More than two decades later , Yu - Gi - Oh!remains an anime classic and a raw material of many lover ’ childhood . First airing back in 2000,Yu - Gi - Oh ! Duel Monsterswould go on to introduce theYu - Gb - Oh ! Trading Card Game , three movies , and several spin - off series into innovative culture . Yu - Gi - Oh ! Duel Monsterswas so beloved that YouTuber Little Kuriboh created “ Yu - Gi - Oh ! The Abridged Series , ” the flagship of the pop culture phenomenon in which devotee shorten and re - dub Zanzibar copal for parody .

In both the Zanzibar copal and the trading card game , there are three types of cards : Monster , Magic , now known as Spell , and Trap . Thousands of cards have sport in the many embodiment ofYu - Gi - Oh ! , but , much likefirst coevals Pokémon , none stand out quite like those fromYu - Gi - Oh ! Duel Monsters . Among the unnumerable add-in witness in seasons 1 - 5 , a select few outshine the balance .

10Kuriboh

A Little Furball with Lots of Potential

Kuriboh may be one of the weakest Monsters in the game , but it add a lot to the mesa . When attacked , a dueler can cast away Kuriboh to avoid losing any Life point . This small guy cable can also be used in various defensive and mismanagement strategies . Yugi makes excellent use of this card throughout the series and sure enough has a flaccid spot for it .

During the season 3 “ Virtual World ” arc , the mechanic of “ Deck Masters ” is enter . A duelist must choose a lusus naturae to help as their Deck Master , which grants the Monster special abilities . Kuriboh makes itself Yugi ’s Deck Masterand is able to multiply itself into a protective bulwark to protect Yugi ’s Life Points at a crucial moment .

9Exodia The Forbidden One

The OG of Powerful Rare Cards

Exodia is apowerful and unequaled Duel Monsterthat consist of five cards : the headway , right arm , leave weapon system , right leg , and left leg . In a game , when a Duelist pull all five while , they mechanically win the affaire d’honneur . In the anime , Exodia delivers a hefty terminal fire to cap off a victory .

Exodia is introduced in sequence # 1 during Yugi ’s Duel against Seto Kaiba and seems like he ’ll be Yugi ’s juggernaut moving forward . However , a few episode subsequently , Weevil Underwood , cognize as Insector Haga in the Nipponese adaptation , throws the card into the oceanon the voyage to Duelist Kingdom . Joey Wheeler , whose Nipponese name is Katsuya Jonouchi , dive in after them but can only rescue two , thus ending Exodia ’s run as one of Yugi ’s Monsters .

8Time Wizard

A Literal Time Machine that Benefits Lucky Duelists

While theYu - Gi - Oh ! TCGsimplifies this lineup ’s ability to destroy monster with a coin toss , the gum anime makes Time Wizard ’s consequence far more interesting . On a successful spin of its arrow , Time Wizard speed up time , typically demolish an opponent ’s Monsters from advance age . On a failed spin , Time Wizard and the Duelist ’s own Monsters are destroy , and the Duelist fall behind Life Points adequate to one-half of their coalesce Attack Points .

After receiving this card from Yugi in sequence # 3,Time Wizard quickly becomes one of Joey ’s most played cards . In episode # 12 , it wins him another of his favorites , the Red - Eyes Black Dragon , from Rex Raptor , named Dinosaur Ryuzaki in the original Nipponese dub . Joey utilise Time Wizard against several other notable Duelists , including Mai Valentine and Seto Kaiba .

7Monster Reborn

A Revival Card Formerly Known as “Reborn the Monster”

This Magic Card has featured in countless duels throughoutYu - Gi - Oh ! Duel Monsters ’ five season . Most Duelists have at least one written matter in their deck . As its name suggests , Monster Reborn can bring one Monster back from the graveyard . Most notably , it can revive Monsters from either duelist ’ graveyard regardless of who activates it , making this scorecard especially useful .

While most affaire d’honneur utilize Monster Reborn to impart back a Duelist ’s own fallen Monsters , some showcase instances of the opposite . Yugi in particular uses Monster Reborn to ferment his opposition ’s monstrosity against themon several occasions . Season 3 episode # 40 even have a treble revival of the Blue - Eyes White Dragon . Joey destroy and brings back Kaiba ’s card , only for Kaiba to then destroy it and revive Blue - eye back under his restraint .

6Red Eyes Black Dragon

Joey’s Trademark Dragon Monster

The Red - Eyes Black Dragon is one of Joey Wheeler ’s signature cards . After winning it from Rex Raptor , Joey utilize Red - Eyes throughout the Duelist Kingdom arc to secure his place in the final examination . Unfortunately , he lose the card early on in season 2to a Rare Hunter . After learning of Joey ’s loss , Yugi challenges the Rare Hunter and wins Red - Eyes back .

When Yugi tries to generate the bill of fare , Joey deny , stating that Yugi rightfully won it and would need it for the Battle City Tournament . He also notes that now he and Yugi have a part of each other in their decks , since Yugi previously gave Joey the Time Wizard . Yugi and Joey subsequently Duel off - screen in the finale of season 3 , andRed - Eye reappears in Joey ’s deck of cards in time of year 4 , implying that he won .

5Pot of Greed

A Magic Card So Handy It’s Forbidden

Whilefamously banned from officialYu - Gi - Ohio ! TCGtournaments due to its lack of restrictive prop , Pot of Greed makes regular appearances in the originalYu - Gi - Oh!series . This Magic Card allows the Duelist to draw two posting when activate . In the Zanzibar copal , Pot of Greed is often employ to give characters cards they necessitate at pivotal moments , but will sometimes be used to bestow suspense when lackluster cards are draw or else .

In season 4 episode # 10 , Pot of Greed shows up in a unique way . At Pegasus ’s postulation , Yugi and his friends travel to Industrial Illusions headquarters to discuss a newfangled threat to the Earth . Upon their comer , his individual has already been get , but prior to this , Pegasus managed to hide a vital poster for Yugi within a Pot of Greed statue .

4Toon World

The Manifestation of Pegasus’s Inner Child

Toon World is a sincerely unique Magic Card enliven by Pegasus ’s making love of cartoons . He owns the only written matter in existence . In the trading card secret plan , this Magic Card permit Toon Monsters to be summons . In the anime , it allow Pegasus to plow monster on his side of the field into Toon versions of themselvesand also protects them .

Toon World nearly caused the ultimate downfall of two of the series ' greatest Duelists . In episode # 27 , Pegasus makes a burlesque of Kaiba ’s Blue - Eyes White Dragons by transforming it into a Toon . Toon World proves too powerful for Kaiba , andhe loses the Duel and , temporarily , his soulfulness . Pegasus nigh defeats Yugi in the Duelist Kingdom Finals using similar manoeuvre , but Yami Yugi and Yugi change by reversal the tables on him with a multi - card strategy .

3The Egyptian God Cards

A Powerful Trio Destined to Serve the Pharaoh

Obelisk the Tormentor , Slifer the Sky Dragon , and The Winged Dragon of Ra are the most significant bill of fare to the serial ’ overall plot . In season 2 , it ’s reveal that the flavour of the Millennium Puzzle , Yami , is that of an ancient Pharaoh andthe Egyptian God cards are demand to repair his lose memories . Only one of each God Card exists .

Yugi wins all three by the end of season 3 , only for them to be stolen by Dartz ’s henchmen in time of year 4 episode # 1 . Yugi later wins them back from Dartz and uses them to defeat The Leviathan . In season 5 , after learning his true name is Atem , Yami Yugi fuses the Egyptian God Cards into “ Holactie the Creator of Light ” and defeats Zorc , the final baddie of the serial .

2Blue-Eyes White Dragon

Seto Kaiba’s Most Beloved Card

Long before the Red - Eyes Black Dragon or God Cards enter the picture , the Blue - Eyes White Dragon dominated center stage asYu - Gb - Oh ! ’s most iconic flying lizard . It ’s an absolute staple of Seto Kaiba ’s pack of cards , having appeared unnumbered prison term throughout the original series , and has a semisweet origin . Season 5 reveals that many modern - day Duel Monsters share connective with ancient figures whose souls merged with Shadow Creatures , also known as Ka or Spirit Monsters .

The Blue - Eyes White Dragon was have from Kisara , a white - hairy , blue - eyed woman who Kaiba ’s ancient Egyptian counterpart , High Priest ( or Sacred Guardian ) Seto , lay aside from striver trader when they were children . Years later , they reunited , butshe die protecting him and bestowed him her power . Kaiba ’s rich love for the card in modern times echos Kisara ’s and Priest Seth ’s bypast friendly relationship .

1Dark Magician

The Modern Echo of an Ancient Friend

The Dark Magician is practicallyYu - Gi - Oh ! ’s mascot . He is Yugi ’s premier Monster Card and appears in almost all of Yugi ’s duels . He can be played in tandem with many Magic Cards , Trap Cards , and Summons , making him a highly strategic Duel Monster . Yugi ’s and Yami Yugi ’s attachment to the Dark Magician , however , goes beyond his versatility .

The Dark Magician was created back in ancient times whenMahad , Pharaoh Atem ’s tight friend and High Priest , merged his individual with the Spirit Monster “ Illusion Magician . ”He then consecrate to continue serve Atem in his new shape . In episode # 1 , Yugi ’s wound grandfather gives Yugi the card to help oneself him overcome Kaiba . Since Yugi is the Pharaoh ’s New - day counterpart , make this card in his pack of cards convey its ancient connections full circle .

Solo Leveling Sung Jinwoo with his shadow soldiers behind him

Sakamoto Days imagery

Sung Jinwoo surrounded by blue aura in the Solo Leveling OST cover

Yu-Gi-Oh’s Kaiba holds up his cards and looks at the view over his shoulder while Yami Yugi draws a card. The Blue Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician Face off in the background.

Custom Image by Nicole Eckert

monster reborn

Yu-Gi-Oh!