7.7/10506 votes#1 - The Heart of the Cards
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/18/2000
Yugi and his friends are in awe over Grandpa’s collection of Duel Monsters cards, but when #1 ranked duelist and ruthless tycoon, Kaiba, kidnaps Grandpa to get the rare Blue-Eyes White Dragon card, Yugi must face Kaiba in the ultimate Duel Monsters showdown and avenge his Gramps!
Director: Yukihiro Shino
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.4/10216 votes#2 - The Gauntlet is Thrown
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 4/25/2000
When Yugi opens a package from Duel Monsters creator, Pegasus J. Crawford, Yugi is forced to face him in the mysterious Shadow Realm where all the monsters and magic are real.
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.2/10203 votes#3 - Journey to the Duelist Kingdom
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 5/2/2000
When word spreads that Yugi was the one who defeated World Champion Kaiba, the cheat Haga tires to cripple Yugi’s deck by tossing his best cards overboard just as they reach the island!
Director: N/A
Writer: Masashi Sogo
7.4/10194 votes#4 - Into the Hornet's Nest
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 5/9/2000
Once Yugi and his friends reach Duelist Kingdom, Pegasus announces that there are many strange secrets on the island which will make his ultimate tournament unlike any they’ve ever had. But when Haga begins to use these mysterious new rules against Yugi in a duel, Yugi must not only figure the rules out, but master them if he’s to survive!
Director: Masaki Kitamura
Writer: Shin Yoshida
7.3/10189 votes#5 - The Ultimate Great Moth
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 5/16/2000
Yugi continues to battle Weevil Underwood, whose cheating and lying seem to be giving him the advantage when he is able to summon a gigantic moth.
Director: Hiroaki Shimura
Writer: Shin Yoshida
7.3/10181 votes#6 - First Duel
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 5/23/2000
Joey undergoes his first duel on the island against Mai Valentine, a professional duelist with an uncanny ability to predict the cards she will draw.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10176 votes#7 - Attack from the Deep
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 5/30/2000
The hungry friends help themselves to some fish, only to discover that they have been lured into a trap by Mako Tsunami, the master of the Sea Deck/.
Director: N/A
Writer: Masashi Sogo
6.8/1091 votes#8 - Everything's Relative
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 6/6/2000
If Yugi is eliminated from the tournament, Kaiba Corporation's crooked Board of Directors will transfer control of the company from Kaiba to Pegasus!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/1083 votes#9 - Duel with a Ghoul
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 6/13/2000
Yugi must duel a magical doppelganger of Kaiba, created from the greed and power lust Yugi wiped from Kaiba's soul.
Director: N/A
Writer: Masashi Sogo
7.8/1078 votes#10 - Give Up the Ghost
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 6/20/2000
Yugi defeats the Blue Eyes White Dragon, but there are two more waiting in the wings! Will the real Kaiba reach Yugi in time to help beat this impersonator?
Director: N/A
Writer: Masashi Sogo
7.7/1080 votes#11 - The Dueling Monkey
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 6/27/2000
Joey decides to battle Rex Raptor without his friends' help to prove that he is man enough to take care of Serenity on his own.
Director: Hiroaki Shimura
Writer: Shin Yoshida
7.8/1080 votes#12 - Trial by Red Eyes
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 7/4/2000
Joey duels valiantly, but Rex Raptor has unleashed his secret weapon - the Red Eyes Black Dragon! Joey must figure out the secret of the card Yugi's gift, the Time Wizard card, without Yugi's help or he's taking the next boat out of the Duelist Kingdom!
Director: Kenichi Kasai
Writer: Shin Yoshida
8.9/1085 votes#13 - Evil Spirit of the Ring
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 7/11/2000
Yugi's classmate Bakura, possessed by his Millennium Ring's dark powers, traps Yugi and his friends in a Shadow Game where they become the cards themselves!
Director: N/A
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.9/1076 votes#14 - The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 7/25/2000
Pegasus's hired duelist Panik cheats Mai of all her star chips, and Yugi vows to defeat him and win them back. But when Panik's Castle of Dark Illusions enshrouds his monsters in a black mist, how can Yugi defeat an enemy he cannot see?
Director: N/A
Writer: Masashi Sogo
7.7/1075 votes#15 - Winning Through Intimidation
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 8/1/2000
Despite his astonishing disadvantage, Yugi boldly provokes Panik- 'I'll finish you in three turns.' Is Yugi bluffing, or does he have the advantage in this battle of wits?
Director: N/A
Writer: Masashi Sogo
7.8/1074 votes#16 - The Scars of Defeat
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 8/8/2000
Kaiba descends to the kingdom to face Pegasus. Has Kaiba changed since his battle with Yugi, or is he still the same merciless duelist? A battle between Kaiba's Blue Eyes Whire Dragon and Joey's Red Eyes Black Dragon holds the answers!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/1072 votes#17 - Arena of Lost Souls (1)
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 8/15/2000
The #1 American duelist Bandit Keith's gang kidnaps Joey to a secret cave with a Graveyard playing field. As Yugi and friends search for him, Joey faces Bandit Keith's zombie monsters which become stronger as they return from the grave.
Director: Naoki Hishikawa
Writer: Shin Yoshida
8.0/1073 votes#18 - Arena of Lost Souls (2)
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 8/22/2000
Joey's last ditch effort, his lucky Time Wizard card, fails against Bandit Keith's zombie monsters. But as his lucky streak comes to an end, will his improving skills as a duelist and his love for his sister inspire him to victory?
Director: N/A
Writer: Shin Yoshida
8.0/1078 votes#19 - Double Trouble Duel (1)
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 8/29/2000
Trapped in the labyrinth cave, Yugi and friends find an alternate exit, but the door is guarded by Pegasus’s Labyrinth Brothers. Yugi and Jonouchi will no longer be battling solo; they band together in a team battle against the Labyrinth Brothers! The battle for all the Star Chips and entrance to Pegasus’s castle is on the line!
Director: N/A
Writer: Masashi Sogo
7.9/1077 votes#20 - Double Trouble Duel (2)
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 9/5/2000
Yugi and Jonouchi pool their strengths and manage to fend off their opponents’ monsters, but things are about to change as the Labyrinth Brothers summon the almighty Gate Guardian, a monster that reflects all attacks! Is Jonouchi helping Yugi in this duel, or his lack of experience sealing their fate for defeat?
Director: Koji Yoshikawa
Writer: Masashi Sogo
8.3/1075 votes#21 - Double Trouble Duel (3)
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 9/12/2000
Yugi and Jonouchi each unleash their strongest monster, Summoned Skull and Red-Eyes B. Dragon, but their strength pales in comparison to the tremendous power of Gate Guardian. Individually, our heroes have no chance, but they will unleash the greatest power of all: teamwork!
Director: Naoki Hishikawa
Writer: Masashi Sogo
8.6/1076 votes#22 - Face Off (1)
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 9/19/2000
Using the magic of the Millennium Eye, Pegasus traps Mokuba’s soul inside a card right before Kaiba’s eyes! In order to earn the right to challenge Pegasus, Kaiba must first beat Yugi and take his Star Chips. The rematch between Yugi and Kaiba is about to begin!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.7/1073 votes#23 - Face Off (2)
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 9/26/2000
Kaiba summons Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, the strongest monster in the game fused from three Blue-Eyes White Dragons! Yugi has lost all his powerful Duel Monsters, but a true duelist never gives up!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.6/1073 votes#24 - Face Off (3)
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 10/3/2000
Yugi begins spinning a strategy to put Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to rest, but he must decide whether to claim victory or spare Kaiba his life. Yugi’s heart is split in two!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.7/1075 votes#25 - Shining Friendship
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 10/10/2000
Having lost his Star Chips to Kaiba and his only opportunity to save Grandpa, Yugi is in a state of shock. Can Anzu bring Yugi back to consciousness by defeating Mai for her extra Star Chips and teach Yugi the heart of the duelist?
Director: N/A
Writer: Masashi Sogo
The Best Episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters Season 1
Every episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters Season 1!
Bullies often target someone frail and weak—someone exactly like Yûgi Muto. He treasures his Millennium Puzzle, an ancient Egyptian artifact that was brought into his...
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Season 1 Ratings Summary
"The Heart of the Cards" is the best rated episode of "Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 506 votes. Directed by Yukihiro Shino and written by Junki Takegami, it aired on 4/18/2000. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Gauntlet is Thrown".