Shamans are extraordinary beings who can communicate with ghosts, spirits, and gods—entities invisible to ordinary people. Every five hundred years, the Shaman Fight, a prestigious tournament that pits shamans from around the globe against one another, takes place. The victor is crowned Shaman King, a title that allows the winner to command the Great Spirit and reshape the world as they wish.
One night, Manta Oyamada, an ordinary middle school student, is late for class and decides to cut through the local cemetery. A lone boy sitting on a gravestone notices him and invites Manta to stargaze with "them." Realizing "them" refers to the boy and his ghostly companions, Manta panics and runs away. Later, the boy introduces himself as You Asakura, a Shaman-in-training, and proves his abilities by partnering with the ghost of a six-hundred-year-old samurai named Amidamaru to rescue Manta from a gang of thugs. You befriends Manta because of his ability to see spirits, and alongside Amidamaru, they set off to achieve You's goal: becoming the next Shaman King.