A Card Number (Japanese: カードナンバー Kādo Nanbā) is the code found on most OCG and TCG cards, intended to denote the set from which the card originated, its position in that set, the region the card was printed for, and the language the card was printed in.
Card Numbers were introduced in the OCG with Series 2, though several cards have been printed since then without a Card Number. The same card but with an alternate artwork, an alternate password, or a different rarity in a given set may share a card number or assigned to separate card numbers. There are a few cases of cards from different sets sharing the same card number.
Contents
OCG/TCGEdit
On most cards, the Card Number is located immediately underneath the artwork, on the right side. Card numbers on Pendulum Monsters are placed in the bottom left corner of the card instead, in line with the ATK/DEF values, as the Pendulum Effects and the Pendulum Scales take up the space where the card number would usually be placed. On Link Monsters, card numbers are moved slightly left of their normal position to allow room for the bottom-right Link Arrow.
FormatEdit
The general format for card numbers is "AAAA-RR###", where "AAAA" is the two- to five-character set abbreviation, "RR" is the one- or two-letter region code (can be empty), and "###" is the set position number.
Set abbreviationEdit
The set abbreviation[1] is normally four characters (either letters or digits). Normally the first two characters are letters, but there are sets for which this is not the case.
- In Series 2, cards use two-character set abbreviations.
- In Series 3, cards use three-character set abbreviations. Some TCG sets have prefixes that differ between languages.
- In Series 4, cards use three-character set abbreviations. They no longer vary between TCG languages.
- From Series 5 onward, cards use four-character set abbreviations.
- Two-character abbreviations were generally limited to Series 2 cards, with two exceptions: the Korean release of Hidden Arsenal: Special Edition, released in September 2011, used the abbreviation "HA"; and Boss Duel Decks, which were distributed to stores in Japan in mid-2014, used the abbreviation "BD".
- Only a single card has been printed with a Card Number containing a five-character set abbreviation: the Duel Art Campaign promotional card "Holactie the Creator of Light", with card number YGOPR-JP001.
- Rereleased sets keep their original set abbreviations and numbers.
- A worldwide English edition of "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" from the 25th Anniversary edition of Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon would also have a Card Number of LOB-EN001, but it would be a Series 11 card, and listed separately from the original edition in the database.
Region codeEdit
The region code is normally two letters. They were introduced in Series 3, the first series to be released outside of Japan. In Series 3, North American English and Japanese sets do not use region codes, while all other regions use single-letter codes. From Series 4 onward, all regions use two-letter region codes.
The one-character code for Japanese cards is usually the empty string. Uniquely, the Booster Pack Collectors Tin 2003 and Booster Pack Collectors Tin 2004 promotional cards use the single letter "J" for a Japanese card.
| Region | 1-character code | 2-character code |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide English | — | EN |
| North American English | none | — |
| European English | E | — |
| Australian English/ Oceanic English |
A | — |
| French | F | FR |
| French-Canadian | C | — |
| German | G | DE |
| Italian | I | IT |
| Portuguese | P | PT |
| Spanish | S | SP |
| Japanese | none or J | JP |
| Japanese-Asian | — | JA |
| Asian-English | none | AE |
| Korean | — | KR |
| Traditional Chinese | — | TC |
| Simplified Chinese | — | SC |
Set position numberEdit
The set position number is normally three digits. Series 2 sets, use two-digit set position numbers instead.
For most sets, this is a number that starts at 001, with all numbers up to the highest number corresponding to a card; some sets also include a card numbered 000. Closely related sets that share a prefix, or set with multiple subsets within them (such as Yugi's Legendary Decks), will often replace the first character of the set position number with a letter (different for each set or subset), and number each set or subset separately.
For series of promotional cards, such as magazine promotional cards, instead each new release will use a number one higher than the last promotional card to be released.
Some promotional cards and bonus cards use letters as the first one or two characters to indicate their status as such. (Replacing the first character with "S" is common.) Token Cards will often use TKN as their entire set position number.
The K Series cards appended a capital letter "K" to their set position number, e.g. a print of "Elemental HERO Flame Wingman" had the Card Number TLM-EN035K.
Cards printed without a Card NumberEdit
Several cards have been printed without a Card Number since Series 2. However, all of them are reprints of cards which deputed in Series 1 using the pseudo-Series 1 layout, or are exclusive non-game releases of the most well-known cards in the franchise, or both. Game card releases were also acknowledged in the official database, and kept their null set number in their respective set.
The Ticket Cards have never been printed with Card Numbers, and have always been printed with the Series 1 layout, even for their TCG prints.
| Release date | Set | Cards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2013 | V Jump April 2013 Tokens | assorted Monster Tokens | Cut-out Token cards printed without Card Numbers or security foil, in the same V Jump issue as the V Jump April 2013 promo |
| March 8, 2014 | Memories of the Duel King: Duelist Kingdom Arc | "Slifer the Sky Dragon" | Printed with the Series 2 layout; this was the first time this card was printed without a Card Number |
| July 5, 2014 | Memories of the Duel King: Battle City Arc | "Obelisk the Tormentor" | Printed with the Series 2 layout; this was the first time this card was printed without a Card Number |
| August 23, 2014 | Memories of the Duel King: Ceremonial Battle Arc | "The Winged Dragon of Ra" | Printed with the Series 2 layout; this was the first time this card was printed without a Card Number |
| June 2018 | "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" 20th Anniversary Silver Edition | "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" | Printed on sterling silver with the Series 1 layout |
| August 14, 2018 | Yugi's Uncut Card Sheet promotion | "Slifer the Sky Dragon" | Korean set; printed with the Series 2 layout |
| December 22, 2018 | 20th Anniversary Duelist Box | Printed on stainless steel using the Series 1 layout; only included in the Japanese print of the set | |
| February 4, 2019 | "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" 20th Anniversary Gold Edition | "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" | Printed on pure gold with the Series 1 layout |
| March 6, 2019 | Challenge from Kaiba Corporation Clear bonus | "Obelisk the Tormentor" | Printed using the Series 2 layout |
| May 11, 2019 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Japan 2019 prize card | "Red-Eyes Black Dragon" | Printed on stainless steel using the Series 1 layout |
| March 19, 2020 | Duel Overload | Oversized cards printed using a special manga-themed layout | |
| May 22, 2020 | "Dark Magician Girl" Special Card | "Dark Magician Girl" | Printed on stainless steel using the Series 2 layout; this was the first time this card was printed without a Card Number |
| August 2021 | Masterpiece Series: Platinum Blue-Eyes White Dragon | "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" | Printed on 99.9% pure silver |
| April 23, 2022 | 25th Anniversary Ultimate Kaiba Set | "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" | Printed with the Series 1 layout |
| March 2023 | "Dark Magician" Special Card | "Dark Magician" | Printed on stainless steel using the Series 1 layout |
| May 27, 2023 | Duelist Pack: Duelists of Explosion | "Left Leg of the Forbidden One" | Printed with the Series 1 layout |
| May 28, 2023 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Japan 2023 prize card | "Gaia The Fierce Knight" | Printed on stainless steel using the Series 1 layout |
| June 10, 2023 | Animation Chronicle 2023 | "Right Arm of the Forbidden One" | Printed with the Series 1 layout |
| September 2, 2023 | Legendary "Black Luster Soldier" GET Campaign | "Black Luster Soldier" | Normal Monster prize card version of "Black Luster Soldier", printed with the Series 1 layout |
| September 6, 2023 | Masterpiece Series: Platinum Dark Magician | "Dark Magician" | Printed on 99.9% pure silver |
| September 23, 2023 | World Premiere Pack 2023 | "Right Leg of the Forbidden One" | Printed with the Series 1 layout |
| November 25, 2023 | Terminal World | "Left Arm of the Forbidden One" | Printed with the Series 1 layout |
| February 3, 2024 | Premium Pack: The Legend of Duelist Quarter Century Edition | 18 cards | Reprints 18 cards using the Series 1 layout: all 10 cards from Premium Pack and all cards distributed during the Legend in Tokyo Dome tournament |
| March 2024 | Stainless Steel Egyptian God Cards | English set; printed on stainless steel with their manga artworks and English manga names and texts | |
| March 4, 2024 | Stainless Steel Egyptian God Cards Sweepstakes | "Black Luster Soldier" | English set; Normal Monster prize card version of "Black Luster Soldier", printed in Japanese with the Series 1 layout and "LIMITED EDITION" under the artwork |
| April 29, 2024 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Japan 2024 prize card | "Gandora the Dragon of Destruction" | Printed on stainless steel; this was the first time this card was printed without a Card Number |
| August 2024 | Stainless Steel Card: Dark Magician Girl | "Dark Magician Girl" | English set; printed on stainless steel |
| December 21, 2024 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series China 2024 prize card | "Stardust Dragon" | Printed on stainless steel |
| September 13, 2025 | Limited Pack GX: Slifer Red | "Uria, Lord of Searing Flames" | This was the first time this card was printed without a card number. |
| July 2026 | Limited Pack GX: Ra Yellow | "Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder" | This was the first time this card was printed without a card number. |
Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush DuelEdit
Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel cards prefix the card number with "RD/", as in RD/KP01-JP000 ("Blue-Eyes White Dragon"). Otherwise, Card Numbers have the same structure as TCG/OCG cards.
Other mediaEdit
Card numbers are not featured in the anime or manga. Most video games do not feature the OCG/TCG-style card numbers, though almost all of them do number cards sequentially (see Comparison of video game card numbers (by number)).
Bandai's Official Card GameEdit
Card Numbers are used in Bandai's Official Card Game. Almost all Bandai cards only have a number, without any abbreviations or letters.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice MonstersEdit
Card Numbers are used in Dungeon Dice Monsters. These consist of a two-character, alphanumeric set identifier, a hyphen-minus, and a two-digit set position number, e.g. ST-00 ("Monster Lord").
The Japanese and English versions of Dungeon Dice Monsters used the same set prefixes, despite the sets containing different pieces in the two regions. Because the set identifiers do not include anything language-specific, this results in the same set identifier referring to distinct cards in the Japanese and English versions most of the time. Additionally, the same structure was used for set identifiers in the Booster R series of packs in the Japanese OCG. As a result, the same set identifier can refer to three distinct cards in the three games (Japanese Dungeon Dice Monsters, English Dungeon Dice Monsters, and Japanese OCG). For example, B1-01 was used for "Darkfire Dragon" in the Japanese Dungeon Dice Monsters set Booster 1, for "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" in the English Dungeon Dice Monsters set Dragonflame, and for "Ryu-Kishin" in the Japanese OCG set Booster R1.
| ID | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| ST | Starter Box | Starter Set |
| B1 | Booster 1 | Dragonflame |
| B2 | Booster 2 | Forbidden Powers |
| B3 | Booster 3 | Ultimate Wrath |
| B4 | Booster 4 | Iron Guardians |
| B5 | Booster 5 | Summoned Fury (unreleased) |
| B6 | Booster 6 | Magnetic Storm (unreleased) |
| B7 | Booster 7 | — |
In other languagesEdit
| Language | Name | Romanized |
|---|---|---|
| French | Numéro de Carte | — |
| German | Kartennummer | — |
| Italian | Numero della Carta | — |
| Portuguese | Número do Card | — |
| Spanish | Número de Carta | — |
| Japanese | カードナンバー | Kādonanbā |
| Korean | 카드 번호 | Kadeu Beonho |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 卡號 | Kǎhào |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 卡编号 | Kǎbiānhào |