Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1 [1st Edition] #SDY-E003

Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1 [1st Edition] #SDY-E003 collector guide

About Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1

Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1 is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as SDY-E003 in Starter Deck: Yugi (2002) as a Common. It is a Level 4 WIND Dragon monster with 1,400 ATK and 1,200 DEF. Starter Deck: Yugi was one of the two pre-built decks that launched the English game in 2002, built around the cards Yugi Muto plays in the anime, with Dark Magician at its centre. Ungraded, this printing ranks 63rd of the 162 Starter Deck: Yugi cards we track. The top card is Castle Walls at €356.09.

Character and collecting appeal

Dragons are the most collected monster Type in Yu-Gi-Oh!, largely thanks to Blue-Eyes and Red-Eyes. Normal Monsters like this one are mostly collected for their art and to complete the set. Arsenal Summoner mentions Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1 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 SDY-E003. The E in SDY-E003 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. Starter Deck: Yugi has 3 other printings of Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1: SDY-003 (€0.49), SDY-003 1st Edition (€10.93) and SDY-E003. Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Metal Raiders, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €2.60. Our monthly prices for it go back to May 2026. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €4.81 in May 2026, 46% above today. Of the 6 printings of Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress #1 we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Starter Deck: Yugi SDY-003 1st Edition at €10.93.

Investment potential

In its favour: a price well below its May 2026 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; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors. 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 €2.60 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less. Ask the seller to show the code SDY-E003, 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.