Sangan

Sangan was first introduced to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game in the Starter Deck: Joey, released in North America in 2003. This deck was designed to help new players learn the mechanics of the game by featuring cards associated with the character Joey Wheeler from the original anime series. The card quickly became a staple in competitive play due to its powerful effect, which allows a player to add a monster with 1500 or less attack from their deck to their hand when the card is sent from the field to the graveyard.

The artwork for Sangan, featuring a small, multi-eyed creature, was created by the artists at Konami’s design studio in Japan to fit the eccentric aesthetic of the early monster lineup. While it began as a common card in the Starter Deck, its utility made it a foundational piece of deck construction for years. Because of its ability to search for key combo pieces, the card has undergone numerous changes to its official text and has frequently appeared on the game's forbidden and limited lists, reflecting its enduring influence on competitive strategy.