Red-Eyes Black Dragon [1st Edition] #LOB-070

Red-Eyes Black Dragon [1st Edition] #LOB-070 collector guide

About Red-Eyes Black Dragon

Red-Eyes Black Dragon is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as LOB-070 in Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon (2002) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 7 DARK Dragon monster with 2,400 ATK and 2,000 DEF. At its Level it needs two Tributes to Normal Summon. Its ATK is the 5th 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 3rd 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

Red-Eyes Black Dragon is Joey Wheeler's signature monster, which he wins from Rex Raptor in Duelist Kingdom. Weaker than Blue-Eyes but full of potential, it is one of the most collected dragons in the game. As a Normal Monster it is collected for its artwork and its spot in the set rather than for play. Black Skull Dragon and Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon mention Red-Eyes Black Dragon 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-070. The code LOB-070, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LOB-E070, 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 4 other printings of Red-Eyes Black Dragon: LOB-070 (€38.38), LOB-E056, LOB-E056 1st Edition and LOB-E056 1st Edition. Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Quarter Century Bonanza, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €541.53, a PSA 9 for €3,968 and a PSA 10 for €23,917. Our monthly prices for it go back to March 2022. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 139%, and down 13% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €902.08 in October 2022, 40% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 201% over the same 12 months. Of the 4 printings of Red-Eyes Black Dragon we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Quarter Century Bonanza RA03-EN081 Platinum Secret Rare at €8.36. 1st Edition copies sell for about 14.1× the Unlimited printing (€541.53 against €38.38).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 44.2× the ungraded price and 6× a PSA 9. That gap is big enough that grading a sharp, well-centred copy can pay for itself. On cards from the early 2000s, the dark brown backs show every scuff and white edge, so top grades are scarce.

Investment potential

In its favour: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 139% in a year; 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; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors; an active market (151 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 €541.53 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €3,968. Ask the seller to show the code LOB-070, 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.