Masked HERO

Masked HERO
Jaden with "Masked HERO Acid" and "Masked HERO Dark Law" as they prepare a Double Attack.
Japanese	Ｍ・ＨＥＲＯ（マスクドヒーロー） Ｍ・ＨＥＲＯ (base) マスクドヒーロー (ruby) Masukudo Hīrō (romanized)
German	Maskierter HELD
Spanish	HEROE Enmascarado
Sets Premium Pack 13 Generation Force Premium Pack 14 2012 Premium Collection Tin Structure Deck: HERO's Strike
Manga appearances
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
Lists	Members Support

"Masked HERO" (Ｍ・ＨＥＲＯ（マスクドヒーロー） Masukudo Hīrō) is a "HERO" sub-archetype mostly used by Jaden Yuki in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX manga. Jaden started using these "HEROes" after the tournament to Duel the Kaiser, when he decided to build an "all-his Deck", which would eventually grow into his ultimate Deck (since the "Elemental HEROes" he used previously were Koyo Hibiki's Deck).

The "Masked HEROes" are currently the only monsters to be able to perform Transformation Summons and Double Attacks.

Design

While the "Elemental HERO" archetype is said to be based off of American superheroes, it can also be assumed that the "Masked HERO" archetype is a salute to Japanese Kamen Rider heroes. In addition to "Kamen" meaning "Masked", there are several similarities between the two, such the recurring "form changing" and transformations of Kamen Riders. The Double Attacks are also similar to the original Kamen Riders' (1 and 2) "Rider Double" techniques.

Playing Style

Rather than Fusion Summoning like most Fusion Monsters do, "Masked HEROes" use cards like "Mask Change" to Special Summon themselves from the Extra Deck. In the manga, Chazz Princeton was amazed seeing how the "Masked HEROes" could use the same effect of "Fusion" using one single material rather than 2 or more.

This archetype favors a fairly straight-forward Beatdown strategy. Their "transforming" cards being Quick-Play Spell Cards allows them to be transofrmed at any time, including during the Battle Phase, for multiple attacks, or in response to an opponent effect or attack.

While in the manga "Masked HEROes" are an independent archetype, in the TCG/OCG they were revamped to be a general "HERO" support, making them Splashable options for any "HERO" Deck (though they essentially work well only with the "Elemental HEROes", due to their varied Attributes).

Recommended Cards

Main Deck Monster Cards Elemental HERO Avian Elemental HERO Bubbleman Elemental HERO Heat Elemental HERO Ocean Elemental HERO Shadow Mist Elemental HERO Sparkman Elemental HERO Stratos (Traditional Format only) Elemental HERO Wildheart Spell Cards Mask Change Form Change Advance Draw E - Emergency Call Miracle Fusion Quick Booster Reinforcement of the Army The Warrior Returning Alive Trap Cards Safe Zone Extra Deck Fusion Monsters Masked HERO Acid Masked HERO Dark Law Masked HERO Dian Masked HERO Goka Masked HERO Koga Masked HERO Kamikaze Masked HERO Vapor Elemental HERO Absolute Zero Elemental HERO Gaia Elemental HERO Nova Master