HERO

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HERO
HERO
Japanese
  • HEROヒーロー
  • HERO (base)
  • ヒーロー (ruby)
  • Hīrō (romanized)
Traditional Chinese
  • HERO
Simplified Chinese
  • -英雄
French
  • HÉROS
German
  • HELD
Italian
  • EROE
Korean
  • 히어로
  • Hieoro (romanized)
Portuguese
  • HERÓI
Spanish
  • HÉROE
Sets
TCG
OCG
Korean
Anime appearances
Manga appearances
Lists

"HERO" (HEROヒーロー Hīrō) is an archetype of mostly Warrior monsters introduced in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX that includes five sub-archetypes as well as several other cards. "HERO" monsters are often based on comic, cartoon, or movie style heroes. This archetype was used by Jaden Yuki, Aster Phoenix, and The Supreme King in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime, and an alternate version of Aster Phoenix in the Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V anime. It was also used by Jaden Yuki, Aster Phoenix, and Koyo Hibiki in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX manga, and Fusion Mask in the Yu-Gi-Oh! D Team ZEXAL manga. The "HERO" archetype is the second largest archetype in the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, behind "Number".

Sub-themes[edit]

The "HERO" archetype exists to unify various related themes that primarily appear in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime and manga. The primary themes that comprise the "HERO" archetype are "Elemental HERO", "Evil HERO" and "Destiny HERO", "Masked HERO" and "Vision HERO". There are several monsters that are not part of any of these five themes by name: "Contrast HERO Chaos" (although it is treated as an "Elemental HERO" card), the Xtra HERO cards, and the Illegal Match winner "E☆HERO Pit Boss". Additionally, the archetype also includes two Spell Cards ("HERO's Bond" and "Legacy of a HERO") and one Skill Card ("HERO World").

Archetype Anime users Manga users Design
Elemental HERO Jaden Yuki
Aster Phoenix
Jaden Yuki
Koyo Hibiki
In the anime, they are themed after comic-book superheroes; in the manga, they are based on natural elements.
Destiny HERO Aster Phoenix (GX)
Aster Phoenix (ARC-V)
N/A They are based on vigilantes or anti-heroes (such as Batman, Devilman, and Spawn), as well as British culture. Their effects often relate to the passage of time.
Evil HERO The Supreme King N/A They bear some similarity to various demonic superheroes, villains, and anti-heroes, such as The Darkness, Hellboy, and Witchblade. Most of the monsters are corrupted versions of Elemental HEROs.
Vision HERO N/A Aster Phoenix Most "Vision HERO" monsters wear helmets with a singular lens where the face would be, and have an almost robotic appearance.
Masked HERO N/A Jaden Yuki They appear to be based on Japanese Kamen Rider heroes (Kamen meaning "Masked"). They also take inspiration from the recurring "form changing" and transformations of Kamen Riders. The Double Attacks are similar to the original Kamen Riders' (1 and 2) "Rider Double" techniques.
Xtra HERO N/A N/A Link Monsters with futuristic designs similar to Vision HEROs. The monsters in this series of cards each have designs and effects referring to the HERO sub-archetypes they support.

Naming[edit]

OCG[edit]

The Japanese cards use 「E・HEROエレメンタルヒーロー」, 「E-HEROイービルヒーロー」, 「E☆HEROエンターテイメントヒーロー」 「C・HEROコントラスト・ヒーロー」, 「D-HEROデステニーヒーロー」, 「M・HEROマスクドヒーロー」, 「V・HEROヴィジョンヒーロー」 and 「X・HEROエクストラヒーロー」 at the start of their names so only those eight would work with 「HEROヒーロー」. Note that "Elemental HERO", "Evil HERO", and "Entertainment HERO" use 「E・HERO」, 「E-HERO」, and 「E☆HERO」, and their furigana is different: "Elemental HERO" monsters have 「エレメンタルヒーロー」, "Evil HERO" monsters have 「イービルヒーロー」, and "Entertainment HERO" monsters have 「エンターテイメントヒーロー」.

TCG[edit]

In the TCG, originally text supporting this archetype specified "Elemental Hero" and "Destiny Hero" monsters separately, rather than supporting this as an independent archetype; after the release of "Evil Hero" cards in the TCG, support cards for this archetype began to specify all three sub-themes ("Elemental Hero", "Destiny Hero" and "Evil Hero"). This was done in the old texts of "Elemental Hero Stratos", "Elemental Hero Ocean", "Elemental Hero Divine Neos", "Evil Hero Infernal Prodigy", "Elemental Hero Absolute Zero", and "Hero's Bond". The original print of "Elemental Hero Divine Neos" was the only card to reference this archetype (albeit as "Hero"), although it only did so after already specifying that those same monsters must be "Elemental Hero", "Destiny Hero" or "Evil Hero" monsters.

As part of the introduction of Problem-Solving Card Text, in anticipation of the upcoming release of "Masked HERO" and "Vision HERO" cards, this archetype was introduced to the TCG as an independent archetype named "HERO". Starting in Generation Force, "Elemental Hero", "Destiny Hero" and "Evil Hero" were renamed "Elemental HERO", "Destiny HERO" and "Evil HERO", respectively; and "Masked HERO" and "Vision HERO" had their names capitalized accordingly. "HERO" is rendered in all capital letters to distinguish members from cards such as "Hero Kid" and "Oscillo Hero", which have "Hero" in their names but are not part of this archetype.[1]

In addition, two Spell Cards were renamed to align with the OCG: "HERO Flash!!" was renamed to "Hero Flash!!" (to exclude it) and "Hero's Bond" was renamed to "HERO's Bond" (to include it).

Playing style[edit]

Due to the "HERO" archetype being generally divided across a few sub-archetypes, the overall playstyle of the "HERO" archetype is objectively varied although common traits between the sub-archetypes show that the "HERO" archetype is predominantly a Fusion-based playstyle; they focus on swarming the field by Summoning "HERO" monsters, as well as searching "HERO" monsters and/or their "Fusion"/"Polymerization" Spell Cards needed to Special Summon their Fusion Monsters (usually by a Fusion Summon).

Many members (despite also being a member of a specific "HERO" sub-archetype) support the entire "HERO" archetype as a whole. The overall "HERO" meta-archetype playstyle highlights some of the key "HERO" members which are almost always worth including:

  • "Vision HERO" monsters generically support "HERO" monsters outside of their "vision" playstyle. The archetype strongly supports, and is strongly supported by the "HERO" meta-archetype, with general "HERO" support giving the archetype more flexibility, and "Vision HERO" itself giving other "HERO" sub-archetypes multiple extenders, situational tools, and boss monsters. The "Vision HERO" archetype is often compacted into an engine of "Faris", "Increase", and "Vyon"; "Faris" will Special Summon itself from the hand and place "Increase" in the Spell & Trap Zone who will then tribute "Faris" to Special Summon itself and "Vyon", then "Vyon" will send other "HERO" monsters to the GY for their GY effects (usually "Destiny HERO" monsters or "Elemental HERO Shadow Mist") and search out a "Polymerization" to enable "HERO" Fusion plays, all the while providing multiple "HERO" monsters on the field that can enable even more plays. Its Fusion Monsters, "Adoration" and "Trinity" can use any "HERO" monsters as material and the latter serves as a very useful game closer.
  • Although "Masked HERO" Fusion Monsters can only be Special Summoned with "Change" Quick-Play Spell Cards rather than Fusion Summons, these cards are also worth including due to the few "Masked HERO" members with disruptive effects and "Change" cards can be searched with "Elemental HERO Shadow Mist". These "Masked HERO" monsters notably include "Dark Law" (for its passive one-sided "Macro Cosmos" and hand-rip effects, also being easy to Summon due to the majority of the key "HERO" monsters being DARK including "Shadow Mist", all "Destiny HEROs" and all "Vision HEROs"), "Acid" (by using "Elemental HERO Absolute Zero" to perform a board wipe), and "Masked HERO Blast" for dealing with Spell/Traps. "Change" Quick-Play Spells can also be used to "dodge" certain targeted disruptions.
  • Finally, despite the majority of the "HERO" Extra Deck members being Fusion Monsters, a few of them are Link Monsters, those being the Xtra HERO series of monsters. These have effects which either support a specific sub-archetype (such as "Xtra HERO Cross Crusader" with "Destiny HERO" monsters) or ones that support the general shared playstyle of "HERO", such as "Xtra HERO Wonder Driver" recycling "Change", "Fusion" or "Polymerization" Spells.

Weaknesses[edit]

  • Most "HERO" monsters often lack protection, and as such the player can often easily have their field cleared by mass destruction cards and effects like "Raigeki", "Nibiru, the Primal Being" and "Evenly Matched" which most "HERO" monsters do not have effects to counter these cards with.
  • With a few exceptions, "HERO" monsters generally have little ability to disrupt or prevent the opponent's plays. In particular, there are no "HERO" monsters in the game that can negate the activation of cards or effects so far.
  • "Gozen Match" can significantly disrupt "HERO" Decks that use "Elemental HERO" monsters due to their variety of Attributes.
  • As most "HERO" Fusion Monsters have to be Fusion Summoned, cards like "Non-Fusion Area" and "Dimensional Barrier" can prevent these Fusion Monsters from being Summoned. Furthermore, cards like "Nekroz of Unicore" can have their effects negated.
  • As "HERO" monsters are mostly Warrior-Type, cards such as "Cipher Soldier", "Warrior Elimination" and "There Can Be Only One" can pose as a threat to such decks.

Recommended cards[edit]

Official Deck[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Tewart, Kevin (May 23, 2011). "Problem-Solving Card Text, Part 2: New Words & Phrases". Konami. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  2. NeoArkadia (May 25, 2016). "[OCG] Duelist Festival 2016 Obelisk Force Deck Recipes". The Organization. Retrieved May 10, 2022.