Pot of Greed

Why collectors notice it

The card is often discussed as a symbol of game balance. It has been affected by the Forbidden & Limited List, which controls how many copies of a card can be used.

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

A Spell looks different from a monster at a glance. The frame is green. There are no stars, no attack number and no monster type, because nothing here is summoned. The type line instead names the subtype, Normal Spell, which means the card is played, does its job and goes away.

Pay attention to the rarity. The featured print is a Rare, so the card name is printed in silver foil, while the picture is not holographic. That differs from the gold-foil Ultra Rare monsters of the same set. The foil is a label from the publisher, not a score of how useful a card is. The rarity and finishes guide covers the difference between a rarity and a finish.

How it compares

The closest partner is Dark Hole. Both are Normal Spells from the first set, but they do opposite jobs: one adds cards to your hand, the other clears monsters from the field. Their foils also differ, silver name here and holographic image there.

Compare it with Mirror Force to see the Spell and Trap split. A Spell is usually activated from your hand in your own Main Phase. A Trap is set face down first and waits. The page on Spell and Trap cards lists all the subtypes.

Questions readers ask

Can I use it in a tournament deck?

Check Konami's current Forbidden & Limited List. The card has been affected by it, and this site does not list the current contents.

Does a higher rarity mean a better card?

No. Rarity describes how often a card is printed, not how strong it is in play. Pot of Greed is a Rare in this set, while Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician are Ultra Rares that are Normal Monsters with no effect. See our rarities page.

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