Dark Magician

Why collectors notice it

Dark Magician is one of the most reprinted monsters in the game, and many collectors keep a themed set of its versions.

It is the foundation of the English Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG. Read more about Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon.

A closer look

Reading this card

Look first at the type line. Dark Magician is a Spellcaster, and that single word is the reason it has supported so many related cards. Other cards point at the type, not at the name, so the line tells you which helpers and rivals apply to it.

The frame is yellowish, the mark of a Normal Monster. Seven stars show Level 7, and the attribute symbol shows Dark. The featured print is an Ultra Rare, with a gold-foil name and a holographic picture, and its set code starts with LOB. Because the card is reprinted so often, the code and rarity are the quickest way to tell one version from another.

How it compares

The nearest match is Red-Eyes Black Dragon. They share the same Level, the same Dark attribute and the same Normal Monster frame. Only the type differs: Spellcaster here, Dragon there. If you want to see why a type line matters, this pair shows it with everything else held equal.

Next to Blue-Eyes White Dragon, you get a different contrast. Blue-Eyes sits one Level higher and is Light, yet both need two tributes, because the rule starts at Level 7. The tribute summoning page lays out the thresholds.

Questions readers ask

How many monsters must I give up to summon it?

Two. Any monster of Level 7 or higher needs two tributes, meaning two monsters you control go to the graveyard first.

Which card is "the" Dark Magician to collect?

There is no single answer. Many collectors keep a themed set of its versions, comparing set codes and rarity styles. This site does not give prices, so it cannot say which version costs more.

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