Summary
In the Yu-Gi-Oh! series, there are eight main characters, all of whom share the kanji “Yu” (which means “to play”) in their names. Each main character has their own unique traits and stories that make them stand out.
Kazuki Takahashi's Game-Themed Manga Yu-Gi-Oh! first appeared in 1996. Four years later, it was adapted into one of the most memorable anime of the decade, Yu-Gi-Oh! The main character, Yugi Muto, is instantly recognizable for his starfish hair, gothic fashion sense, and spectacular sword fighting skills.
But Yugi is not the only main character in the Yu-Gi-Oh! series. As of 2024, he is one in eight. The main characters are bound together by their love of Duel Monsters, and by the fact that they all have the kanji Yu (遊) which means 'play' in their names. They all have traits that make them great main characters, but some are better than others.
8 Yuga Ohdo – Yu-Gi-Oh! Seven
Yuga makes his own rules
Studio Bridge
Yuga Ohdo is a fifth grader, which might make him harder to relate to if you're an older Yu-Gi-Oh! fan. But even though he's young, he still has his charm. He's a creative kid who likes to mess around with machines and come up with new ideas. unique solutions to problems. He hates the Goha Corporation for invading people's lives with drones that punish Goha City residents for breaking the law.
This refusal to accept being controlled extended to his feelings about sword fighting. He was dissatisfied with the Goha Master Duels favored by the adults around him. He thought these sword fights had too many rules and were too serious. To make things more interesting, he invented his own style of sword fighting called The hasty duelThis Yu-Gi-Oh! anime has been controversial for changing the rules of the game, but it's still a fresh take on the series after all these years.
7 Yudias Velgear – Yu-Gi-Oh! Go!!
An Alien From Space Wants To Learn Hand-to-Hand Combat
Studio Bridge
Yudias wins the award for having the most unusual name. He doesn't have a Japanese name like the rest of the main characters. That's because he's not from Earth, he's from outer spaceSpecifically, he comes from Velgear star clustera place ravaged by war. Though Yudias fought valiantly to defend his homeland, he was eventually forced to flee. But he had no intention of abandoning his people – instead, he left to learn more about Rush Duels, which he believed could be the key to their salvation.
It's interesting to see the origins and names of the characters stray from the original pattern, as it means the series doesn't run the risk of becoming stale. Yudias is also a great angle through which viewers can learn about Rush Duels, as he's new to the concept. However, his story can be a bit convoluted at times.
6 Yuya Sasaki – Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V
He is an entertainer with interdimensional problems.
Gallop Gym
For Yuya, the most important thing is to entertain others. He doesn't just duel to win – he struggled to perform This means flashy antics, pranks, and even some acrobatics. His Performapal deck does a great job of supporting his showmanship. But while he cares a lot about style, he also cares about skill. After winning the Friendship Cup, Yuya became the Dueling King of Domino City, knocking Jack Atlas off his throne.
Another interesting thing about Yuya is that he has many partners from other sizes They are all reincarnations of the villainous Z-ARC, but not all of them retain his cruelty. They share the same face and they can't help but be drawn to each other, even though they often have completely different goals. Watching Yuya fight enemies who are essentially himself is a fascinating highlight of the series.
5. Yuma Tsukumo – Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yuma takes Yu-Gi-Oh back to basics
Gallop Gym
One of the main characteristics of the main character of Yu-Gi-Oh! is strange hair Yuma fits this criteria perfectly – his mane looks more like a hood ornament than hair, but he has more than his fair share of style. In many ways, Yuma could be considered the polar opposite of Yugi, and that's a good thing.
ZeXal comes after 5D's, featuring Yusei, an atypical shonen protagonist due to his age and serious personality. Yuma brings the energy of the standard shonen protagonist back to the series. He a noisy thirteen year old boy with dreams of becoming a famous gladiator. At the beginning of the series, he doesn't seem to have much talent, which means he has nowhere to go but up. He seems standard issue, but there's a reason why the brave hero who never gives up is so popular – it works.
4 Yusaku Fujiki – Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains
Yusaku's plot is brutal
Gallop Gym
Yusaku Fujiki has atragic story could easily fit into a science fiction novel. As a child, he was kidnapped and forced to live in a virtual reality where he spends all his time dueling. If he loses or doesn't participate, he is electrocuted and deprived of food. While Yu-Gi-Oh! is no stranger to characters with traumatic origins, what Yusaku goes through with the Hanoi Project stands out.
His story is particularly notable because it is related to the main plot of the series. Ai, Ignis, created using Yusaku's image, is the final antagonist of the series. Also worth mentioning is his experiences with the Hanoi project. psychological consequences that matter to himHe has nightmares and other symptoms of PTSD. While not entirely realistic, his reactions to his experiences make more sense than many other characters in the series.
3 Yuki Judai (Jaden Yuki) – Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yuki is deceptively complex.
Gallop Gym
Yuki Judai, also known as Jaden Yuki in the dubYuki is probably one of the most underrated protagonists in Yu-Gi-Oh!. He starts the series as a carefree student at Duel Academy and ends up as the reincarnation of the fearsome Supreme King. This is because Yubel – his lover from a previous life – forced Yuki to go through this process, causing him to become violent towards his friends. He eventually merges his soul with Yubel to stop her rampage and leaves his friends behind to spend the rest of his life with her.
His bow is wild and his ending was heartbreaking. He grows as a character, but he doesn't get better, he gets worse. At the beginning of the story, he would never tell Shou (Cyrus) to let his brother die, but by the end, he's cool enough to say that comment like it's nothing. He challenges storytelling conventions, and that's what makes him so deceptively compelling.
2. Yusei Fudo – Yu-Gi-Oh!
For mature Yu-Gi-Oh! fans
Gallop Gym
As the oldest protagonist in the series, Yusei stands out. His life has not been easy. After the Zero Reverse incident, he grew up as an orphan on Satellite, a decaying island separated from Neo Domino City. Living there, he endured poverty, police brutality and discrimination.
Despite his hardships, he doesn't complain. Instead, he focuses on helping his friends, solving problems in motorcycle duels, and working as a mechanic. He's as stern as Seto Kaiba wishes he could be, and as kind and caring as Yugi Muto. He may be a little too easy on Jack Atlas, but locking him up is too much for even the most devoted friend.
1 Yugi Muto – Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel with Monsters
There is no way to beat OG King Of Games
Gallop Gym
Yu-Gi-Oh! Major characters have come and gone, but so far no one has been able to defeat Just game from his throne. Yugi Muto and the ancient Egyptian spirit that lives inside him are the first main characters that most fans think of when they think of the series. Naturally, he is a talented duelist with many great matches. He is also the role model that all future main characters would follow. Yugi's iconic hairstyle has influenced all the main characters that would appear after him. His gothic fashion style is not only trendy but also contrasts well with his gentle personality.
Speaking of that gentle personality, Yugi appeared in an era where shonen protagonists who weren't enthusiastic and passionate were rare. Yugi runs so that Izuku Midoriya and Tanjiro Kamado can walk. Like future shounen heroes, Yugi cares deeply for his friends and shows it, showing emotions other than anger and excitement, and wanting to think twice before rushing into danger but will still sacrifice everything for those he cares about.