Lord of D. [1st Edition] #SDK-041

Lord of D. [1st Edition] #SDK-041 collector guide

About Lord of D.

Lord of D. is an Effect Monster, printed as SDK-041 in Starter Deck: Kaiba (2002) as a Super Rare. It is a Level 4 DARK Spellcaster monster with 1,200 ATK and 1,100 DEF. Starter Deck: Kaiba was one of the two pre-built decks that launched the English game in 2002, built around Seto Kaiba and his Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Ungraded, this printing ranks 8th of the 110 Starter Deck: Kaiba cards we track, one of the chase cards of the set. The top card is Blue-Eyes White Dragon at €300.65.

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. The Flute of Summoning Dragon mentions Lord of D. 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 SDK-041. The code SDK-041, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as SDK-E041, and are priced separately. It is the Super Rare version. Super Rares have holographic artwork and a plain name. Starter Deck: Kaiba has 2 other printings of Lord of D.: SDK-041 (€1.10) and SDK-E038 (€2.59). 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 €10.24, a PSA 9 for €64.54 and a PSA 10 for €316.54. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 44%, and down 15% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €16.39 in January 2022, 38% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 80% over the same 12 months. Of the 3 printings of Lord of D. we track, this is the most valuable ungraded. The cheapest is Starter Deck: Kaiba SDK-041 at €1.10. 1st Edition copies sell for about 9.3× the Unlimited printing (€10.24 against €1.10).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 30.9× the ungraded price and 4.9× 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 44% in a year; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (82 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €10.24 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €64.54. Ask the seller to show the code SDK-041, the "1st Edition" text and the Super 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.