Summary
Yu-Gi-Oh!has plenty of dangerous duels. In fact, the original Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime had to censor many of the stakes just to make it fit for a children’s audience. So, rather than dying after losing a card game, losers are sent to the shadow realm instead. This gave birth to one of the most iconic memes about Yu-Gi-Oh!
However, even with censorship, some duels still have pretty high stakes. In fact, some conflicts could even result in death. From getting burned alive to getting sent to the bottom of the ocean, these are the ten most dangerous duels in the classic Yu-Gi-Oh! anime.
10Kaiba Vs. Solomon Moto
Sending An Old Man To The ER
One of the most dangerous duels in the original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime is one that we never get to see. This is the duel between Kaiba and Yugi’s Grandpa. However, this duel is so intense that it leaves Solomon Moto hospitalized and in critical condition.
This is likely due to the realistic holograms and sound effects causing too much strain on the old man’s heart. The added stress of watching hismost precious cardbeing ripped in half did not help the matter. In this duel, Kaiba had the potential to accidentally kill an old man over cardboard.
9Yugi Vs. Bakura
Trapping Souls In Cards
Bakura’s plan comes together over the course of the entire series. While the final battle is dangerous, one earlier duel had Yugi and his friends scraping by through luck alone. This is when Yami Bakura forces the souls of Yugi and company into their favorite cards.
In this duel, if any of Yugi’s friends are sent to the grave, they are essentially dead. Bakura also uses plenty of mill strategies (making his opponent run out of cards) to try to hit them. Luckily, Bakura never seems to hit any of Yugi’s friends, and through the power of season one logic, the Magician of Faith is able to activate its effect through tears.
8Yugi Vs. Panik
The Power Fire And Electricity
In the Duelist Kingdom Arc, Yugi’s first encounter with an eliminator leaves him trapped on the duel stands with no way of backing out. This is due to Panik’s unsavory methods of dueling, which involve putting as much pressure on his opponents as possible.
This does not stop at keeping Yugi chained. Each time Yugi takes damage during the game, he is given electric shocks that physically hurt him. To add even more panic to the game, Panik sets up Yugi’s side of the field with flamethrowers that almost burn him alive.
7Yugi Vs. Kaiba Rematch
A Duel Worth Dying For
There is nothing thatYugi’s rival, Kaiba, won’t do to beat him at a card game. Not only does he create a fully realistic and portable device to challenge Yugi wherever he may be, but he even breaks the laws of the universe to duel the Pharoah in the afterlife.
During Yugi and Kaiba’s rematch, Kaiba not only uses his duel disk prototype but even uses their realistic knockback capabilities to put his own life on the line. Kaiba stands on the edge of the castle and threatens Yugi that if he deals the final blow, his victory will also result in his own demise.
6Yugi Vs. Pegasus
When One Soul Is Too Weak
Yugi’s second and final duel with Pegasus has him facing off against the creator of the duel monsters card game in the shadow realm. While this is no problem for the Pharoah, who has a physically strong body and soul, the same cannot be said about Yugi.
Like the original shadow games in Egypt, summoning monsters requires the user to have a strong enough soul to sustain them. With monsters running on life energy, it is no surprise that Yugi finds himself passed out on the brink of death.
5Yugi Vs. Arkana
Getting Your Legs Chopped Off
Major duels against the show’s antagonists are not the only dangerous encounters in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime. In fact, one challenge came from Arkana, a mind-controlled duelist who binds Yugi in chains and forces him to duel for his life.
Each time a player loses life points, a giant buzz saw comes ever closer to chopping off their legs. If it hits zero, well, you can guess what happens. In the dub, making contact with the blade sends you to the shadow realm instead, but the visual still makes it seem like a violent outcome.
4Yugi Vs. Joey Battle City
Joey Gives His Life
During Battle City, Marik can control the minds of many of the duelists that Yugi faces. However, during one particular duel, Marik is able to control Joey. During this duel, the loser will be cast into the ocean with chains dragging them down to the depths.
What’s worse is that the duel is on a time limit. If no one wins before the clock hits zero, both of them get plunged into the sea. This leads to Joey unlocking Yugi’s chains and allowing himself to drown. Fortunately, his younger sister Serenity came in clutch to save Joey.
3Mai Vs. Marik
Don’t Take My Delicious Memories
The duel between Mai and Marik is on a whole different level. This time, the result of loss is not death but something that might be even worse. For each monster that the owner loses during the duel, memories are erased from that user’s mind.
While Mai seemingly gets the upper hand by stealing the Winged Dragon of Ra from Marik, she is unable to read the card text, which prevents her from using it. Her loss results in her not only losing her memories but becoming comatose until Marik is defeated.
2Yugi Vs. Raphael
The Pharoah Loses Yugi
Yu-Gi-Oh! Takes a detour during its fourth season to explore more about the world of duel monsters. This time, it takes a break from Ancient Egypt and dives deep into the role of Atlantis. It also removes one of its major protagonists halfway through the season during the duel with Raphael.
The Pharoah becomes overconfident and reckless with his ability to win duels. This leads him to put Yugi’s life on the line while dueling Raphael. Surprisingly, the Pharoah loses this match, but instead of claiming his soul, Yugi takes the Pharoah’s place, eliminating him for most of the remaining season.
1Yugi Vs. The Pharoah
Death Is The Only Victory
Beforethe era of Yu-Gi-Oh! GXcan begin, Yugi and the Pharoah face off in a ceremonial duel. This is to determine if the Pharoah can rest in peace. The only problem is that he doesn’t want to go to the afterlife but stay in the modern world.
For the events of Yu-Gi-Oh! to come to a close, Yugi must duel his closest friend, knowing that victory means the final death of the Pharoah. This forces Yugi to face off against his strongest monsters and separate his identity from the man who normally calls the shots during a duel.
