Heart of the Cards

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The Heart of the Cards is a concept in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime where a Duelist puts their faith in their Deck. If a Duelist believes in the Heart of the Cards, they can draw the right card at the right time. It primarily appears in the English dub of the anime.

Yugi Muto is the most well-known practitioner of this philosophy.

Anime[edit]

The Heart of the Cards is mentioned much more frequently in the dub than in the original Japanese version. In the original Japanese version, the concept of the Heart of the Cards is touched on in the first episode, but largely not referred to since. However, it is frequently said that since you put all of your feelings into building your Deck, it can be relied on to help you win.

Yugi Muto often refers to the Heart of the Cards as helping him win Duels, as well as criticizing his opponents for not believing in it. His best friend Joey Wheeler is also a strong believer in the Heart of the Cards.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, the concept is referred to during Jaden Yuki's Duel with Dimitri. Winged Kuriboh points out that since Dimitri is not Yugi, the Heart of the Cards is not on his side. Although not stated directly, multiple characters remark on Jaden's ability to always draw the right card when he needs it;[citation needed] for example, he seemingly always draws "Elemental Hero Neos" despite only having a single copy. Jaden has stated that the reason he draws what he needs is because he believes in his Deck, and because his Deck also believes in him.[citation needed]

In Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, the concept is referred to by Yusei Fudo several times during different Duels. He talks about believing in the cards and how the cards will always answer if you do.[citation needed] Though he does not explicitly state it, Crow Hogan seems to believe in this concept, believing that he Deck was sending him messages in the cards that he draws.[citation needed] In the Japanese version, there is a similar concept known as "possessing the soul of a duelist", which also relies on believing in one's cards.[citation needed]

In Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL, Astral seems to believe in this concept, as he tells Yuma to tap into his heart and believe in his cards.[citation needed] Some characters, including Yuma, actually have a visible power to draw exactly what they need (see Shining Draw and Chaos Draw). Kaito also believes in this concept and uses it in Episode 106.

In the dub of Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 030, Ai shouts "Heart of the cards, guide me!" when attempting to draw a "cute" card from Ghost Gal's Deck.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS, Luke claims that understanding the heart of the cards is the beginning of Luke-style Dueling.

Video games[edit]

Several video games include a Destiny Draw mechanic, allowing a character who is behind to draw a card to reverse the tide of the Duel, similar to the Heart of the Cards in the anime.

  • In Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses, the Destiny Draw has a chance of adding a card to the player's Deck that could potentially turn a losing Duel around.
  • In Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links, Yami Yugi has access to a Skill called Destiny Draw, which allows him to draw the card of his choice after losing Life Points. In the English version, he has a unique quote when using this Skill: "Heart of the Cards, guide me! I draw!"