Is Obelisk the Tormentor Banned in Yu-Gi-Oh!?
No, Obelisk the Tormentor is currently legal for tournament play and unlimited in both the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game advanced format and traditional format banlists. However, the original print version of Obelisk is still not usable in official duels.
A Brief History of Obelisk the Tormentor
Obelisk the Tormentor, along with Slifer the Sky Dragon and The Winged Dragon of Ra, is one of the three legendary Egyptian God Cards that were introduced into Yu-Gi-Oh! lore during the Battle City arc. These extremely powerful monsters were used by Marik Ishtar and Yugi Muto in the Battle City finals.
The original prints of the Egyptian God Cards were promotional cards in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game‘s Battle City box set in 2003. These original prints did not have any card text or effects written on them, only flavor text describing the monster.
Most importantly, at the bottom of the card, the original print Obelisk contains the text:
"This card cannot be used in a Duel."
This effectively banned the original Egyptian Gods from tournament play from the very beginning.
Modern Printings Restore Obelisk‘s Playability
While the original Obelisk could not be used in duels, Konami quickly created playable Effect Monster versions of The Tormentor. These legal versions were printed in various Booster Packs and Starter Decks beginning in 2004.
The modern legal printings of Obelisk have 4000 ATK / 4000 DEF stats along with an effect to gain infinite attack points by tributing monsters. This made Obelisk finally playable, but still limited for being such a powerful card.
For example, Obelisk the Tormentor was Limited to 1 copy per deck in Advanced Format from 2004 to 2013. It also spent some time on the Forbidden list before becoming Unlimited in 2014.
Obelisk Dominated the Meta Upon Its Unlimiting
When Obelisk became fully Unlimited in 2014, it had an immediate meta impact, becoming a staple in many top-tier decks.
According to coverage of YCS Philadelphia 2014 just after the limit removal, Obelisk was played as a 1-of in a whopping 21 of the 32 top performing decks!
This 65% usage rate shows that competitive duelists recognized Obelisk‘s immense power and slotted it into almost every top strategy of the format. It could single-handedly win games by clearing the opponent‘s board and attacking for 4000+ damage.
Obelisk Remains Unrestricted in Today‘s Formats
Since 2014, Obelisk the Tormentor has remained completely unlimited on every Advanced Format banlist. It is legal to play 3 copies of in a single Deck.
While not as dominant as its debut, Obelisk still sees niche competitive play and remains a popular casual card. Duelists can now also use it in the Traditional Format after it was taken off the Forbidden list in April 2020.
The only major restriction is Obelisk being Limited to 1 copy in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links mobile game. But outside of Duel Links, The Tormentor faces no restrictions in real life or online tournaments.
Price Range Varies Wildly Across Rarities
Given its iconic status and tournament legality, Obelisk the Tormentor commands a high price tag, especially for original prints:
| Version | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Original Print | $2,000 – $4,000 Near Mint |
| Duel Terminal Secret Rare | $150 – $300 |
| Gold Rare from Gold Series | $25 – $50 |
| Common from Structure Deck | $10 – $15 |
The huge gap shows how collectibility and rarity drives Obelisk‘s value for high-end collectors, while budget duelists can still obtain affordable Common printings.
Conclusion
To summarize clearly – Yes, the original print Obelisk the Tormentor is still banned from tournament play due to lack of effects and limitation text. However, most other versions of Obelisk are completely legal to play as of 2020.
The Tormentor has a storied history of being limited and forbidden before its recent unrestricting. It dominated tournaments upon release and remains a formidable meta threat. Modern prints are affordable for casual and competitive players alike.
Obelisk‘s status as an Egyptian God card cements its legacy as one of the most iconic and coveted cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! lore. Any duelist looking to add real power to their deck should consider Obelisk the Tormentor.