Yu-gi-oh! Duel Monsters (dub) Episode 173 -

After his grueling victory over Valon, an exhausted Joey is forced into an immediate duel against Mai under the Seal of Orichalcos .

Joey collapses from exhaustion, effectively forfeiting. Though Mai tries to save him, the Seal of Orichalcos claims Joey's soul. In his final moments, Joey protects Mai by pushing her out of the shrinking circle, causing her Orichalcos fragment to shatter and freeing her from Dartz's influence. Key Highlights & Analysis Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Dub) Episode 173

As Mai prepares the final blow, her repressed memories of their friendship resurface, causing her to hesitate. She realizes that her quest for power was a mask for her loneliness. After his grueling victory over Valon, an exhausted

This episode marks the definitive "Heel-Face Turn" for Mai. Her realization that Joey was the only person who truly cared for her provides a somber but necessary conclusion to her season-long descent into darkness. In his final moments, Joey protects Mai by

The dub features a powerful performance by Wayne Grayson (Joey) and Megan Hollingshead (Mai). Joey's final smile and his insistence that this was one of his best duels add a layer of "Graceful Loser" dignity to his defeat.

This episode serves as the emotional climax of the "Waking the Dragons" arc's duel between Joey Wheeler and Mai Valentine. It is widely regarded by fans for its high emotional stakes and the tragic resolution of Mai's redemption arc during this season.

Episode 173 is a standout in the Orichalcos arc. While the dueling action is secondary to the character drama, the emotional payoff for the Joey/Mai dynamic is one of the most memorable moments in the series. Yu-Gi-Oh! - Episode 173 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Wiki | Fandom