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Masked HERO

"Masked HERO" (M・HEROマスクドヒーロー Masukudo Hīrō in Japan, written as マスクドHEROヒーロー or マスクドヒーロー in the Japanese manga) is a "HERO" sub-archetype used by Jaden Yuki in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX manga. Jaden started using this archetype 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 HERO" monsters he used previously were from Koyo Hibiki's Deck).

Masked HERO
From left to right: "Masked HERO Dark Law", "Masked HERO Koga", "Elemental HERO Shadow Mist", "Masked HERO Divine Wind" and "Contrast HERO Chaos"
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)
  • マスクドHEROヒーロー (manga)
  • M・HERO (base)
  • マスクド・ヒーロー (ruby)
French
  • HÉROS Masqué
German
  • Maskierter HELD
Italian
  • EROE Mascherato
Korean
  • 마스크드 히어로
  • Maseukeudeu Hieoro (romanized)
Portuguese
  • HERÓI Mascarado
Spanish
  • HEROE Enmascarado
Sets
TCG
OCG
Korean
Manga appearances
Lists

The Transformation Summon method is utilized by this archetype.

DesignEdit

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.

Attribute Main Deck Monster Level 6 Fusion Monster Level 8 Fusion Monster
WIND   Gust Blast Divine Wind
WATER   Fountain Vapor Acid
FIRE   Inferno Goka -
EARTH   Bassols - Dian
LIGHT   Ray - Koga
DARK   Dusk Crow Dark Law Anki

Playing styleEdit

The "Masked HERO" archetype centers on the "Change" archetype of Quick-Play Spells, mainly "Mask Change", "Mask Change II" and "Form Change", which can "transform" a monster into a "Masked HERO" Fusion Monster, sending the monster on the field to the Graveyard (or returning it to the Extra Deck in the case of "Form Change") and Special Summoning the "Masked HERO" from the Extra Deck (rather than Fusion Summoning like most Fusion Monsters do).

In the manga, "Masked HERO" is an independent archetype featuring its own Main Deck monsters. In the TCG/OCG however, they do not have any Main Deck monsters, and the "Change" Quick-Play Spells, which only worked on "Masked HERO" Main Deck monsters in the manga, were revamped to generally support "HERO" monsters. All "Masked HERO" Fusion Monsters do not list any Fusion Materials and share the condition that they must be Special Summoned by "Mask Change" (though "Mask Change II" and "Form Change" treats their effect's Special Summon as it were done with "Mask Change"). Due to the lack of Main Deck monsters, the archetype has no de-facto "playing style", and instead primarily served as boss monsters for other "HERO" decks, such as "Elemental HERO" or "Destiny HERO" decks, or even a cross-archetypal "HERO" archetypal deck. The most important support for the archetype's monsters is "Elemental HERO Shadow Mist", who can search out "Change" Spells when Special Summoned.

The "Masked HERO" Fusion Monsters all have a variety of battle-related, protective and/or disruptive effects. "Masked HERO Acid" and "Masked HERO Blast" can answer against Spell/Trap heavy boards. "Masked HERO Koga" and "Masked HERO Goka" serve as attacking beatsticks, "Masked HERO Divine Wind" and "Masked HERO Vapor" have protection to prevent themselves from being destroyed, while "Masked HERO Anki" and "Masked HERO Dian" (and "Divine Wind") can net card advantage for the user if they destroy a monster by battle. However, the most prominent member of the archetype is "Masked HERO Dark Law", having an oppressive one-sided "Macro Cosmos"-like effect while also punishing the opponent's searches by randomly banishing one card from their hand if they do so. Its DARK-Attribute makes it widely compatible with the entire DARK "HERO" arsennal including all "Destiny HEROs", all "Vision HEROs" and "Shadow Mist" (whom searches a "Change" card upon its Special Summon and can also be used as the target of the said card to Summon "Dark Law", netting additional advantage if done during the subsequent turn).

"Mask Change II" takes the splashability of "Masked HERO" monsters one step further, by allowing any monster with a Level to "transform" into a "Masked HERO" monster. Netherless, some "Masked HERO" monsters still depend on "HERO" monsters to make use of their effects. Besides "Shadow Mist", "Masked HERO" also benefits from the following "Change" support cards: "Mask Charge", which can recur a "HERO" monster and a "Change" Quick-Play Spell from the GY, and "Xtra HERO Wonder Driver", which Sets a "Change" Quick-Play Spells from the GY whenever a "HERO" monster is Normal or Special Summoned to a zone it points to, which combos very well with "Form Change".

Recommended cardsEdit