Yu-Gi-Oh is a huge franchise that includes multiple manga and anime series. There’s also a collectible card game that’s based on the fictional game of Duel Monsters. In fact, there’s a World Championship held every year, usually in Japan, where the top-ranked players of various countries go head to head against each other.
As of 2025, there are more than 11,000 cards in the game, and like all collectible card games, some are worth more than others.
Curious to know which? Want to know how much they’re worth? Then be sure to keep reading- we’ll be listing the top ten below!
Top 10 Most Valuable Yu-Gi-Oh Cards in 2025
Without further ado, here are the most valuable Yu-Gi-Oh cards in 2025.
10. 2002 1st Edition LOB Monster Reborn
Monster Reborn is one of the most sought-after spell cards and was originally released as a Super Rare in the first set of booster packs, Legends of Blue-Eyes White Dragon (LOB) in the spring of 2002. The code at the top right-hand corner of the description indicates that it’s card number 118 from the set.
The spell card allows you to bring back any of the monsters that have gone to either player’s graveyards. This means you can special summon your opponent’s monster against them if you wish. It’s so mighty that it’s currently included in the Forbidden and Limited Card List, with the limitation that you can only have one copy in your deck (most cards are limited to three per deck).
In May 2021, a certified mint condition 2002 LOB Monster Record card was sold for a record-breaking $6,600 on eBay. It was also a first edition card, meaning that it was one of the first to have been printed in the set.
9. 2002 1st Edition LOB Exodia the Forbidden One
If you’ve ever watched the anime, you’ll know that Exodia is an immensely powerful monster. There’s a catch, though. It’s split up into five distinct cards: Exodia the Forbidden One, Left Leg of the Forbidden One, Right Leg of the Forbidden One, Left Arm of the Forbidden One, and Right Arm of the Forbidden One.
To summon Exodia, which will allow you to win the duel automatically, you must have all five cards in your hand at the same time.
In the TCG, the five cards were initially released as Ultra Rares in LOB. For this reason, they’re limited and super hard to find.
In November 2020, a first-edition PSA GEM Mint Exodia the Forbidden One was sold for $8,000. Interestingly enough, of the other four cards, the left leg sells for the most. In October 2020, one went for over $6,600. The other limbs are noticeably lower in price, which is probably a good thing for collectors.
8. 2003 First Edition MFC Dark Magician Girl
The Dark Magician Girl is one of Yugi’s favorite cards and is adored by fans. Given that, it’s not surprising to know it’s highly valuable. A level 6 monster, it comes with 2000 attacks and 1700 defense points. She made her anime debut when Yugi faced off against Arkana, a malevolent magician, in episode 62.
First released in October 2003, it was part of the North American-only Magician’s Force (MFC) set, which had a special focus on Spellcasters. The Dark Magician Girl was later released as part of the Master Collection Volume 2 compilation set and was made available in booster packs, in October 2005.
The Dark Magician Girl is also notable in that she has been censored for her breasts being too sexually suggestive (the size of her breasts was reduced and her cleavage was completely erased when she was brought over from Japan to the West). For this reason, there are several variants of her artwork. It’s the original, however, that fetches the highest price.
In November 2020, a PSA Gem Mint first edition Dark Magician Girl card was sold for $9,100.
7. 2002 First Edition Red-Eyes Black Dragon
The Red-Eyes Black Dragon is a powerhouse with 2400 attack and 200 defense points. It’s also Joey’s signature card, which has made it a fan favorite. He used it while dueling with Yugi at the Duelist Kingdom tournament, albeit under Malik’s control.
In fact, it was his popularity that spawned the release of the Starter Deck Joey (SDJ) in 2003. Unsurprisingly, the Red-Eyes Black Dragon was made available as the deck’s opening card. However, the Red-Eyes Black Dragon was available even before then, in Legends of Blue-Eyes White Dragon (LOB), as an Ultra Rare.
In October 2020, a flawless version of the card sold for nearly $10,000. Not long afterward, a first-edition copy of the 2002 original fetched more than $11,000. Needless to say, you might have to spend some money (potentially five digits) if you want to add such a card to your collection.
Fortunately, the later releases are much easier to get for those who aren’t worried about the first edition status.
6. 2008 Doomcaliber Knight From the Shonen Jump Championships Series
Shonen Jump created a series of North American tournaments called the Shonen Jump Championships in 2004. In total, seven different cards were handed out as prizes at the tournaments, including the Doomcaliber Knight. Seeing as how only a couple of the cards were given out each time, it’s easy to see why they’re so rare- and pricey.
The Doomcaliber Knight was the sixth tournament exclusive to be handed out. Between 2008 and 2009, only 68 copies were given away.
Despite being a four-star monster, it has 1900 attack and 1800 defense points, making it a powerhouse for players. Not only that but because it’s level four, you can normal summon it directly from your hand; you don’t need to sacrifice any monsters. It also comes with a quick effect- one that negates the effect of and destroys one of your foe’s monsters.
In March 2021, a PSA Near-Mint Doomcaliber Knight from the Shonen Jump Championships sold for more than $15,000. Given how rare and scarce they are, we wouldn’t be surprised if a mint version of the card fetched an even higher sum.
5. 2004 Cyber-Stein from the Shonen Jump Championship Series
Cyber-Stein is special in that it was the first-ever prize card to be handed out at the Shonen Jump Championships between 2004 and 2005. In total, it was given out in nine different tournaments, the first being the GenCol SoCal, a regional version of Gen Con which took place in Anaheim, California.
Two of these rare cards were given away at each tournament, with 18 copies released in total. Several years later, two extra copies were given out as prizes at the 2008 Costa Mesa Shonen Jump Championships, with one embedded with lucite, a special material for display. An additional 126 copies were released as part of a promotional event called Upper Deck Day in early 2009.
In other words, less than 150 copies of this rare card were made, making it one of the more expensive cards of all time.
A level 2 monster, it comes with a quick effect that lets you special summon any fusion monster from your deck as long as you pay 5000 life points. For this reason, players can only have one copy in their deck at a time.
In October 2020, a PSA GEm Mint copy of the card fetched over $30,000. Another copy sold for a similar amount not long afterward.
4. 2007 Crush Card Virus From the Shonen Jump Championships
Crush Card Virus was the fourth card to be given out at the Shonen Jump Championships. In total, only 40 copies were released between January and July 2007. As with Cyber-Stein, two additional copies were distributed at the 2008 Costa Mesa Shonen Jump Championships, one of which came with lucite. Another three (potentially more) were released accidentally at a sneak preview event, which brings the total to 46.
Unlike some of the other cards on our list, it’s not a monster card, but a trap card. Its use has also caused some confusion over the years as its description has been changed four times since it first come out. Put simply, the Crush Card Virus allows you to destroy high-attack monsters on your opponent’s field as well in their hand.
Given how powerful it is, it was included in the Yu-Gi-Oh Banlist for many years- that is, players weren’t allowed to use the card in official duels. Nowadays, however, you can have up to three in your deck as its effects have been balanced out.
In June 2020, a PSA Gem Mint version of the card sold for nearly $50,000. To date, only two copies of this rare card have ever been sold on the PSA website.
3. 2003 1st Edition LOB Dark Magician
The Dark Magician boasts 2500 attack and 2100 defense points and is Yugi’s signature card. A level 7 spellcaster, he’s one of the most powerful monsters in the trading card game. Given that, it’s not surprising to know that he’s also one of the most valuable.
As it is, the most sought-after version is the red variant, owned by Arkana, who made her debut in episode 60 of the anime. In the show, both duelists dueled with Dark Magicians but it was Yugi’s Dark Magician who defeated Arkana’s after combining the effect of his Dark Magician Girl, which gave the spellcasters an extra 600 attack points.
In June 2021, a version edition of the red variant of the Dark Magician sold for a staggering $85,000. Similar to the Red-Eyes Black Dragon, it was originally released as an Ultra Rare in the Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon set.
Yugi’s classic purple Dark Magician was also released as the opening card of the Yugi Starter Deck in 2002. As for Yugi’s Dark Magician, it was available only as a Dark Duel Stories promotional card, which came with the Game Boy Color game Yu-Gi-Oh Dark Duel Stories in 2002. In November 2020, one of these cards fetched nearly $10,000.
2. 2002 1st Edition LOB Blue-Eyes White Dragon
As most of you probably know, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is Kaib’s signature card. It’s also one of the strongest monsters in the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise with 3000 attack and 2500 defense points. A level 8 monster, it requires the player to sacrifice two tributes for it to be summoned onto the field. In October 2020, a mint condition first edition sold for nearly $85,000, making it one of the most expensive Yu-Gi-Oh cards to have ever been sold.
Unsurprisingly, it was released as part of the Legends of Blue Eyes White Dragon set as an Ultra Rare Card. The artwork on the card, however, is different than the one that’s shown in the anime.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon with the same artwork as the anime was released in March 2002 as part of, you guessed it, the Starter Deck Kaiba (SDK). And similar to the Dark Magician, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was also given out as a promotional card with the Yu-Gi-Oh Game Boy Color Dark Duel Stories Game.
In February 2021, one of these promotional game cards fetched over $25,000.
1. Tyler the Great Warrior
In 2002, a young fan named Tyler Gressle was battling a rare type of liver cancer. Upon hearing his story, the Make-A-Wish Foundation put him in contact with 4Kids Entertainment, who agreed to let him make his own Yu-Gi-Oh card. Not only that but they also gave Gressle and his family a tour of their facility in New York and it was there that they revealed the very card he created. They also gave him his very own TYL card set code.
A level 8 monster, Tyler the Greater boasts an amazing 3000 attack and 1500 defense points. As it is, the monster’s artwork is based on Future Trunks from the Dragon Ball franchise and can be seen throwing shuriken stars.
Not only is the monster powerful but the card itself also comes with an effect in which the opponent’s life points go down each time Tyler the Great destroys and sends one of the opponent’s monsters to the graveyard.
Interestingly enough, the effect is the same as Jaden Yuki’s signature card, Elemental Hero Flame Wingman.
And for those who are wondering- there’s a happy ending to this story. Not only did Gressle survive his battle with cancer, but it was confirmed via Instagram in 2015 that he still owns Tyler the Great.
