1998: The Pre-OCG Era (Bandai)

Before Konami secured the rights, Bandai held the license to produce merchandise based on the original Toei Animation anime (often referred to as "Season 0").

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The Bandai Card Game (1998–1999): Bandai released three card sets. The design, layout, and rules differed completely from the modern game (featuring unique yellow borders, no monster effects, and a combat system heavily reliant on star counts).

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Historical Value: These cards were never distributed outside of Asia. They represent the very first physical attempt to adapt Kazuki Takahashi's manga into a card game, making them highly prized historical artifacts.