A Detailed Look at the Most Expensive Blue-Eyes White Dragon Cards

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon is one of the most powerful Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. It's also arguably the game's most iconic card, with Blue-eyes White Dragon being introduced in the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime series, as the signature card of Seto Kaiba.

Over the years, several versions and reprints of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card have been released, with different artwork and designs. The original version looks like a standard trading card, while later versions include holographic foiling and other premium effects. But if there is one thing they all share beyond the character, it's that almost all Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards are collector favorites.

With more than 50 different English-language cards alone, there are plenty options for collectors to choose from. Naturally, with so many options available, some will be more in demand — and sell for higher prices — than others. Most of the cards on this list fall under the Yu-Gi-Oh! rare designation. That is, they were printed in very limited runs and were always hard to find in general circulation. When they hit the market today, that rarity drives prices up.

Investment Potential for Blue-Eyes White Dragon Cards*

Long-term trends in the value of Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards are generally a good indicator of whether any particular card is a good investment. However, collectors and investors should always remember that the collector’s market fluctuates frequently. The prices discussed below have been sourced from news sites around the web and Price Charting, which is a price tracker for TCG cards. These sources are constantly updated, so it is important to be aware that prices can change on any given day.

Keeping that in mind, here is a look at the rarest and most expensive Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards, why collectors covet them and how much they're selling for.

The Most Expensive Blue-Eyes White Dragon Cards

2002 Yu-Gi-Oh! Legend of Blue-Eyes White Dragon #LOB-001 – 1st Edition ($85,000)

Released in 2002 as part of the Legend of Blue-Eyes White Dragon set, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon #LOB-001 is considered the "original" version of the card. Perhaps the most iconic Yu-Gi-Oh! card of all, it's been popular with collectors ever since its release. With stunning artwork and a unique holographic effect, the #LOB-001 sets the standard for all future Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards.

As it's also an Ultra Rare card, this is the most expensive Blue-Eyes White Dragon card on the market. Finding the #LOB-001 in Grade 9 or Grade 9.5 condition can be difficult, and Gem Mint examples rarely come up for sale. When they do, the prices reflect the card's scarcity and the strong collector demand. Price Charting, which collects sales data from a wide range of online marketplaces and auctions, recorded a Gem Mint sale in 2021 at $85,000. They also report a Grade 9.5 card selling for more than $21,000 in 2022, proving that it can easily fetch five figures in higher-grade conditions.

2002 Yu-GiOh! Dark Duel Stories #DDS-001 Blue-Eyes White Dragon – Promotional Prismatic Secret Rare ($8,250)

Dark Duel Stories was one of the first Yu-Gi-Oh! video games to be made available outside of the Japanese market. It was released exclusively for Nintendo's Game Boy Color, shortly after the trading card game's release in America and other Western markets. As such, it was not only many fans' introduction to the game but also the first time they became aware of Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

This promotional card was a giveaway to promote Dark Duel Stories. It and the 2003 promo are considered some of the rarest Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards. Finding one today in high-grade condition can be challenging, leading to strong demand (and high prices) in the marketplace.

Price Charting has data on many sales of this card. They report Gem Mint cards selling for an average of around $8,250. They also have lots of data on slightly lower grades, with Grade 9.5 examples selling for almost $3,550.

2008 Yu-Gi-Oh! Retro Pack #RP01-EN001 Blue-Eyes White Dragon – Ultra Rare ($4,955)

European Yu-Gi-Oh! players were frequently left out of the booster packs published in the North American market. However, the 2008 Retro Pack Ultra Rare booster set was exclusive to the European market. Since these cards were produced in limited quantities, this set has been a collector's favorite for years now. One of the most in-demand cards from the collection is, of course, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

Price Charting reports Gem Mint examples of this card selling for $4,955, making it one of the most valuable Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards around. They've also tracked data on lower-grade sales, with Grade 9 cards coming in at a healthy $1,308.

2002 Yu-Gi-Oh! Starter Deck: Kaiba #SDK-001 Blue-Eyes White Dragon – Ultra Rare – 1^st Edition ($2,025)

Trading card game players sometimes look down on starter decks because they focus on making things easy for beginners. Sometimes, however, certain cards from starter deck packs can become favorites, like the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card from 2002.

Price Charting's trackers have recorded many sales of this card. They report Gem Mint examples selling for up to $2,025, while Grade 9.5 cards are close behind with sales of $1,985.

2004 Yu-Gi-Oh! Legend of Blue-Eyes White Dragon # LOB-EN001 – Unlimited Edition Ultra Rare ($1,800)

Although the first Blue-Eyes White Dragon card was released with the original Yu-Gi-Oh! set in 2002, this reprint from 2004 may be more in demand by collectors and investors. That's because it is possibly the rarest Blue-Eyes White Dragon card ever made. There's an absolute scarcity of high-grade cards from the 2004 Unlimited Edition Ultra Rare set on the market. And it's just a beautiful piece of artwork.

Price Charting notes a Gem Mint card selling for around $1,800 and Grade 9.5 cards selling for around $995.

2002 Yu-Gi-Oh! Collector's Tin #BPT-003 Blue-Eyes White Dragon – Secret Rare ($1,270)

Yu-Gi-Oh! Collector's Tins have been regularly produced since 2002. A Blue-Eyes White Dragon promo card was produced that same year, and it has long been a favorite on the open marketplace.

The sales data at Price Charting shows Gem Mint cards selling for around $1,270, while Grade 9 cards are a relative bargain at $288.

2012 Yu-Gi-Oh! Gold Series: Haunted Mine #GLD5-EN001 Blue-Eyes White Dragon – Ghost/Gold Rare ($865)

Yu-Gi-Oh! is known for its unique approach to the rarity formula. Some fan favorites include the Ghost Rares, introduced in 2007, and the Gold Rares, which came out the following year. In 2012, fans were treated to a hybrid Ghost/Gold Rare combo.

The holographic foil that provides the ghostly effect of the Ghost Rares is included, as is the gold lettering and trim seen in the Gold Rares. This has proven to be a popular card for both players and collectors. It can be hard to find, especially in high-grade conditions.

Price Charting notes the sales of a Gem Mint card at $865, with ungraded cards selling for $77.

2020 Yu-Gi-Oh! Maximum Gold #MAGO-EN001 Blue-Eyes White Dragon – Premium Gold Rare ($400)

This may be the newest and least expensive card on the list, but there's still a strong collector demand for this card. And while there have been several Blue-Eyes White Dragon Gold Rares over the years, the Premium printing process on this card made it an immediate fan favorite.

A lot of the collector's excitement has to do with this card's overall design and appearance. It looks like actual gold has been overlaid on the printed card. Then the gold trim appears embossed, making this one of the most upscale Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards to ever hit the market.

Finding this card in Gem Mint condition can be challenging, but Price Charting has recorded a few different transactions of the card in top condition. They report a Gem Mint sale for $400. Their price trackers have also captured Grade 9.5 cards selling for $133.

How Are Blue-Eyes White Dragon Cards Graded?

Trading card certifiers use a universal numeric grading system that all dealers, appraisers, and collectors recognize. The grades range from ungraded to a Pristine 10.

Grades are calculated according to the following standards:

Pristine 10: The best a card can be, with Gem Mint scores across all four criteria: surface, edges, centering and corners. These cards are perfect even when viewed under 10x magnification.

Gem Mint: Perfect, with bright colors, perfect centering, undamaged edges, sharp corners and no condition or manufacturing issues or flaws.

Grade 9.5: A Near Mint card with one minor flaw or condition issue.

Grade 9: Excellent, with a few minor condition issues or flaws.

Grades 8 and below: These cards are graded lower because of production flaws or condition issues.

Ungraded: Never been graded.

Raw: Just removed from its packaging and new to the market.

Trading card values are determined according to three components: condition, rarity and collector demand. Of the three, collector demand is the most difficult to predict because it can change at any time. A once-desirable card may plummet in value if collectors lose their interest. On the other hand, a more typical card may catapult if collectors suddenly rediscover that player. Escalating auction prices due to bidding wars can also cause card prices to spike. A rare card in Gem Mint condition may be challenging to sell because it commands a premium price, while a lesser-grade card that is more common may suddenly find favor with fans and soar in price.

Before investing, remember that many variables go into determining the value of a Blue-Eyes White Dragon card. Obtaining a certified grading is one of the most important things you can do to add value to your cards.

Having your cards graded can make the difference between a particular card being valued for a few dollars and quite a bit more. Grading helps ensure which card you have so that you can accurately assess its value. The grading process also preserves the condition of your card for maximum value. For serious collectors and investors, grading is an essential step for maintaining the long-term value of any given card. To learn more about the grading process for your Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards, visit the CGC site today.

*Any mention of "investment potential" is for entertainment only and should not be construed as investment advice. The Certified Collectibles Group does not provide investment advice and is not liable for any buy, sell or trade decisions made by any parties.