No one enjoys losing when playing a game. The feeling of being cheated can be incredibly frustrating. This sentiment is certainly a part of why Yugi Muto, the beloved protagonist of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, garners so much attention due to his “rule-bending” tactics that often seem to defy logic.
Despite the anime having different rules compared to its real-life card game counterpart, Yugi certainly doesn’t always play fair—especially when Yami Yugi takes control and exploits the strategy of “The Heart of the Cards.” While this approach leads to some entertaining and humorous plot twists, it often lacks fairness.
But is Yugi the biggest cheater in the entire series? The answer is no. The main character of Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, Yuma Tsukumo, often takes cheating to a whole new level when it comes to “playing the game” in ways that benefit himself.
Why Is Cheating So Prevalent in Yu-Gi-Oh!?
One of the remarkable aspects of the Yu-Gi-Oh! series is its ability to transform a card game into a significant narrative event. A key reason why Yuma is considered the king of cheating in the franchise is his deep understanding of the game’s mechanics.
When Duel Monsters was first introduced in the manga, the rules were quite loose. The Duelist Kingdom arc shows that the point system was only 2,000 points compared to the 8,000 points standard in real-life play. There was also no indication of the existence of many complex mechanics that would later be introduced. This helped create favorable conditions for the early battles in the series, allowing for faster-paced duels while maintaining a high level of excitement, especially since the characters didn’t have to rely on physical cards to interact with each other.
Anyone who has played Yu-Gi-Oh! knows that the game can be quite competitive, with strategies that can lead to thrilling moments. However, this is not just a game of skill; it’s also a form of entertainment that resonates with viewers. Unlike in the anime, where the intense internal monologues don’t manifest in the same way for the characters involved, the act of cheating in the anime serves a practical purpose: it enhances the viewing experience and doesn’t just serve as a way to promote the game in a thirty-minute episode. The rules also don’t allow for as much flexibility as the game develops, as many mechanics have been added over the years.
The Battle City arc is a way for the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime to incorporate more closely aligned gameplay with what it represents outside of real-life, despite the simplified rules that were adapted. Prior to this, Yugi’s “cheating” tactics had already shown us a number of completely outrageous strategies to ensure victory. He often boasted about his unconventional moves that had no basis in reality, such as summoning Mammoth Graveyard with Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon using a spell card that should never have been able to summon a monster in the game.
Yugi’s frequent cheating is ultimately a result of Yami Yugi’s superior gameplay skills and the strength of his character, which often ties back to the game’s long history. Yami Yugi is also often depicted as a formidable opponent, and his presence can be considered a primary reason why opponents perceive him as a cheat.
There are many disparities regarding Yami Yugi and how he often displays his strength. So how does Yuma manage to become an even bigger cheat than him? To put it simply, Yuma has a talent for making his playstyle appear beneficial to himself.
What Makes Yuma a Bigger Cheater than Yami Yugi?
Yami Yugi is the King of Games, and the title does not come lightly. He has been shown to have the ability to control the rules of any game he plays. There are countless moments throughout the series where he can manipulate rules or draw cards to secure a win in a duel, but he primarily bends the rules in a way that can be classified as breaking them.
A part of this comes from a mechanic known as Destiny Draw. This is where Yami Yugi directly influences luck. Although it doesn’t guarantee that he will draw the exact card he needs at any given moment—Yugi has lost before—it does affect the likelihood that he will draw a card that will give him an advantage.
For example, if the top card is one of two, Yami Yugi is likely to draw Dark Magician when he needs it. The Destiny Draw mechanic makes it seem like a one-in-five chance. It’s not perfect, but it certainly helps influence the outcomes of duels more often than not and resembles cheating.
Yuma’s Shining Draw is quite different. This ability is a special mechanic that allows him to draw any card he wants from his deck. This ability certainly has its limitations, as it can only be used once every three turns, but it gives Yuma an edge by allowing him to draw whatever he requires. However, Shining Draw is not the end of it. The next level of this ability is Shining Evolution, which “unlocks” the latent potential of a card, transforming it into a completely new card, altering the entire dynamic of the game.
Yuma can even choose to discard a card to evolve, something Yami Yugi cannot do. Yuma also has a knack for keeping his strategies under wraps, allowing him to “sneak” victories.
There are countless moments in Yu-Gi-Oh! that leave fans of the TCG exasperated. Yami Yugi’s cheating is often overshadowed by the series’ charm. Yuma doesn’t have many opportunities to shine like Yugi, so his “cheating” is often more noticeable. However, it is Yami Yugi’s cheating that has created some of the most iconic moments in the anime. Regardless of the situation, cheating is an essential part of the game, bringing excitement to Yu-Gi-Oh!.
Significant moments in the series often stem from cheating tactics, as Yu-Gi-Oh! skillfully weaves “plot points” for the audience. Watching Yugi destroy a Shadow Game or Joey use Time Wizard to turn back time are some of the greatest entertainment moments. The beauty of Yu-Gi-Oh! lies in its ability to maintain suspense while transforming card games into dramatic battles.
Source: CBR
