Millennium Rod The Millennium Rod ( " Sennen Shakujō " , " Sennen Roddo " or " Mireniamu Roddo " ) is a Millennium Item . It is often referred to as the " scepter " in the Japanese version . History . Ancient Egypt . Priest Seto had originally owned the Millennium Rod . Along with the other Items , it was used to resurrect Zorc Necrophades . Yu - Gi - Oh ! One faction of the Tomb Keepers watched over the Rod , along with the Millennium Necklace . Upon Yami Marik ' s awakening , he took the Millennium Rod and used the blade to kill his own father ( skinning his back off in the manga , stabbing him to death in the Japanese anime , and sending him to the Shadow Realm in the dub ) . After that , Marik took the Rod to assist him in his quest for world domination . He stated that after he gets his revenge , the Rod would be useless to him , and that he would have no qualms of giving it to Yami Bakura . A false Millennium Rod was created and given to Odion Ishtar , who was disguising himself as Marik at the time , in order to play his role more realistically . While Odion wielded the false item , Marik ( under the pseudonym " Namu " ) utilized the real Rod ' s powers in secret , to make it look like Odion is the wielder of the item . When Odion played a false God Card Ra , it incurred the Gods ' wrath and caused a lightning bolt to strike down Odion , shattering the false Millennium Rod , revealing Odion ' s true identity . In Seto Kaiba ' s Duel with Ishizu Ishtar , the Millennium Rod showed Kaiba a vision of his past incarnation and the " Blue - Eyes White Dragon " , which convinced him to summon the latter monster instead of attacking with Obelisk the Tormentor ( which would have caused him to lose the Duel ) . This is because it was originally owned by the Egyptian Priest Seto , of whom Kaiba is a reincarnation . After Marik ' s defeat at Battle City , he gave the Millennium Rod to Yugi . After the Ceremonial Battle , the Rod , along with the other Millennium Items , fell underground . " Ma ' at " wields a staff that is made up of the Rod and the Millennium Key . In " Yu - Gi - Oh ! Forbidden Memories " , the Rod is shaped and colored slightly different . It is also owned by Kaiba in the modern day instead of Marik . Abilities . This item ' s unique ability grants the holder the power to control people ' s minds , turning them into the owner ' s mind slaves . By extension , it is also capable of mind manipulation , allowing the owner to telepathically communicate with others , look into their memories , trick their minds into believing what the Rod ' s owner wants them to , even knock people unconscious , and leave a portion of the owner ' s mind in the people that he has controlled , like with Bakura Ryou and Téa Gardner . Its mind control power has no effect on one who holds a Millennium Item or someone who has a powerful connection to the ancient games that were played in Egypt long ago , like Yugi Muto , Yami Bakura , Seto Kaiba , or Ishizu Ishtar before she gave her item to Yugi . Also , if the victim has an enormous force of will , the spell can be broken . Like the other Millennium Items , its power over the Shadow Game s allows it to materialize and command " Duel Monsters " and their effects , and cast a Penalty Game against the loser . Marik ' s games created through this item have been the most brutal and damaging , from memory destruction to pain - inducing . Its additional magical abilities allow the owner to use a telekinetic - like ability to force an opponent back , and to paralyze them . In the Virtual World arc , Marik commanded the Rod to project destructive energy to destroy the machinery and guard robots , while he was forcing his way through Noah ' s undersea fortress . It can also show others visions of the past . A victory Duel is not required to use these abilities . When the Rod was used by Priest Seto , its unique ability was to seal spirit monsters inside of stone tablets . Maybe because Seto has a noble personality while Marik had only malice , the Rod ' s primary magic differs between wielders . There is also a short blade concealed in the bottom of the rod , although this was only used in the Japanese anime and manga . The shaft of the rod acts as the sheath . This is removed in the dub . In the Japanese version , this knife was used for the Ishtar clan for carving the symbols on their first born male heir ' s back . Marik Ishtar was one of the many to endure this painful ritual , against his will , which gave birth to his dark side , Yami Marik .