Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's - Plot

Plot

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's takes place decades after the events of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. Unlike GX, however, as it takes place in the distant future, and almost all of the cards used are brand new.

The game of Duel Monsters has changed; a new addition has been introduced to the future of dueling as seen in 5D's: "Turbo Duels". These duels are played in giant stadiums, and duelists ride motorcycles with built-in duel equipment known as "Duel Runners" ("D-Wheels" in the Japanese version). Domino City has also changed, under the guidance of the head of its Public Security Maintenance Bureau, Rex Goodwin. Rich and powerful people live in what is now known as New Domino City ("Neo Domino City" in the Japanese version), while the poorer class are shunned and live mostly in the slums area, known as "The Satellite". They are referred to as "Satellite slime," by the inhabitants of Neo Domino City. An aspiring duelist from Satellite, Yusei Fudo, builds his own Duel Runner, but is betrayed by his best friend, Jack Atlas, who steals his Duel Runner and his most precious monster, Stardust Dragon. He does this by tying his and Yusei's friend Rally on a raft and making Yusei choose between stopping him or saving Rally from drowning.

Two years later, Yusei has built another Duel Runner, and sets out to win back his Dragon. Jack, now known as the Duel King (King of the Riding Duels in the Japanese version), has made a name for himself and his monster, Red Dragon Archfiend (Red Demon's Dragon in the Japanese version), in New Domino City. Yusei and Jack face each other in a Turbo Duel, and during the duel Yusei is able to regain control of Stardust Dragon. As Stardust and Red Dragon Archfiend battle, a third dragon appears and brings an abrupt end to the fight. This attracts the attention of Rex Goodwin, who reveals to Jack a thousand year old secret, involving the "People of the Stars" (星の民, Hoshi no Tami?), a pre-Incan civilization, the "Crimson Dragon" (赤き竜, Akaki Ryū?), and "Signers" (シグナー, Shigunā?). He also reveals to Jack that he, along with Yusei are descendants of them and are destined to face the Dark Signers. Yusei, along with Jack Atlas, Akiza Izinski (Aki Izayoi in the Japanese version), and Luna (Luca in the Japanese version) head to the Satellite to face these foes, with the help of Yusei and Jack's childhood friend Crow Hogan, who becomes the fifth Signer, and Luna's brother Leo (Lua in the Japanese version).

After the Dark Signers' defeat, New Domino City and Satellite are finally reunited into one prosperous city with the building of the "Daedalus Bridge" an intricate net of roads linking both communities with some sections also used for Turbo Duels. Yusei and his friends get ready for the upcoming WRGP tournament, whilst facing off against a new threat", whose main monsters, the "Meklord Emperors" (Machine Emperors in the Japanese version), can absorb Synchro Monsters from their opponents, to empower themselves. During this time, Yusei encounters a mysterious man who teaches him about the secrets of Accel Synchro, that allows him to bring new powers to his Stardust Dragon, a super mechanic named Bruno, who had lost his memory, and joined Yusei's team. They are also joined by a girl named Sherry Le Blanc, who is investigating Yliaster who are reportedly responsible for her parents' deaths. Yusei also goes to a place called Crash Town to save his friend and former Dark Signer, Kiryu, and Jack confronts a sealed ancient Earthbound Immortal, Scar-Red Nova, whose powers he absorbs, with the help of the Crimson Dragon, to further enhance his Red Dragon Archfiend, creating Red Nova Dragon. The WRGP soon begins, with Yusei and friends, now called "Team 5D's" are up facing against tough opponents before eventually confronting the emperors themselves who are revealed to be three different incarnations of Aporia, a cyborg sent from the future to destroy New Domino City, in order to prevent a great calamity from befalling upon mankind in the future.

Although Yusei and co. defeat Aporia and win the WRGP, a massive citadel known as the Ark Cradle appears and threatens to crash into Neo Domino City, so Team 5D's climb aboard it in order to stop it. Before reaching the core of the fortress, they confront Sherry, who was promised to have her parents returned to her, Bruno, who recovered his memories and was revealed to be Antimony, another member of Yliaster, and have another clash with Aporia, where Leo awakens his dormant powers and becomes the sixth and final Signer. When the signers finally come face to face with Z-one, Yliaster's supreme leader, Yusei borrows his friends' dragons, adding them to his deck, and challenges Z-one to a final duel, to decide New Domino City's future. During the duel, Z-one is revealed to be a scientist from the future, who assumed Yusei's identity, and traveled back in time to prevent the destruction of humanity. Battling against all odds, Yusei manages to use his friends' cards to summon his most powerful monster ever, "Shooting Quasar Dragon." After Z-one is defeated by Yusei, Z-one decides to entrust the future of mankind to Yusei, and sacrifices himself to save New Domino City from destruction.

A few years pass after the Signer's victory over Yliaster, and the former members of Team 5D's move on with their lives following separate paths. But not before Jack and Yusei put all their skills into one more duel, to settle their rivalry once and for all, which Yusei wins. They then part ways, except for Yusei, who decides to stay, the other Signers decide that after fulfulling their dreams, they will return to New Domino City. After that, they ride together one last time, and then, the Crimson Dragon removes their Signer marks, as their mission as Signers was accomplished.