show the code LOB-124, the "1st Edition" text and the Ultra Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. At this price fakes are worth checking for: genuine cards have a small holographic seal (the Eye of Anubis) in the bottom-right corner, and the font, colours and card back should match a copy you know is genuine. Look up the certificate number of any graded copy on the grading company's website. 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.