The titular protagonist of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise is considered by many as one of the most iconic and memorable characters anime has to offer. Yugi and Atem left a lasting mark on the viewers who followed their quest to save the world from darkness, one that will likely never be erased from their memory. Personally speaking, the King of Games has been an inspiration for most of my life.

Yet, when thinking about the cast from the original Duel Monsters anime, there is a duelist who is far more deserving of praise and iration: Joey Wheeler. Yugi’s best friend, despite not being the best player in the series, does have the most heart. His dueling style, loyalty, and determination are something the franchise has not seen ever again in later iterations.

Joey Is the Heart of Duel Monsters

Wheeler Is an Irreplaceable Part of the Series

Introduced as Yugi’s best friend and former bully, Joey Wheeler was a kind but short-tempered student who suffered greatly as a child. Living in an abusive household and having to protect his sister caused him to become reserved and aggressive. Things only got worse when his mother filed for divorce and separated him from Serenity, forcing him to live with his alcoholic father. It was not until Joey met Yugi and became his close companion that his life changed for the better. With the of his friends, Joey overcame his trauma and became an inspiring duelist.

Joey was also always there to catch his friends and even rivals, like Kaiba.

Despite commencing the series as a true novice, as he had never played Duel Monsters before, he worked hard to learn the ins and outs of the game. In a few weeks, he had become one of the best duelists in the series, capable of advancing to the finals of the Duelist Kingdom tournament. Nonetheless, Joey is much more than just a capable player, as he is, in my opinion, the one who kept the heroes together even through the worst of times.

One of his best qualities is his loyalty, as he is willing to do anything to help his loved ones. Unlike most other duelists who answered Pegasus’ call, Wheeler was not trying to become a famous player; he was desperate to earn enough money to pay for Serenity’s eye operation. Joey was also always there to catch his friends and often rivals, like Kaiba, when they needed a helping hand. Despite all of his suffering and the struggles he had to endure, Wheeler remained kind and brave, qualities we could all learn from.

Joey Came From Nothing and Reached Greatness

Wheeler Did Not Have Help From Ancient Magic or Money

As the story of Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters progressed, fans began to notice that, no matter how much effort he would put into improving, Joey was unable to sur his best friend and Kaiba. This would often frustrate him, mostly because of how despicable Seto could be when talking with him, causing him to lose faith in himself. Still, the accomplishments Joey achieved in the series are nothing to scoff at, as he did not need anyone else’s help to get to the top. Yugi might be an intelligent and skilled duelist, but he seldom played alone.

During the large majority of the best and most important duels in the anime, Atem would be the one to take control of the game, with the protagonist only contributing by advising his friend. Kaiba, although not aided by any ancient Egyptian spirit, was rich and powerful, making it easy for him to acquire the most powerful cards in the world. Moreover, if Seto wanted, he could simply create a new card to his strategy, as his company oversaw the game after the end of season 1.

Joey did not have magic or money to help him win his duels, so everything he achieved was thanks to his hard work and dedication. Joey became the third-best duelist in the world with only the cards that his limited budget could afford, the training of Grandpa Solom, and his dedication. Yugi’s best friend is an inspiration to all Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, me included, as he is a true example of determination and resilience. Joey came from a broken home and became one of the most popular and beloved Duel Monsters players in history.

The Series Did Not Help Joey Stand Out

Many of His Defeats Were Undeserved

One of the main reasons why Yu-Gi-Oh! fans might not Joey as the talented duelist I ire is because the show would often use him as a plot device to make the antagonists appear more threatening. A perfect example, and the one most viewers are familiar with, is his entirely unfair loss at the hands of Marik during the Battle City Tournament arc. After a grueling and painful battle, Wheeler was prepared to strike the villain down, becoming the first side character to defeat a major enemy, only to fall unconscious and lose at the last second.

Another great example of how the series would humiliate Joey occurred during his last duel on screen against Zigfried. By that point in the series, Wheeler had already established himself as a top duelist, one who could rely on both his luck and strategies to win most duels. Even then, the series made him play like an amateur, making simple mistakes and not using any of his best cards besides Red-Eyes. Joey could have been seen as a much better duelist by audiences if the series had given him a true opportunity to shine.

Joey’s Legacy Should Still Be Celebrated

Wheeler Continues To Be One of the Best Characters in the Franchise

As the years have ed, my opinions on Joey have changed drastically. While I also used to believe he was a good duelist and a hilarious character, I did not see him as someone who was on the same level as Kaiba and Yugi. Nonetheless, the truth is that Joey always had the makings of a true champion. If not for Yugi’s magic and Kaiba’s fortune, Wheeler could have become a champion. The Yu-Gi-Oh! series even hinted at this, as Joey presumably beat Yugi and claimed the title of King of Games after the ending of Battle City.