Konami - News Analysis

Konami’s The Infinite Forbidden brings the power of Exodia to more duellists

Almost 25 years since viewers first witnessed the power of Exodia the Forbidden One in the first ever animated Yu-Gi-Oh! episode, Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. is introducing an all-new Exodia strategy with the Infinite Forbidden set. Here, the company details what this means for Yu-Gi-Oh! duellists across the world.

The Infinite Forbidden is one of this year’s most anticipated sets for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, heralding the return of Exodia, a monster so iconic it’s recognised by millions of people the world over - whether they’ve played the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG or not.

Almost 25 years ago, kids across the world were watching the first ever episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! The finale features an epic duel between the hero, Yami Yugi, and his rival, Seto Kaiba. With the end looking near for Yugi, he overcomes the odds to assemble all five pieces of Exodia, allowing him to bring forth Exodia the Forbidden One. The golden, godlike monster rips a hole in the fabric of reality to enter the duel, as Kaiba watches in despair. The monster unleashes a devastating attack of pure energy, and Kaiba can barely look on as the screen fills with light in an animation sequence that would become immortalised. Yugi wins the duel, setting the stage for one of the most beloved anime storylines of all time.

The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG lets players bring the anime to life. If they can assemble the five pieces of Exodia in their hand, they can access the power of Exodia the Forbidden One, just like Yugi, instantly winning the duel.

However, it’s incredibly rare at a competitive level. In October 2023, one player literally created headlines when he managed to bring forth the power of Exodia the Forbidden One in a high-level competition, with the crowd cheering on in jubilant disbelief. The last time Exodia had made such a splash on the competitive scene was in 2012.

But thanks to The Infinite Forbidden, the seemingly impossible will become much more possible. With the cards introduced in this new set, players will gain access to an all-new Exodia strategy. This time, they won’t have to reveal all five pieces of Exodia in their hand. Instead, if the five pieces of Exodia are in their hand, deck and/or on the field, they can use a new Spell card to summon a brand-new Exodia Fusion monster.

Exodia Fusion is extremely powerful, befitting the rich history of the name. It can’t be destroyed by card effects, and it adds the player’s current Life Points to its Attack Points on every turn. This effect isn’t a one-off; it accumulates, meaning not only is the monster difficult to defeat, it also gets stronger the longer an opponent fails to destroy it. The new Exodia Fusion has other useful abilities, making it an interesting addition to the game.

Like so many of the great Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG sets tied to the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game’s 25th anniversary celebrations, The Infinite Forbidden deftly combines nostalgia with modern play. These sets tap into the game’s memories from across the decades and evolve them into something new and exciting, all while staying true to the history.

This 101-card set is scheduled to launch on 18th July in the UK and Europe. It will include 10 Secret Rares, 14 Ultra Rares, 26 Super Rares and 50 Commons. 24 of the cards will also be available as Quarter Century Secret Rares, the stunning rarity created for the card game’s 25th anniversary. One special card will only be available as a Quarter Century Secret Rare.