Mahado ( manga ) Priest Mahado is a character in the " Yu - Gi - Oh ! " manga . This is the original depiction of Mahado , known as Mahad in the English anime . Mahado was a sorcerer and High Priest , tasked with guarding the royal tombs , while serving Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen and later Pharaoh Atem . He invested a deal of his magical abilities suppressing the evil powers of his Millennium Item , the Millennium Ring , making himself appear weaker . His guilt over past failures led to him facing Bakura , King of Thieves , alone with his powers unrestrained . During the battle , he gave his life to fuse his " ba " , with his " ka " , the Magus of Illusion . As a " ka " , he continued to serve Atem in his battles . With the Egyptian " ka " battles , recreated through " Duel Monsters " , Mahado ' s " ka " form was represented by the " Dark Magician " card . Biography . Ancient Egypt . Serving Akhenamkhanen . Mahado was a sorcerer in Ancient Egypt . Due to his magical skills , he was summoned to become a High Priest , serving Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen and acquired the Millennium Ring . The ring possessed a dark power , which he believed it had gotten by absorbing the evil of the last priest who wore it . He used his own power to suppress the evil powers of the ring , for the safety of everyone else . Due to the magic , he invested in this , his powers otherwise appeared significantly weaker , including the strength of his spirit ka , the Magus of Illusion . At some point , Mahado took on Mana , as an apprentice sorcerer and would frequently tell her off for treating the palace like a playground . The Millennium Ring granted Mahado knowledge of the Kul Elna massacre , conducted in the forging of the Millennium Items . He presented this knowledge to Akhenamkhanen , causing him to fall sick form the guilt and eventually die from his illness . Afterwards , Akhenamkhanen ' s son , Atem , inherited the throne . Palace battle . Five years after the death of Akhenamkhanen , Seto noted the recent influx of tomb defilement , following the trial of a graverobber . Since Mahado was in charge of guarding the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings , Seto scolded Mahado for failing in his duties . Mahado apologized , but in mitigation claimed the auguries , he received from the Millennium Ring had been very erratic lately and with the vast increase of ka nesting in people ' s souls , he could not detect every sinner and evil intention . He then requested Atem ' s permission to enlist more troops to strengthen his guard . When Bakura , King of Thieves entered the pharaoh ' s palace , the Millennium Ring began to react wildly , notifying Mahado of the presence of a great shadow power . Mahado took part in the ensuing battle with Bakura and summoned , the Magus of Illusion . When Atem was vulnerable to Bakura ' s Diabound , Mahado prepared to protect him with the Magus of Illusion , but Seto lacked confidence in its power and summoned Battle Ox . Battle Ox created an opening , which Seto instructed Mahado to use to attack . He got the Magus of Illusion cast the " Curse of Illusions " , restraining Diabound . Despite this the High Priests still struggled to fight Diabound and were ordered by Atem to step down . Mahado then witnessed the revelation of Atem , as the chosen pharaoh , capable of wielding the three hidden gods , as he summoned Obelisk , forcing Bakura to retreat . Mock battles . In preparation from further attacks from Bakura , the High Priests took part in mock ka battles to strengthen themselves . In one battle , Mahado was teamed with Isis and Kalim and they faced Akhenaden , Seto and Shada . Mahado summoned the Magus of Illusion and tried to use its " Curse of Illusion " on Seto ' s Duos , but Akhenaden summoned Dark Ushebti , which became the target of the spell . Mahado ' s team was ultimately defeated by Duos , which Seto strengthened through the sacrifice of his teammates ' ka . After the battle , Seto criticized Mahado for having such a weak ka and called it unfit to guard the pharaoh ' s tomb . Tomb battle . Security was tightened at Akhenamkhanen ' s tomb and Mahado arranged to use himself as part of a new trap for Bakura , willing to give his life because Atem had forgiven him . Without disclosing the details , he assured Atem and Siamun Muran that the tomb now had a trap that would stop any thief . Seto was not fully convinced and suggested that Mahado be stripped of his priesthood should the tomb got robbed again . Atem then asked that Mahado not to be blinded by guilt and just focus on fulfilling his duties . As Mahado made his way to the tomb , he caught Mana hiding in a pot . She claimed to have come to see him off , which annoyed him since she was postponing her magic practice . Simon interrupted the two and brought up his suspicions that Mahado intended to face Bakura himself . He advising against this , believing Mahado ' s ka to be too weak . Mahado questioned Siamun on the capabilities of " ka " being enhanced by the strength of their hosts ' heart and argued that his devotion to the pharaoh would strengthen his " ka " . Mahado guarded the inside of the tomb , while his troops were stationed outside . Before entering the tomb , he sensed Bakura ' s presence with the Millennium Ring . Bakura quickly dispatched the soldiers at the entrance and walked inside , where Mahado confronted him on a bridge . Outside Mahado ' s men blocked the entrance with a boulder and erected a stone slab . If Mahado were to die fighting , his soul would take form on the tablet . If that happened before the third sunrise , they were to leave the tomb sealed forever . Bakura was aware that a trap had been set , but followed though as he hoped to take the Millennium Ring from Mahado . Bakura summoned Diabound , which had grown since their previous battle . With no fear of bystanders being harmed , Mahado refocused his powers from suppressing the evil of the Millennium Ring to strengthening his " ka " . So the Magus of Illusion was significantly more powerful than when they last battled . Mahado had the magus dodge Diabound ' s attacks and strike back . He then transferred his " heka " to the " ka " , so it could attack again . The attack had some impact on Diabound , who disappeared into the walls . Bakura commended Mahado ' s strategies , before using his knowledge of the tomb to exploit the traps as weapons . Although Mahado was able to avoid the traps , it left him open to an attack from Diabound . Mahado managed to survive the attack and cast a single - use spell ; as a spirit sorcerer he was able to give his life to merge his " ba " and " ka " . He allowed himself to be hit by one of the swinging axe traps and in death fused his soul with the Magus of Illusion , forming the Dark Magician . As Dark Magician , Mahado hit Bakura with his " Black Magic " attack , damaging both Bakura and Diabound and causing Bakura to fall into the tomb ' s abyss . Initially unbeknownst to Mahado , Bakura survived the attack and took the Millennium Ring . Outside the tomb , the Dark Magician took form on the slab the soldiers had erected . When Atem and the High Priests learned what had happened , they were unsure of the faith of Bakura and the Millennium Ring and Seto blamed Mahado for putting them in such a state . Mana wept in front of the slab and begged Atem to call Mahado ' s spirit from it , but Isis insisted Mahado be given time to rest and reminded her that her " heka " was not yet strong enough to see spirits . Out of respect to Mahado , Mana vowed to become an amazing magician . Shrine of the Underworld battle . During the battle with Bakura at the Shrine of the Underworld , Mahado appeared as the Dark Magician and repelled the ghosts that were attacking Atem . He assured Atem , who was distraught over learning of the Kul Elna massacre , that the massacre took place without Akhenamkhanen ' s knowledge . He confessed to bringing the news of the massacre to Akhenamkhanen , resulting in his sickness and death . Mahado used his " Afterworld Warp " ability creating portals to absorb and redirect an attack from Diabound . Atem reminded him of Diabound ' s evasiveness , so Mahado directed the attack at a pillar , causing it to fall towards the Tablet of the Pharaoh ' s Memories . Bakura needed the tablet and coped their tactic , so he had Diabound to catch the pillar . With Diabound unable to use its wall - phasing ability without dropping the pillar , Mahado took the opportunity to hit it in the eye with a " Magic Blast " attack . Mahado attempted to strike again , but Diabound broke the pillar and used its fragments as a shield . When Diabound used its " Shadow Camouflage " ability to make itself invisible , Mahado used his " Thousand Magic Blasts " attack to pierce the ceiling , causing light from outside to expose Diabound ' s location . He then hit Diabound with a " Thousand Black Magic Blasts " attack . Diabound absorbed the souls of the Kul Elna ghosts , allowing it to create an aura , shielding itself from further attacks from Mahado . Diabound landed a hit on Mahado and was about to make a fatal strike , until the Dark Magician Girl , summoned by Mana , swooped in and saved him . Mana was not at the level that her ka could battle , so she had Dark Magician Girl transfer her " heka " to Mahado . Mahado , in turn , used it to double the strength of Duos Dragon and began chanting a spell , while Duos Dragon battled Diabound . Although Duos Dragon was defeated , it managed to melt a hole in Diabound ' s shield , which Mahado used to attack full force with " Black Magic " , destroying Diabound . Atem and Seto ' s battle . Seto , possessed by Akhenaden , faced Atem in a Duel , for the title of King . Seto summoned The White Dragon and with his ba too low to summon the gods , Atem summoned Mahado . Atem and Mahado were impressed by the power of the dragon ' s " heka " and understood the futility of trying to fight it . Instead Atem , instructed Mahado to attack the slab the dragon had been summoned from . Mahado dodged The White Dragon ' s " Reign of Destruction " attack and fired a " Black Magic " attack at the opposing slab . However , he was too slow as the dragon ' s attack destroyed Mahado ' s slab , causing him to disappear . Some time after Atem ' s death , Seto commissioned the creation of the Tablet of Memories , which depicted Atem and Seto ' s battle , including an illustration of Mahado , as the Dark Magician . 1990s . " Dark Magician " card . Egyptian " ka " battles were recreated through the " Duel Monsters " card game , which included a " Dark Magician " card , based on Mahado . Sugoroku Mutou possessed a copy of the card and passed it to to Yugi Mutou . Yugi along with Dark Yugi , the amnesic reawakened Atem , used the card in numerous Duels , including one against Pandora , who possessed two copies of the card . Battle City . During Seto Kaiba ' s semifinal Duel against Dark Yugi , the destruction of their God cards triggered a vision , in which they saw the battle between Seto and Atem . The vision ended during the summoning of the White Dragon and Mahado . Kaiba and Dark Yugi then Summoned their corresponding cards , " Blue - Eyes White Dragon " and " Dark Magician " . Dark Yugi believed they were fated to continue the battle . Shadow RPG . When Dark Yugi played the Shadow RPG against Dark Bakura , in the twentieth century , he replayed his life as Pharaoh Atem . Events concerning Mahado were largely the same in the RPG as the past . Unlike the original course of events : Ceremonial Battle . When Atem passed through the Door to the Underworld , his companions from ancient Egypt , including Mahado , stood at the other side . Dark Side of Dimensions . During the final battle against Dark Diva , Atem returned ( superimposed over Yugi ) and , during his Draw Phase , created " Palladium Oracle Mahad " , a new " Duel Monsters " card based on Mahado ( as the card he grabbed glowed with golden light ) . Also , it is very strongly shown that Mahado ' s soul is embedded within the card , much like with " Dark Magician " , as it kneeled before Atem when Summoned before attacking . Ka . Mahado has Summoned the following ka . Abilities . Mahado is capable of using and has performed the following spells .