Best Yu-Gi-Oh! Manga and Anime Characters

The Top Ten
1 Yami Bakura

Though portrayed as the real true antagonist of the series, Yami Bakura has reason for his actions and hatred toward Atem. He is the fusion of the souls of Zorc Necrophades and Bandit King Bakura, and there are elements in the latter that may have caused Yami Bakura's personality to be the cold and crisp indifference as seen in the manga and anime. For one, in ancient Egypt, Bandit King Bakura was the only survivor of his village, Kul Elna. Everyone, even his family, was sacrificed to create the Millennium items. Now, taking into account his soul was combined with Zorc's, what the present day (when the series begins) is left with is a shattered individual with the mind of a dark adversary. Imagine this: your family and friends had all been killed for some powerful items, and later on you were fused with darkness that (at least to Bakura at the time) could possibly help you seek revenge on those connected to the ringleader of the tragedy. Yami Bakura harnesses the power of the Millennium Ring, using it to ensure nobody messes with him, period. This curt attitude, along with his sarcastic yet comedic remarks, is what makes him an interesting character.

2 Seto Kaiba

To quote the abridged series "Screw the rules I have money! " He is the Batman of Yugioh. So many others have some kind of super power upgrades and he uses his cash and his wits. Like Yugi, you little cheater, using your millenium puzzle to win. Plus I like his snarky attitude. He's not all "the power of friendship" or "the heart of the cards." Come on really? I didn't realize I was watching My Little Ponies playing cards. He can be pretty ruthless but he's always looking out for his little bro, who for some reason likes to act like Princess Peach and get captured every other episode.

3 Atem

Yami Yugi is stellar, like the tenor of the animation world. Very respectable and powerful in speech. Cool to be at least bronze for Yugi.

King of games, undefeated, can't be tamed, icon of Yugioh as a whole. will always be the best and every duelist knows him. Close to my heart forever.

VOLUNTEERED to be imprisoned in a puzzle with no identity to save his people even if they forgot him. never complains about his lot in life!

4 Katsuya Jonouchi/Joey Wheeler Joseph "Joey" Wheeler is one of the main characters in Yu-Gi-Oh! known as Katsuya Jonouchi in the Manga and Japanese version and friend of Yugi Moto, Tea and Tristian, Joey started off as a bully along with Tristian who picked on Yugi at one point he threw a piece of the Millennium Puzzle into a pool... read more

Kaiba is great, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be Joey. I loved Yugi (and Yami Yugi, don't worry) for a long time, and he still is a favorite of mine, but I think I like Joey slightly more. He's so cool and he had quiet a bit of character development. He was so determined to go from an inexperienced duelist to an expert, and did he achieve that? Well, yes, kinda. Too bad he doesn't get the respect he deserves. He also never gives up.
I think Joey is a relatable character, and he has a good relationship with his friends and little sister. You go, man!

5 Marik Ishtar

Hi is skilled brave and had the toughest life ever as a kid I think Marik is amazing and the best character he is overall a very interesting character and face it he is one of the best characters!

6 Yugi

Yugi was a great duelist before Atem, but when he had come, Yugi was being taught by him, and with his lessons, Yugi turned into the real King of Games. He made three impossible things in just one duel: Defeat the protagonist, defeat the three Egyptian gods and, the most impossible thing, made Kaiba admit that he was wrong to call him weak

Yugi is one of the best characters but he gets picked on by kaiba by saying he's not the true king of games, Kaiba puts him down and Yami doesn't do anything about it.

He's one of cute boi (If this is Muto),
He's one of handsome boi (If this is Yami).

7 Pegasus

I actually like his character. Though he was very malevolent in the first season, he afterwards loosened up and became more enlightened after Bakura stole his eye. I don't know if it was the creators intention, but I believe since the millennium items have such power, the eye was corrupting him and turned him into what we seen in season one. Additionally after season one, they went into his whole backstory(which was very tragic) we could see his true intentions and I think his true colors shown. He was an intelligent archaeologist with noble intent to try and save his wife from her inevitable demise.

8 Yami Marik

Yami Malik is the most creepiest and craziness person you ever met. Sometimes he very sacrey. His really mess up

Cruel person whos deck is created to make opponent feel as much pain as possible.

9 Mai Valentine Mai Valentine, known as Mai Kujaku in the manga and Japanese anime, is a recurring and supporting character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime.

Okay. This womans decks? Brilliant. Iconic. Epic. Sure, the harpy deck in the beginning seemed to only have Harpy Lady and Harpie's Pet Dragon for monsters, but she had a very strategy and is probably the strongest female duelist we saw in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (aside from Ishizu, but since we haven't seen her duel without the help of her Millenium item, so I'm not sure how good she is without it). Her amazoness deck was also amazing, although I might be biased about buff women. It was an interesting addition to her character, since up until then we only saw her using harpy ladies. I only have a vague recollection of the Orichalcos Arc, but her deck there was also very powerful. Love her character and her strategies

10 Bakura

Cute love him! Although you can't say marik wasn't an adorable little kid and a cool duellist three of him to overall the British one is the best though! I agree tough decision between the bakuras and Kaiba but I do like Atem/Yami yugi though don't know out of these ones but I had to chose one right! So I say I like all on one!

The Contenders
11 Duke Devlin

He's so underrated! Duke genuinely was probably one of the lighter characters and his more carefree attitude made it far more amusing to watch! He should have had more screen time cause a lot could've come from his past with his father like in the manga

12 Ishizu Ishtar
13 Yusei Fudo

At first it looks like he has weak monsters in his deck ,but wow, the way he uses them in battle is just incredible which makes his deck a force to be reckoned with. He is a phenomenal duelist, a skilful engineer and amazing when riding his bike!

Yusei is my favorite character, and is in my favorite generation, Yugioh 5d's. Cool deck, great tactics, good personality. He did have a sad life and tried to unlock his dream and save his city from danger. He is a great duelist.

He's great at thinking up tactical ways to beat opponents, has a great ace monster namely stardust, voice actor in both sub and dub sound great and cares a great deal about he's friends and new domino city.

14 Tea Gardner

Oh, come on! She's really not that bad like y'all say she is! At least she stands by her friends and doesn't abandon 'em like some a' mine did.
She even looks sad in the picture...it's okay, Tea. You might not have a lotta friends, but some of us out there like you, even if it's not a lot of people.

Compared to Mai she's actually won duels.

She won against Mai,Crump,and Joey too!
Plus she's supportive,kind, and very very passionate about those she cares about. Tea is all the qualities you need in a friend.

Tea should be lowest. All she does is talk about friendship.

Seto Kaiba is better

15 Supreme King
16 Akiza Izinski

Best Yu-Gi-Oh protaginst:

My list for top 5 best female Yu-Gi-Oh protaginist goes:

1. Akiza
2. Zuzu
3. Alexis
4. Tori
5. Luna (from 5D's)

I hate Tea.

17 Solomon Muto
18 Jaden Yuki

He should at least be top 5 because he save the world from the beast cards. But it is sad that he is the supreme king for some time

Why is he so low? He had the most duels and had a pretty good character arc. He should at least be 15

Why he's at 22?
He's "Flawless" character

19 Mokuba Kaiba

At least this adorable little cutie pie can see right through his big elder brotherly legal guardian's ice cold, distant exterior.

In fact, baby brothers are adorably cute, especially him (Mokuba Kaiba).

In fact, poor little baby boy got kidnapped by Seto Kaiba's enemies.

20 Zorc Necrohades
21 Aster Phoenix
22 Shark Castle
23 Yuzu Hiiragi
24 Dark Magician/Mahad
25 Croquet
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