Shadow Riders

The Shadow Riders, known in Japan as the Seven Stars Assassins 「セブンスターズ刺客, Sebunsutāzu Shikaku」, serve as the main antagonists of the series' first season, intent on resurrecting the Sacred Beasts. They are composed of seven duelists and their leader of varying origins and backgrounds who each have their own agendas, the Shadow Riders.

History
Enlisted by the elderly Kagemaru in his quest to retrieve his lost youth, the Shadow Riders are a collection of elite duelists who work towards the goal of reviving the Sacred Beast Cards (三幻魔, Sangenma, Three Phantom Demons). Each of the members that Jaden and company face possess a Shadow Charm (闇のアイテム, Yami no Aitemu, Dark Item in the Japanese version), similar to the Millennium Items in terms of supernatural power, but of unknown origin. These relics bestow upon their owners different abilities depending on the Shadow Rider in question.

In the past, Kagemaru was forced to seal the Sacred Beasts away behind the Spirit Gates underneath Duel Academy due to their inability to grant his wish at that time. In order to access their true abilities, he bestows upon Chancellor Sheppard the seven keys capable of unlocking the Spirit Gate, and pits his subordinates against the school's finest to create the strong dueling presence needed to resurrect the Sacred Beasts.

Shadow Charm
The Shadow Charms are talismans used by the Shadow Riders. There are Eight in total, one for each of the Shadow Riders, and one for Kagemaru himself. Although their origins are unknown, they seem to have powers similar to the Millennium Items, and are, in turn, all emblazoned with the Wdjat Eye. Being noticeably less important to the story than their afore-mentioned counterparts, the nature of their powers are not deeply explored, but all of them seem to serve the purpose of their respective owner, although they appear less powerful then the Millennium Items. All of them allow the user and his/her opponent to participate in a Shadow Game. Kagemaru alone seems to understand the nature of these items, and is responsible for their distribution.


 * Nightshroud/Darkness - His Shadow Charm is actually half of the pendant owned by the Gravekeeper then Jaden. Whole or in parts, it seems to afford dark powers to the user, as well as a certain amount of protection and resiliance against the effects of Shadow Games, and other Shadow Charms.


 * Camula - Camula's Shadow Charm is a choker which allows her both to claim the souls of those who lose to her and place them inside voodoo dolls as well as the ability to wager the souls of others present (even players outside the game) as fodder for her Illusion Gate Spell Card.


 * Don Zaloog - His Shadow Charm is his eyepatch. It allows him and the rest of the Dark Scorpions to take physical form in the human world. Without it, they become Duel Spirits once again.


 * Tania - Her Shadow Charm takes the form of a gauntlet. This allows her to assume human form (her true form being a tiger).


 * Abidos III - His Shadow Charm is a headband that allows him to return from the afterlife and assume physical form.


 * Titan - His Shadow Charm is the new mask he wears. It allows him to channel the powers of darkness as well as affording him a certain mastery over it. Deprived of it, however, he is consumed by the darkness once again.


 * Amnael - His is the Emerald Tablet, the only Shadow Charm with a history that is not exclusive to the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe. It's fictitious version allows Amnael to trap his victims, soul and body, inside its pages, trapping them until he is defeated.


 * Kagemaru - The master of the Shadow Charms' iconic item is a small ring which allows him to channel the powers of the Sacred Beasts into himself, not only regaining his youth but also receiving an exponential increase in both physical strength and magical power.

Nightshroud

 * ''Main article: Nightshroud

Camula

 * Main article: Camula.

Tania

 * Main article: Tania.

Don Zaloog

 * Main article: Don Zaloog (Character).

Abidos the Third
Abidos the Third 「アビドス3世, Abidosu San-sei」 is an ancient pharaoh who never lost a single duel who is the fifth of the Shadow Riders. Abidos regained physical form through the powers of the Shadow Charm headband he wore. With an army of mummies, Abidos gathers Jaden and company on his celestial yacht for a duel. During the duel with Jaden, Abidos realizes that the only reason he kept winning was because his opponents always lost on purpose, simply because he was pharaoh. Jaden, however, manages to give Abidos a real duel in which the opponent actually tries to win. Satisfied with his defeat, Abidos departs for the afterlife, giving Jaden his Shadow Charm, the latter making a promise to meet him again in one hundred years time.

In the English version, Abidos is voiced by Darren Dunstan, while Mamoru Miyano takes the role in the Japanese version.

His name is derived from the name of the ancient Egyptian city, Abydos.

Deck Abidos plays a Servants of the Pharaoh Deck, themed on gathering three Sarcophagus cards to summon Spirit of the Pharaoh.

Titan
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