Flame Manipulator [1st Edition] #LOB-E012

Flame Manipulator [1st Edition] #LOB-E012 collector guide

About Flame Manipulator

Flame Manipulator is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as LOB-E012 in Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 3 FIRE Spellcaster monster with 900 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 234th 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

Spellcasters have been popular since Dark Magician, and the Type has some of the most sought-after artwork in the game. As a Normal Monster it is collected for its artwork and its spot in the set rather than for play. Flame Swordsman mentions Flame Manipulator in its 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-E012. The E in LOB-E012 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 Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon has 3 other printings of Flame Manipulator: LOB-016 (€1.11), LOB-016 1st Edition (€2.52) and LOB-E012 (€2.53). 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 €2.39. Our monthly prices for it go back to August 2026. The current price is its high point on our records. Of the 4 printings of Flame Manipulator we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon LOB-E012 at €2.53. Unusually, Unlimited copies currently sell for as much as or more than 1st Edition ones (€2.53 against €2.39).

Investment potential

In its favour: it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again. Against it: thin trading, so selling quickly can mean accepting a lower price. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €2.39 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less. Ask the seller to show the code LOB-E012, the "1st Edition" text and the Common 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.