It's time to d-d-d-d-d-talk about Yu-Gi-Oh!The anime that sparked a card game has been on the mind of western viewers since the 4Kids version debuted in September of 2001. Since then the card game the anime is based on has occupied the time and wallets of fans the world over. Much like the characters in the series.
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One such character being Yugi Muto. While nothing much on the outside, Yugi actually holds the spirit of the King of Games, Atem. An Egyptian Pharoahknownfor being a master strategist who is an unstoppable force in games. Though it takes much more than just strategy to be the undisputed King of Duel Monsters. It also takes powerful cards to climb to the top of the gaming mountain.
Updated on November 2nd, 2020 by Patrick Mocella: Being as talented as a duelist he is, there are so many other cards in the King Of Games' deck that can be discussed here. We will be excluding the other two Egyptian God Cards (Obelisk The Tormentor and The Winged Dragon Of Ra) from the discussion due to how rarely Yugi actually used the cards and because of their game-breaking status in the anime. There are many other amazing spell cards, trap cards, and monsters we can pull from for our list. Let's dig into the most famous deck in all of the franchise. As he himself would say, "It's time to duel!"
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15 Buster Blader
It's a niche pick but when your greatest Rival is Seto Kaiba, it is invaluable. Already a menacing monster with 2600 attack points, Buster Blader has an ability that makes it the bane of any dragon-themed decks.
Its already impressive 2600 attack gets increased by 500 for every Dragon-Type monster on the opponent's side of the field and in their Graveyard. Which can lead to an insane amount of attack power that can easily rival higher tier monsters. The sheer amount of times that Yugi and Atem have faced duelist with dragon cards make it more than necessary in his deck.
14 Swords of Revealing Light
Not every strong card in Yu-Gi-Oh! is a monster card. A strong mixture of monster, traps, and spell cards are neededto become the King of Games. Swords of Revealing light is a welcome addition to almost any deck.
While it has no attack or monster destruction abilities to think of, it provides a duelist with valuable supplementary abilities. First, it reveals all face-down monster cards, shielding its master from any ill effects they may have had. Secondly, it stalls for time with a light showthat prevents an opponent from attacking the duelist who summoned it for 3 turns. Allowing them valuable time to think of a counter-strategy.
13 Valkyrion The Magna Warrior
The Magnet Warriors may not be all that strong by themselves, but when combined they are a force to be reckoned with. Valkyrion The Magna Warrior can only be tribute summoned by sacrificing the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Magnet Warrior, but once you do you have one of the strongest monster cards in the series. Starting with a staggering 3500 attack and 3850 Defense, it has enough attack power to obliterate the famed Blue-Eyes White Dragon and defense to tank it easily. Though a high defense and attack aren't the only tricks this card has up its non-existent sleeve.
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It can also be sacrificed to resummon the cards used to Tribute Summon it. And if you think that isn't much use, that very same ability was one of the key factors needed to destroy all three of the Egyptian God Cards during Yugi's Ceremonial Battle with Atem.
12 Dark Hole
This card is the type that Yugi and Atem should have used more often. Only used once by him in the original anime, he didn't even get to fully implement it because it was sniped out of his hand. Which is a shame because it is an insane Spell Card.
Able to change the flow of any duel, Dark Hole's ability is simple but immensely effect. It destroys all monsters on the field. That may includethe summoner's monsters, but when they have their backs up against the wall by an opponent's set of monsters, nothing is more of a game-changer than clearing the field.
11 Dark Magician
Not only one of his strongest but the most valuable card for Yugi and Atem. Starting with 2500 attack and 2100 defense, it's a heavy hitter for sure, but that's not where its true power lies.
The sheer amount ofsynergy this card has with othercards makes it one of the strongest cards inYugi and Atem's deck. There are several spell and monster cards that include Dark Magician for its effects. That's not even including the several monsters it is used as a tribute to summon, some of which arequite powerful in the anime.
10 Mirror Force
The only trap card on this list, but for good reason. While Dark Hole can potentially wipe the field clean, Mirror Force can do one better.
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Activated when a monster attacks the duelist, it takes all of that attack's force and sends it right back at them to destroy every card on the opponent's side of the field in attack position. Which has saved Yugi and Atem time and again throughout the series. Leaving the opponent's side of the field clean for their counter-attack. After all, there is a reason why Mirror force is probably the most used Trap Card in the series.
9 Dark Sage
The best cards are always the ones that let you break the rules. Dark Sage is only a bit stronger than Dark Magician, but it's special ability more than earns it a place on this list. In the anime, it lets Yugi and Atem use spell cards on both their and their opponent's turn from his deck. Which can let them set up some amazing combos according tothe show's rules.
Even outside of the anime, Dark Sage can make or break a game. Allowing the player to bring one spell card from his deck into his hand, letting them immediately activate it for a play that could win them the game. The only problem being that it isthat you would need all the planets to align on a blue moon to summon him as you need a Dark Magician, Time Wizard and a coin flip going your way.
8 Dark Paladin
Another member of the Dark Magician family, Dark Paladin has the best parts of two strong cards. Requiring a Fusion Summon of both Dark Magician and Buster Blader, this monster is a one-man army of spell killing action.
First and foremost, it can negate and destroy any Spell Card by discarding one card from its summoner's hand. Secondly, it keeps Buster Blader's dragonslayer ability. For every dragon card on the opponent's field and in their graveyard, it increases its attack by 500. Only adding to its already high 2900 attack points. If played against a Dragon deck it couldmean instant defeat.
7 Slifer The Sky Dragon
Slifer the Sky Dragon is one of the mythical God cards. Each baring amazingly powerful abilities that few Monster Cards could rival. Slifer being no slouch in that department. Starting with an Attack and Defense dictated by the number of cards in your hands. It gets 1000 points to both attack and defense for each card its summoner holds. Then we go into its abilities and it is easy to see why these cards are feared in the anime.
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Upon activation, it weakens every Monster Card summoned onto the field by 2000 points. It also straight up destroys any monster with 2000 or fewer attack points that dare to resist it. Pretty hardcore for a children's card game.
We include this one over the other God cards as this seems to be the one closest to Atem/Yugi. Obelisk and Ra were seldom used in comparison to Slifer.
6 Exodia, The Forbidden One
Not a single card, but a set of cards that can immediately win the game. Yugi and Atem only really had the cards during the first three episodes of the series, but that doesn't exclude it from being included among theirmost powerful cards.
Once all 5 pieces of the Forbidden One are assembled, the game is immediately won. That's it. No amount of monster cards, spells, or traps can stop Exodia from immediately obliterating all opposition and winning the game for its summoner. Which isexactly why Weevil tossed them out to sea the moment he got his grimy hands on them. Seriously, Yugi, you shouldn't lend your cards out to people with "evil" in their name.
5 Card Of Sanctity
Just as the picture states, the effect behind this card is quite simple. Both players draw from their decks until they're holding six cards. To be clear in the real life card game this spell card is pathetic as you must banish all cards in your hand and field to draw two cards. But in the anime, Yugi often uses this card to replenish his hand and deliver mind-boggling combos.
Keep in mind that Yugi possesses an uncanny ability to draw whatever he needs so this card is even more stupidly broken than before. The most infamous use of this card comes in season 3 when he uses it against Noah Kaiba to draw Monster Reborn, two copies of Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Quick Attack, Polymerization and De-Fusion. That six card combo brings down the season's villain in spectacular fashion.
4 Magic Cylinder
Another card that isn't too great in the real life card game but in the context of the anime, it is awesome. A simple trap card, Magic Cylinder redirects an attack back at the opponent and delivers damage to their life points equal to the attack of the attacking monster.
With the real life game having 8000 life points and trap cards involving the battle phase generally being frowned upon, Magic Cylinder doesn't see real life play. But since the first anime had many less cards which negate/destroy traps, Magic Cylinder is an amazing card which can end a duel in an instant. If only Yugi played this card in his duels more often...
3 Brain Control
No matter what variant of Yu-Gi-Oh you're discussing, being able to steal your opponent's monsters is always good to do. Most cards impose a penalty against the player for using such a card or only trigger under specific circumstances. Not so in the case of one of Yugi's greatest spells: Brain Control.
While the real life version of the cardhas a few restrictions on its targets, the anime version has no such limitations. It simply allows you to take control of one of your opponent's monsters for a turn. You are free to attack with it, use it as a tribute or whatever else you please. It's worth noting that an identical card in the real life game called Change Of Heart has stayed on the banned list for 15 years at the time of writing.
2 Monster Reborn
Sometimes you can't beat a classic. A card seen in the earliest days of the show, Monster Reborn simply allows you to bring back a monster from either player's graveyard and summon it to your side of the field. This play has no cost on it and no drawbacks, so you can already imagine how good of a card this is, Even though it's been around for nearly two decades, itis still considered a great card.
Yugi has used this card in duels against Joey Wheeler, Mai Valentine, Bakura and many duelists to turn the tide of the game or deliver the finishing blow. Yugi won't win any originality points for running this card, but it's still a great one.
1 Summoned Skull
It's a pity that the Summoned Skull doesn't get more respect as a card of Yugi's deck. Although Dark Magician is the star of Yugi's deck, Summoned Skull boasts an equal attack point value of 2500. Even better still is that it requires one less tribute to bring out than Dark Magician which brings up the question as to why this card wasn't played by Yugi more?
Most likely is that Dark Magician has tons of more support cards in Yugi's deck so the focus went to it instead of this fiend. Still in the simple days of Yugi's time dueling, you cannot scoff at a simple and cheap beatstick that is the Summoned Skull.
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FAQs
What is Yami Yugi strongest card? ›
An incredibly powerful God Card, Slifer the Sky Dragon becomes Yugi's go-to card after he wins it in his duel against Strings. Its attack and defense points aren't listed, and that's because Slifer gains 1000 attack and defense points for every card in its owner's hand.
What are Yugi's favorite cards? ›- 1 Dark Magician.
- 2 Kuriboh. ...
- 3 Dark Magician Girl. ...
- 4 Big Shield Gardna. ...
- 5 Swords Of Revealing Light. ...
- 6 Gazelle The King Of Mythical Beasts. ...
- 7 Celtic Guardian. ...
- 8 Spellbinding Circle. ...
7 Their Dueling Decks
Yugi rarely duels without Atem, but when he does, he has a different card deck than his other soul. When Yugi is separated from Atem, he uses Gadget monsters, along with Silent Magician and Silent Swordsman, and doesn't use the Dark Magicians that Atem is known for.
Each Yugi`s Legendary Decks collection contains: 3 41-card Decks. Each Deck contains 36 Commons & 5 Ultra Rares. 3 Secret Rares 3 Ultra Rare collectible historical cards 3 Ultra Rare collectible Egyptian God Cards 1 Ultra Rare Token Card.
What is Yugi's favorite monster? ›1 Dark Magician
The Dark Magician has been a part of Yugi's deck since the very first episode of the series, and has solidified itself as the true ace card of Yugi's deck. It has won him countless fights and duels, and always had a trick up its sleeve to defeat its opponents.
- 1 The Winged Dragon Of Ra – Sphere Mode.
- 2 The Wicked Avatar. ...
- 3 Hamon, Lord Of Striking Thunder. ...
- 4 Obelisk The Tormentor. ...
- 5 Loki, Lord Of The Aesir. ...
- 6 Odin, Father Of The Aesir. ...
- 7 The Wicked Dreadroot. ...
- 8 Slifer The Sky Dragon. ...
| Character | Signature card(s) |
|---|---|
| Yugi Muto/Yami Yugi | Dark Magician Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning Egyptian Gods |
| Tania | Amazoness Arena |
| Maximillion Pegasus | Toon Kingdom |
| Seto Kaiba | Blue-Eyes White Dragon |
There is Obelisk Blue, Slifer Red, and Ra Yellow. The placement of these dormitories reflects how Kaiba sees these cards and the relationship he has had with the people who wielded them. Yugi possessed Slifer, making this class a regular one while Obelisk was considered neutral and Ra as the top of the academy.
What is the coolest Yugioh card? ›- Dark Magician.
- Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
- Exodia The Forbidden One.
- Pot of Greed.
- Yata-Garasu.
- Cyber Dragon.
- Crush Card Virus.
- Maxx “C”
Yugi revives an ancient spirit called Atem (闇遊戯, Yami Yūgi) (Dark Yugi in the English translation and Yami Yugi in the English dub of the anime). During the series, Yugi forms friendships with the supporting cast, interacts with Atem and learns about his secrets.
Who is Yugi's best friend? ›
Yugi's close friend. Jonouchi is loyal, heroic, good-natured, brave, funny, friendly, kind-hearted, and loving. When Ushio beats up Jonouchi and Honda, Yugi stands up for them, and it's then that Jonouchi realizes that he was jealous of Yugi's "treasure" all along.
Who defeated Atem? ›Major Events. Using a "Card of Sanctity" and "Silent Magician LV0" combination, Yugi makes both players draw 5 cards and boosts his Magician's power to 3500 ATK. This enables him to defeat Atem's "Dark Magician" and "Dark Magician Girl".
Who can beat Atem? ›The biggest proof that Yugi is superior to Atem is right in the series finale. In that episode, Yugi accomplishes a feat that nobody else has done before or since; he defeated all three Egyptian God Cards and beats his partner fair and square. That right there is why Yugi is the greatest duelist in the original series.
Does Atem ever return? ›And you do too," Yugi says after completing the Puzzle. And although Atem briefly returns from the afterlife to stop a monstorous version of Aigami that's been corrupted by the Ring's malevolence, he bids Yugi a silent farewell - observing how much his former host has grown.
What was Yugi's power? ›Yami Yugi is capable of hypnotism with the puzzle's magic; seen in Season 0's portion of the manga. Making his targets believe what he wishes or make them do what he wishes.
What is the ultimate Yu-Gi-Oh card? ›An Ultimate Rare card has an "embossed" foil on the Card Artwork, including the borders of artworks, Attribute icon, and on Monster Cards, the Level Stars. The card name is printed gold, like an Ultra Rare. When scanned, the embossed image may be muted and the image indistinct from the background.
What is Yugi's Egyptian God card? ›The Egyptian God Cards, also known in Japanese as the Three Legendary Gods ( 三 さん 幻 げん 神 しん , Sangenshin), are a series of cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! that serve as a focal point in the series' manga, the second series anime, and numerous video games.
Who is Yugi's main rival? ›Seto Kaiba
He is Yugi's greatest rival and has a multi million company called Kaiba Corp. He has plenty of rare cards like three Blue Eyes White Dragons. He has a younger brother named Mokuba.
The original manga Yu-Gi-Oh! told the story of a boy named Yugi Muto, who loved games and was always getting bullied. After solving the ancient Egyptian Millennium Puzzle, he awakens an alter-ego called Yami Yugi, who takes on the challenge of different games.
Who is Yugi's ace monster? ›Characters as central as Yugi have several ace monsters, such as Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, and Kuriboh.
What are the 3 god cards in Yugioh? ›
This product comes with The 3 God Cards. Slifer the Sky Dragon, The Winged Dragon Ra, Obelisk the Tormentor.
Who is god in Yu-Gi-Oh? ›G.O.D. ( Ｇ・Ｏ・Ｄ ゴッド Goddo), also known as simply the God cards, is a series of Level 10 Pendulum Monsters in the Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V manga. They are cards created from the power of Genesis Omega Dragon, also known as "G.O.D.", including "Genesis Omega Dragon" itself, who is held by Eve. The other two G.O.D.
What is the weakest Yu-Gi-Oh card? ›The weakest Yu-Gi-Oh! card ever made is Mystery Guard, which has 0 ATK and 0 DEF. It is not very useful in-game as it does not have any effects.
Does Yugi get a God card? ›The Winged Dragon of Ra
The card was later given to Yugi after he won the Battle City Tournament, giving him control of all three Egyptian god cards.
series around such games and used this idea as the premise; Yugi was a weak childish boy, who became a hero when he played games. With friendship being one of the major themes of Yu-Gi-Oh!, he based the names of the two major characters "Yūgi" and "Jōnouchi" on the Japanese word yūjō, which means "friendship".
What does the C stand for in Yu-Gi-Oh? ›The "C" stands for cockroach, and their artworks feature cockroaches (whose eyes are denoted by sparkles) within common household locations that they can inhabit. This is made clear by the sprite used for "Shiny Black "C"" in Yu-Gi-Oh!
Does Yugi ever use exodia? ›Pre-Duelist Kingdom
Since Yugi now had all five pieces in his hand, he summons Exodia (a feat that no duelist has ever accomplished prior to this Duel). Yugi then uses Exodia to attack and destroy all three of Kaiba's "Blue-Eyes White Dragons", winning him the duel.
Yugi's Deck
The only known card in Yugi's own Deck is "Blackland Fire Dragon".
Ishizu Ishtar, from the council, later gave it to Seto Kaiba, so that he would host the Battle City tournament to retrieve the other two. Kaiba used "Obelisk the Tormentor" in many of his Duels in the Battle City preliminaries.
What is the rarest Yu? ›- Dark Magician Girl.
- Red-Eyes B. Dragon.
- Doomcaliber Knight.
- Cyber-Stein.
- Card Crush Virus.
- Dark Magician.
- Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
- Tyler, the Great Warrior.
What is the most powerful card? ›
The Ace of Spades (also known as the Spadille and Death Card) is traditionally the highest and most valued card in the deck of playing cards in English-speaking countries. The actual value of the card varies from game to game.
What are Secret rare Yu-Gi-Oh cards? ›Secret Rares are the top rarity for unique new cards in each core booster pack. If there's an incredible new card in an upcoming set, there's a good chance that it's a Secret Rare. Over the years Secret Rares have consistently been among the most challenging cards to pull in each set they appear in.
How old is Atem in Yu-Gi-Oh? ›| Pharaoh Atem Aknamkanon | |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 (physically) 5018 (spiritually) |
| Birthdate | 3018 B.C. |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | His friends, family, and the forces of good |
The anime most likely made him taller than Yugi just so people could notice who's out and maybe to show their personalities. There's no in-story explanation, it's nothing more than a visual aid. The characters never acknowledge that.
How old is Yugi? ›| Name | Series | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Yugi Muto | Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (2000) | 18 |
| Judai Yuki | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (2004) | 15-17 |
| Yusei Fudo | Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (2018) | 18-20 |
| Yuma Tsukumo | Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal (2012) | 13 |
Anzu is the daughter of Yugi and Tea in Yu-Gi-Oh! X and Kidnapped. She was born four years after Atem left along with her twin brother, Tag. She is never seen dueling, but she is mentioned to duel casually, and she states that her favorite card is Dark Magician Girl.
Does Yugi have a sister? ›Yuri Mutou is the twin sister of Yugi and the main protagonist of Yu-Gi-Oh!: Frightening Memories. She is voiced by Brittney Karbowski in the English dub and Maaya Uchida in the original Japanese dub.
How old is Yugi Muto season1? ›| Names | |
|---|---|
| Birth | June 4, 1980 [note 1] |
| Age | 18 (DSOD) |
| Height | 1.53 m <br />5.02 ft <br />60.236 in <br />153 cm |
| Weight | 42 kg |
Without speaking, Atem Summons "Palladium Oracle Mahad", who kneels before him. "Mahad" then defeats Diva, whose body reverts to normal, before disappearing.
Does Atem miss Yugi? ›In truth, he missed Yugi and the others so deeply that he wanted to return. He had become more comfortable in the modern world than in the past, despite recovering his memories. Atem has finally been granted a rare second chance, if he wishes it, and he is taking it.
Does Atem marry mana? ›
Two years after Atem and Mana got married, they had a daughter named Melody, and Mana would sing a small lullaby to her where she admitted that Melody was her world. Shortly after her birth, Mana and Atem took Melody out to the sea on their ship to show her to Mana's friends and family that resided in the Ka World.
What is Atem full name? ›Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM)
Who is Atem's father? ›Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen is a character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga. He is the father of Pharaoh Atem and the first holder of the Millennium Puzzle.
Is Atem a villain? ›Atem, better known as Pharaoh or Dark Yugi (Yami Yugi in the 4Kids dub) is one of the two protagonists in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise as well the final antagonist both the manga and anime and the overarching protagonist of Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Side of Dimensions.
Does Atem have a love interest? ›Atem and Mana then reunited when Mana arrived looking for help, and their old friendship quickly evolved into a romance. After the defeat of Aknadin and Atem's return to the throne, Mana and Atem marry and have a child of their own.
Did Atem take the god cards? ›Therefore, the cards in Atem's deck excluding the Egyptian god cards were returned to Yugi's deck while Atem took the Egyptian god cards with him into the afterlife.
Why did Atem lose his memory? ›As a Pharaoh, Atem defeated Zorc Necrophades, causing himself to be sealed within the Millennium Puzzle and lose his memories, including his name, in the process.
Is Yugi Muto the strongest? ›The biggest proof that Yugi is superior to Atem is right in the series finale. In that episode, Yugi accomplishes a feat that nobody else has done before or since; he defeated all three Egyptian God Cards and beats his partner fair and square. That right there is why Yugi is the greatest duelist in the original series.
What is the best Yu-Gi-Oh card type? ›Dragons are one of the best-supported Types in all of Yu-Gi-Oh!, so much so that the Wyrm Type was made essentially as a way to print new Dragon Archetypes that wouldn't abuse the plethora of Dragon Support Cards.
Does Yugi have a God card? ›By the end of the following season, all three god cards, including Slifer the Sky Dragon and The Winged Dragon of Ra, would eventually come to be owned by Yugi Mutou. At the end of the original anime series, the god cards are returned to Ancient Egypt, but their legacy lives on in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.
Who is Yugi's ace? ›
Characters as central as Yugi have several ace monsters, such as Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, and Kuriboh.
Who can defeat Yugi Muto? ›9 Rafael. Rafael holds the rare distinction of having defeated Yugi Muto, something that very few duelists have managed to do. This was due largely in part to Yugi playing the Seal of Orichalcos, but nevertheless, Rafael was able to rely on his dueling skills to take on the Pharaoh.
Who is Yugi's greatest enemy? ›Seto Kaiba
He is Yugi's greatest rival and has a multi million company called Kaiba Corp. He has plenty of rare cards like three Blue Eyes White Dragons. He has a younger brother named Mokuba.
| Name | Series | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Yugi Muto | Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (2000) | 18 |
| Judai Yuki | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (2004) | 15-17 |
| Yusei Fudo | Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (2018) | 18-20 |
| Yuma Tsukumo | Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal (2012) | 13 |
- Dark Magician Girl.
- Red-Eyes B. Dragon.
- Doomcaliber Knight.
- Cyber-Stein.
- Card Crush Virus.
- Dark Magician.
- Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
- Tyler, the Great Warrior.
One of the rarest is the Cyber Dragon from the Preview Wave 1 of Duel Terminal. This printing of Cyber Dragon was a Parallel Rare, which are cards that have a holographic sheen on the entire card.