Shadow Realm

The Shadow Realm is a dark other dimension in the Yu-Gi-Oh! series that was alleged to be a place of eternal suffering where people could be sent to, explicitly designed by 4Kids Entertainment for the dubbed version of the Yu-Gi-Oh!second series anime. When a death would occur in the Japanese version, it would usually be censored in the English version to say he/she is sent instead to "Shadow Realm" (Though there is little difference, since the Shadow Realm is supposed to be Hell and the soul still leaves the body upon banishment.) The concept is also mentioned in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime.

The Shadow Realm as presented in the English-language version of the anime does not exist in either the original Japanese-language Yu-Gi-Oh! manga or anime series. However, the concept is based on an occasionally mentioned place called the World of Darkness (Yami no Sekai). This was where the soul of Solomon Muto was placed after being absorbed into a "Soul Prison" card by Maximillion Pegasus. This World of Darkness was also mentioned by Titan in the Japanese version of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. He was taken there after losing to Jaden. Here he met Kagemaru, who gave him his Shadow Charm mask, letting him return to Earth as one of the Shadow Riders. He would Duel Alexis Rhodes, one of the holders of the Spirit Keys. His intent was defeat her drag her to the World of Darkness, just as her brother Atticus Rhodes had previously been. However, he would lose to her and be dragged back to the world himself.

The Shadow Realm is often connected to Millennium Items. The Pharaoh used the power of the Millennium Puzzle to "Mind Crush" Ghost Kaiba (twice), Panik, and a mugger, banishing them to the Shadow Realm. Pegasus used his Millennium Eye to take both his duels with Yugi to the Shadow Realm, and to imprison Grandpa, Mokuba, and Kaiba in cards. Bakura also used his Millennium Ring to initiate a few shadow duels, and to trap some victims in the Shadow Realm. Marik Ishtar also trapped the minds of his Rare Hunters in the Shadow Realm with his Millennium Rod when they lost a duel, and set up some duels in which the loser's soul would be banished to the Shadow Realm. Yami Marik used his Millennium Rod to create shadow duels as well and trap Mai in the Shadow Realm.

Zorc is said to be the one who created the Shadow Realm. In ancient Egypt, duelists wore a diadankh around their arm whose energy would be depleted if they took damage from a monster, and if their diadankh energy was depleted, their soul would go to the Shadow Realm, but could still be released.

Known Victims[]

Excluding those who merely duel in the Shadow Realm, as visitors.

Marik's Father - Banished to the Shadow Realm by Yami Marik.
Mugger - Soul banished to the Shadow Realm by Yami (the Pharaoh Atem) with a Mind Crush.
Solomon Muto - Soul trapped in a card by Maximillion Pegasus. He was later released.
Ghost Kaiba - Banished to the Shadow Realm by Yami (the Pharaoh) with a Mind Crush, when he was Kaiba's dark side. He was later revived by Pegasus, and banished a second time by Yami, this time for good.
Panik - Banished to the Shadow Realm by Yami with a Mind Crush.
Mokuba Kaiba - Soul trapped in a card by Pegasus. He was later released. His soul was imprisoned in the Shadow Realm again, this time by Yami Bakura, but was later released.
Paradox Brothers - It is possible that Pegasus banished them to the Shadow Realm for their failure.
Seto Kaiba - Soul trapped in a card by Pegasus. He was later released.
Bandit Keith - It is possible that Marik banished his soul to the Shadow Realm after regaining control of his mind.
Seeker - Soul trapped in the Shadow Realm by Marik after losing a duel to Yugi.
Arkana - Soul presumably trapped in the Shadow Realm by Marik after losing a duel to Yugi.
Strings - It is possible that Marik trapped his soul in the Shadow Realm, even though he was possessing him for the entire duel.
Umbra - Soul presumably sent to the Shadow Realm after being defeated in a duel by Kaiba, as the glass which acted as a shadow barrier broke when his life points reached zero. He did manage to save his body with a parachute, however.
Lumis - Soul presumably trapped in the Shadow Realm by Marik after losing a duel to Yugi.
Bonz - Trapped in the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura after losing a duel to him.
Sid - Trapped in the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura.
Zygor - Trapped in the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura.
Mai Valentine - Soul trapped in the Shadow Realm by Yami Marik after losing a shadow game to him. Was later released.
Bakura Ryou - Imprisoned in the Shadow Realm after Yami Bakura lost a shadow duel to Yami Marik. Yami Bakura escaped this fate by hiding in Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. He was released when Yami Marik was destroyed.
Weevil Underwood - Soul was temporarily trapped in the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura.
Rex Raptor - Soul was temporarily trapped in the Shadow Realm by Yami Bakura.
Karim - Gave all his energy to Shada, depleting his diadankh energy. Was later released when Yami Bakura and Zorc were destroyed.
Aknadin - Destroyed by the Blue Eyes White Dragon, trapping his soul in the Shadow Realm. His soul was later released, although his body seems to be destroyed.
Hasan - Diadankh energy depleted when he jumped in front of the guards to protect them from Zorc's attack. His soul was presumably released, but his body was destroyed by Zorc when Shadi took possession of it.
Shada - Diadankh energy depleted when he jumped in front of the Pharaoh to protect him from Zorc's attack.
Isis - Diadankh energy depleted when Zorc destroyed her Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress. Her body may have died from the resulting fall, but her soul was released when Zorc was killed.
Shimon - Diadankh energy depleted when Zorc destroyed Exodia. Was later released.
Priest Seto - Diadankh energy depleted when Zorc destroyed his Blue Eyes. Was later released.
Yami Bakura - He merged with Zorc but Zorc was killed by the Creator Of Light, thus it killed Yami Bakura.

Trivia[]

The Shadow Realm is believed by many to be Hell. Which is ironic considering it was created by the dub as a means of censorship. As such, banishment to the Shadow Realm is considered to be the same as eternal damnation (although revivable). If one's soul is banished to the Shadow Realm, their body is left in a catatonic state, giving this an undeniable similarity to the Ghost Rider's Penance Stare.
Interestingly enough, the Japanese version has Bakura sending Bonz, Sid, and Zygor directly to hell as hands pull them into the ground. In the dub the hands are replaced with shadowy clouds.
Although most of Marik's duels which threatened the loser with outright death were replaced with banishment to the Shadow Realm, Yugi's duel with Joey which threatens to drown the loser is uncensored.

Shadow Games[]

Anubis vs. Pharaoh

Atem

Bakuras Attack on the City and Palace

Thief King Bakura vs. Master Seto

Thief King Bakura vs. Master Mahad

Thief King Bakura vs. Karim

Thief King Bakura vs. Pharaoh Atem

Destruction of The Village of Kul

Ellna

Creation of the Millennium Items

Thief King Bakura vs. Mahad

Battle of the Spellcaster's Training

Ground

A Village Along The Nile Attacked

Dr. Solomon Moto Discovery of

the Pharaohs Tomb

Ushio vs.Yu-Gi-Oh

Jirou the Yellow Spider vs.Yu-Gi-Oh

Seto Kaiba vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Shoutarou vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Professor Kanekura vs. Shadi

Shadi vs. Yami Yugi

Professor Yoshimori vs. Shadi

Haiyama vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Baron Ridley Sheldon vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Chouno Sensei vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Warashibe vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Fuwa Ryuichi-Kun vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Kukurano vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Dr. Kekeru Goyu vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Imori vs. Yugi Moto

Imori vs. Yami Yugi

Yami Bakura vs. Joey Wheeler

Yami Bakura vs. Tristian Taylor

Yami Bakura vs. Yugi Moto

Yami Bakura vs. Miho Nosaka

Yami Bakura vs. Tea Gardner

Dark Master Zooku vs. Miho Nosaka

Dark Master Zooku vs. Tristian Taylor

Dark Master Zooku vs. Joey Wheeler

Dark Master Zooku vs. Tea Gardner

Dark Master Zooku vs. Yugi

Moto

Yami Bakura vs. Yami Yugi

Yami Bakura vs. Bakura Ryou

Dark Master Zooku vs. Bakura Ryou

Maximillion Pegasus vs. Yu-Gi-Oh

Yami Bakura vs. Yami Yugi

Maximillion Pegasus vs. Crawling Dragon

Duelist Robed Man

Maximillion Pegasus vs.Yugi Moto

Maximillion Pegasus vs. Yami Yugi

Yami Bakura vs. Maximillion Pegasus

Yami Bakura vs. Bonz

Yami Marik vs. Mai Valentine

Yami Marik vs. Yami Bakura

Yami Marik vs. Joey Wheeler

Battle of the Gods: Seto Kaiba vs.

Yu-Gi-Oh

Yami Marik vs. Yami Yugi

Seto Kaiba vs. Yami Yugi

Anubis vs. Yami Yugi

Bakura Sending Rex and Weevil to the

Shadow Realm

Bakura Sending Mokuaba to the Shadow

Realm

Yami Bakura vs. Seto Kaiba

Titan vs. Titan's Opponent

Titan vs. Alexis Rhodes

Titan vs. Jaden Yuki

Jinzo vs. Jaden Yuki

Gravekeeper’s Chief vs. Jaden Yuki

Gravekeeper’s Chief vs. Atticus

Rhodes(Nightshroud)

Atticus Rhodes(Nightshroud) vs. Jaden

Yuki

Vampire Camula vs. Dr. Vellian Crowler

Vampire Camula vs. Zane Truesdale

Vampire Camula vs. Jaden Yuki

Don Zalog vs. Chazz Princeton

Kaibaman vs. Jaden Yuki