Throughout the more than 20 years of history since the release of the originalYu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monstersmanga, fans have been witnesses to some of anime’s most complex and impressive strategies. Seto Kaiba,one of the original show’s best duelists, is responsible for many of these memorable plays, thanks to his high intellect and natural talent.
While fans most likely remember some of his best duels, there is an amazing example of how capable Yugi’s rival was that was lamentably kept from viewers. During the beginning of the Battle City arc, Kaiba faced a nameless duelist whom he defeated in record time. Despite how impressive this victory might have been, the duel occurred completely off-screen.
Kaiba’s Best Moment Was Unfairly Taken From Fans
For most fans, the Battle City arc isone of the originalYu-Gi-Oh!anime’s best story arcs, gifting viewers with various amazing and memorable duels. From Joey’s epic battle against Marik to the iconic semi-final confrontation between Yugi and Kaiba, this beloved season features the most intense battles in the franchise.
Still, there is a scene that had the potential to be among the best duels in the original anime: Kaiba’s battle against a nameless player. After receivingone ofYu-Gi-Oh!’s most iconic cards, Obelisk, Seto was eager to test it, and he found the perfect candidate when he saw a man attacking Mokuba in an alley.
After giving his opponent a briefcase of rare cards to improve his deck, the duel began, with both opponents confident in their abilities. Only a few minutes later, Kaiba stood victorious over a terrified opponent.The anime strongly hints at Seto winning this duel in 1 or 2 turnsby summoning Obelisk, a feat that no other duelist has achieved.
Seto’s Duel Demonstrates True Mastery Over His Deck
Despite being some of themost powerful cards inYu-Gi-Oh!, the Egyptian Gods were quite difficult to use. Due to their requirement of three sacrifices to be summoned, only the most talented duelists were capable of effectively using their power. The unseen duel between Kaiba and the unnamed duelist is proof of Seto’s impressive skills as a player.
The show strongly suggests that Kaiba completely overwhelmed his opponent by quickly summoning and attacking with Obelisk, a task that would usually take several turns. The fact that he did so in record time suggestsSeto found a strategy that allowed him to bypass the difficulty of summoning his god, something not even Yugi could do easily.
This complex and impressive plan was likely never shown because it would make Seto’s later duels feel unjustly rigged against him, as there would be no tension if he could defeat his opponents in a couple of moves. While fans have many theories about the steps taken by Seto, this amazing play will likely never be revealed to the audience.
