Exodia the Forbidden One [1st Edition] #LOB-E101

Exodia the Forbidden One [1st Edition] #LOB-E101 collector guide

About Exodia the Forbidden One

Exodia the Forbidden One is an Effect Monster, printed as LOB-E101 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 13th 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

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 effect centres on 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-E101. The E in LOB-E101 marks the European English printing. The North American printing uses a code without the letter, sometimes with a different card number, and has its own prices. 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-124 1st Edition (€609.37) and LOB-E101 (€29.45). 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 €151.55, a PSA 9 for €525.19 and a PSA 10 for €9,564. Our monthly prices for it go back to May 2026. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €180.34 in September 2026, 16% above today. Of the 4 printings of Exodia the Forbidden One we track, this one ranks 2nd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon LOB-124 1st Edition at €609.37. 1st Edition copies sell for about 5.1× the Unlimited printing (€151.55 against €29.45).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 63.1× the ungraded price and 18.2× 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: 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 (15 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €151.55 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €525.19. Ask the seller to show the code LOB-E101, 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.