Duel Dragon

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Duel Dragon
Several Duel Dragons confronting the Ultimate God alongside the Priests of Light.
Several Duel Dragons confronting the Ultimate God alongside the Priests of Light.
Japanese
  • 決闘竜デュエル・ドラゴン
  • 決闘竜 (base)
  • デュエル・ドラゴン (ruby)
  • Dyueru Doragon (romanized)
French
  • Dragon Duel
German
  • Duelldrache
Italian
  • Drago da Duello
Portuguese
  • Dragão de Duello
Sets
TCG
OCG
Korean
Lists

Duel Dragon (決闘竜デュエル・ドラゴン Dyueru Doragon) is a series of dragonic monsters used by several key characters in the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's manga. They are said to be cards specifically designed for Turbo Duel rituals in ancient times. Six of the Duel Dragons shown are counterparts of the Signer Dragons from the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime, and play a similar role in the manga.

The Duel Dragon cards are ancient cards, who are held by the Skeleton Knight and Rex Goodwin in the present. They possess a massive dark power, enough to control their own holders if they are unable to tame them. A man who holds a Duel Dragon becomes a Duel Priest, while a woman becomes a Duel Priestess.

Etymology[edit]

In the Japanese version, the names of all Duel Dragons have the following scheme: "[Adjective 1] [Adjective 2] Dragon - [Name]", with the adjectives and "Dragon" written in kanji and the name in katakana. Some have two adjectives, while some have only one; all Level 8 Duel Dragons have two kanji characters for the adjective(s), and all Level 10 Duel Dragons have three. The kanji in the name each dragon that is based on a Signer Dragon from the anime ends with 「竜」, while the kanji of the manga original ones end with 「龍」.

In English, the names of the Duel Dragons have the scheme "[Name] [Adjective] Dragon". Most of the Duel Dragons which have anime counterparts keep the name of their anime counterparts with the addition of an adjective, such as "Stardust Spark Dragon", the Duel Dragon counterpart of "Stardust Dragon".

Design[edit]

The majority of the Duel Dragons are Dragon Synchro Monsters (except "Power Tool Mecha Dragon", which is a Machine monster, and "Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon", which is a Fusion Monster). Duel Dragons that have Signer Dragon counterparts display markings that resembles the Mark of the Dragon somewhere on their bodies. Duel Dragons distributed by Skeleton Knight, as well as Skeleton Knight's and Rex Goodwin's Duel Dragons, do not possess these markings. Both "Power Tool Mecha Dragon" and "Ancient Pixie Dragon", which are similar to their anime counterparts, can be considered twisted counterparts due to their DARK Attribute and alternate effects.

The Duel Dragons based on the Signer Dragons often have a darker color scheme than the original, although "Stardust Spark Dragon" and "Blackfeather Darkrage Dragon" only demonstrated this when being used by the Priest of Light and Dark Crow respectively. Jack's "Hot Red Dragon Archfiend" does not appear to exhibit a darker color scheme, but this is difficult to discern due to the natural color of the Duel Dragon. Both "Power Tool Mecha Dragon" and "Ancient Pixie Dragon" exhibited darker color schemes while Leo and Luna were possessed by their Dragons' Shadow Miasma; after both Duel Dragons were purified by "Stardust Spark Dragon", they assumed the same color scheme as their original counterparts.

Duel Dragons distributed by the Skeleton Knight all have 3000 ATK and/or DEF. "Void Ogre Dragon" and "Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons" have both 3000 ATK and DEF, while "Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon" has 3000 ATK and 0 DEF. These Duel Dragons' upgraded forms have 4000 ATK instead; "Beelzeus of the Diabolic Dragons" also has 4000 DEF, and "Dragocytos Corrupted Nethersoul Dragon" has 2000 DEF. Rex Goodwin's "Ascension Sky Dragon" also has ? ATK and 3000 DEF.

Abilities[edit]

Luna taken over by her Duel Dragon's miasma.

Duel Dragons possess a strong miasma which causes their owners' personalities to become darker,[1] or even takes over them.[2] When this happened to Kalin, Jack angrily asked if his Duel Dragon had eaten his soul, suggesting that Kalin had failed to control the Dragon and was instead being controlled. The signs of the strength of the bond with a Duel Dragon have many stages; those who have not gained dominion over the Dragon properly often have blank eyes and a progressively darker personality, often emitting Shadow Miasma. Further succumbing to the Duel Dragon can lead to the skin of the face cracking and/or the whites of the eyes turning black, though all of these symptoms can be removed when purified.

Duel Dragons also appear to have more occult powers; when attacking Yusei Fudo, Leo's Dragon showed him memories from Leo himself,[3] while when Sect Ijuin got mad at the Skull Flames, his Duel Dragon card's miasma instantly caused them to fall on the ground unconscious.[4] Furthermore, Rex Goodwin was able to pass memories of Akiza's past life directly to her mind by just making her have contact with a Duel Dragon card.[5] "Stardust Spark Dragon" was able to show Yusei Fudo its own memories when he engaged in a One-Shot Run against it.[6]

However, the negative influences can be removed when a Duel Dragon is purified by another Dragon. The only way to sever the link between a Duel Dragon and its holder is in a Duel. It usually happened when another "Duel Dragon" destroys the corrupted Dragon, which is first demonstrated when Jack's "Hot Red Dragon Archfiend" clashed with Kalin's "Void Ogre Dragon". Kalin's Shadow Miasma was removed, and he returned to his original personality. Yusei Fudo's "Stardust Spark Dragon" later destroyed both "Power Tool Mecha Dragon" and "Ancient Pixie Dragon", freeing first Leo, and then Luna. Yusei would theorize that destroying "Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons" with "Stardust" would free Sect Injuin from the Duel Dragon, which was later proven to be true when he destroyed "Beelzeus of the Diabolic Dragons".[7]

History[edit]

According to Rex Goodwin, since ancient times, Turbo Dueling has been a ritual designed to fight and seal the darkness, and that the Duel Dragons were specifically designed for such rituals. In the past, they were fought on horseback. He says they are cards which sealed the dragonic power of the priests who controlled them, and adds that controlling or being controlled by that power depends on the strength of the Duelist's mentality. Because of that, he organized the D1GP in order to gather Duelists with strong mentality in order to control the Duel Dragons, and according to him, save the world from Skeleton Knight.[8] However, his true intentions were later revealed to be reviving and controlling the Ultimate God through the Ritual, to which he needed strong Duel Priests and Priestesses. Five dragons ("Stardust Spark Dragon", "Hot Red Dragon Archfiend", "Blackfeather Darkrage Dragon", "Ancient Pixie Dragon" and "Power Tool Mecha Dragon") belonged to the Priests of Light in the past, plus "Black Rose Moonlight Dragon", who belonged to a Duel Priestess. They were passed to new Priests and Priestess in the present by Rex and the Skeleton Knight, reviving the ancient ritual.[9]

A blank "Duel Dragon" card

Usually, the Duel Dragons cards are blank cards, and only take form after obtaining a holder. Rex Goodwin and the Skeleton Knight seem to possess all of the "Duel Dragon" cards in the present, and distribute them to powerful Duelists, which they choose through several methods. Some include:

  • Sect Ijuin obtained his "Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons" personally from the Skeleton Knight via an oath,[10] in exchange of his services.[5]
  • Yusei Fudo had to undergo a ritual involving the Dragon's original owner in order to obtain it. It was placed by Rex in a Duel Zodiac.[6]
  • Jack Atlas obtained a blank Duel Dragon personally from Rex, which took form right after being held by him, after defeating Kalin Kessler and being recognized as the V.S.S.L.'s strongest Duelist.[11]
  • When Crow Hogan passed by a blank Duel Dragon card, the card's black aura took form of a dark version of himself, and if Crow defeated it, he'd obtain the Dragon, which he was able to accomplish. It was placed by Rex in a Duel Zodiac.[12]
  • Akiza Izinski received a blank Duel Dragon personally from Rex so that she could become the Duel Priestess and participate in the ritual to revive the Ultimate God.[5]
  • Leo got his Duel Dragon from Lazar, under Rex's orders, after he got beaten up by people for losing Duels and making them lose money when they had placed their bets on him.[13]
  • Kalin performed an oath and received his Duel Dragon from the Skeleton Knight.[14]
  • Although how she obtained her Duel Dragon has not been specified, Luna most likely obtained it from Rex.

After Rex obtains the Ultimate God's power, he claims that all cards, including the Duel Dragons, were born from the Ultimate God, who is their master. With the Ultimate God's power, Rex gains control of the Duel Dragons of all Duel Priests and Priestesses, making their cards turn blank.[15] However, their prayers ultimately awakens the Duel Dragons' souls and release them from the Ultimate God's control, allowing Yusei to use them for their real purpose: to seal the Ultimate God and save the world from its darkness.[9]

Members[edit]

Original[edit]

Current owners (Duel Priests) are in bold.

Duel Dragon Owner(s) Signer Dragon counterpart
Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon Skeleton Knight
Rex Goodwin
None
Ascension Sky Dragon Rex Goodwin None
Void Ogre Dragon Skeleton Knight
Kalin Kessler
None
Power Tool Mecha Dragon Unnamed Duel Priest
Rex Goodwin
Leo
Power Tool Dragon
Ancient Pixie Dragon Unnamed Duel Priest
Rex Goodwin
Luna
Ancient Fairy Dragon
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Unnamed Duel Priest
Rex Goodwin
Jack Atlas
Red Dragon Archfiend
Stardust Spark Dragon Unnamed Duel Priest
Rex Goodwin
Yusei Fudo
Stardust Dragon
Blackfeather Darkrage Dragon Unnamed Duel Priest
Rex Goodwin
Crow Hogan
Black-Winged Dragon
Black Rose Moonlight Dragon Unnamed Duel Priestess
Rex Goodwin
Akiza Izinski
Black Rose Dragon
Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons Skeleton Knight
Sect Ijuin
Rex Goodwin
None

Variations[edit]

As in the anime, "Stardust Spark Dragon" and "Jeweled Red Dragon Archfiend" were the only Duel Dragons related to the Signer Dragons to have different upgraded and downgraded versions during the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's manga.

Evolutions[edit]

Evolution Base Duel Dragon Summoning method Owner(s) Signer Dragon counterpart
Stardust Chronicle Spark Dragon Stardust Spark Dragon Accel Synchro Yusei Fudo Shooting Star Dragon
Stardust Sifr Divine Dragon (Limit Over Accel Synchro) Shooting Quasar Dragon
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Synchro Summon Jack Atlas None
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane
Hot Red Dragon Archfiend King Calamity Double Tuning Red Nova Dragon
Dragocytos Corrupted Nethersoul Dragon Dragonecro Nethersoul Dragon Synchro Summon Skeleton Knight
Rex Goodwin
None
Beelzeus of the Diabolic Dragons Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons Synchro Summon Skeleton Knight
Sect Ijuin
Rex Goodwin
None

Ultimate God's card forms[edit]

As in the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime, the manga Crimson Dragon has its own card forms: however, instead of being a benevolent dragon, in the manga this entity was known as the Ultimate God and was the main antagonist. "Ultimate God Ultimaya Tzolkin" and "Ultimate Phantasm God Ultimitl Bishbaalkin" were used in the manga by Rex Goodwin, while "Duel Link Dragon, the Duel Dragon" is an OCG-original Link counterpart of "Ultimaya Tzolkin".

Monster Owner
Ultimaya Tzolkin Rex Goodwin
Phantasmal Lord Ultimitl Bishbaalkin
Duel Link Dragon, the Duel Dragon N/A

References[edit]

  1. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 23: "Twin Duelists!!"
  2. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 32: "Zero Battle!!"
  3. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 24: "Equip Vs. Equip!!"
  4. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 17: "Omens!!"
  5. a b c Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 40: "The Festival of Duality!!"
  6. a b Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 30: "The Ancient Duel Arena!!"
  7. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 56: "Beyond the Flash...!!"
  8. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 26: "Premonition of a Fierce Fight...!!"
  9. a b Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 62: "Prayers!!"
  10. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 8: "One-Shot Run"
  11. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 31: "Jewel Flare Dragon Stardust!!"
  12. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 35: "The Battle for the Duel Zodiacs!!"
  13. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 25: "Sense Upon Sense...!!"
  14. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 33: "Duel Dragon vs. Duel Dragon!!"
  15. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Ride 58: "Awakening!!"