Forum:Deck Guide/HERO

HERO Guide
By BobaFett2

"HEROes" are a group of 5 Archetypes: "Evil HERO", "Elemental HERO", Destiny HERO", "Masked HERO", and "Vision HERO". Each has a different focus and skillset:
 * "Elemental HERO" cards have many focuses as they make up a very large archetype-the original purpose of the archetype is Fusion Summoning but it can also focus on Contact Fusing "Neos" monsters (with the "Neo-Spacian" archetype), using beatdown strategies, or combine with Gemini monsters in Miracle Gemini decks.
 * "Destiny HERO" cards focus on time-many effects take a turn to activate ("Clock Tower Prison" takes four of your opponent's Standby Phases to become useful). They are all DARK monsters and are a weaker archetype-they can add a lot of power to some decks but are bad stand-alone decks.
 * "Evil HERO" cards are twisted "Elemental HERO" monsters with better effects and Fusions. The "classic" "Elemental HERO" Fusion Monsters are re-made with more powerful effects and the opposite Attribute. "Evil HERO" decks have the same focus as "Elemental HERO" decks but are less supported.
 * "Masked HERO" cards are few in number-"Mask Change" transforms any "HERO" monster into a "Masked HERO" Fusion Monster-either "Masked HERO Goka" or "Masked HERO Vapor" (many other "Masked HERO" monsters exist in the anime)
 * "Vision HERO" cards are even fewer in number-their two TCG/OCG cards are "Vision HERO Adoration" and "Vision HERO Trinity". They are comprised of two or three "HERO" monsters, respectively, and are more supported in the anime.

"Omni HERO" monsters are not an archetype in themselves but are a group of monsters who use one "HERO" monster and any monster of their Attribute-they can be Fusion Summoned with "Miracle Fusion" and are quite powerful.

Alone, none of these archetypes prove very powerful-they lose too much advantage or don't have enough power. However, both "Destiny HERO" and "Elemental HERO" monsters are among the most important cards in some of the most powerful tournament decks-"Destiny HERO Malicious" and "Destiny Draw" are some of the most important cards in Teleport Dark Armed decks, "Elemental HERO Neos Alius", "HERO Blast", and "Miracle Fusion" are among the most important cards in Miracle Gemini decks, and "Elemental HERO Prisma" helped "Gladiator Beast" decks do well in tournaments.

Four "HERO" cards have been affected by previous banlists:
 * "Destiny HERO Malicious" is currently Semi-Limited due to it being a Level 6 monster that can Special Summon more of itself (and combos with "Destiny Draw")
 * "Destiny Draw" is Limited due to it allowing you to draw two cards as well as sticking "Destiny HERO Malicious" or "Destiny HERO Dasher" in your Graveyard.
 * "Elemental HERO Stratos" is Limited because you can use it to search for any "HERO" monster (or destroy Spell and Trap Cards).
 * "Destiny HERO Disk Commander" is Banned because it makes any revival card into a "Pot of Greed" that gives you a monster.
 * "Neo-Spacian Grand Mole" is Limited because its effect is powerful and re-usable. Technically, it's not a "HERO" monster but it's part of a closely related archetype.

Ratings
Power: 6/10 The power of "HERO" decks is all over the place depending on the specific build but is usually on the lower-high end of the spectrum (exceptions-Miracle Gemini, "Gladiator Beasts", Teleport Dark Armed)

Consistency: 4/10 With only one "Stratos", "HERO" decks lack consistency (exceptions-see above)

Speed: 8/10 "HERO" decks are fast but lose advantage too quickly-they're speed allows them to get early big monsters but at the cost of many cards.

Draw/Search Power: 10/10 "Destiny Draw" and "Destiny HERO Disk Commander" (which is Banned) both give excellent draw power and "Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy" can give draw power. "E - Emergency Call", "Reinforcement of the Army", and "Elemental HERO Stratos" also provide excellent search power.

Overall: 7/10 "HERO" decks are all over the place-some are at the top, some could never leave the bottom.

Monsters
Elemental HERO (non-Fusion):
 * Elemental HERO Avian: One of the basic and first "Elemental HERO" monsters. Due to it being a Normal Monster it has few uses.
 * Elemental HERO Bladedge: Since it's a two tribute 2600 it's not very good. It is used in "HERO" beatdown in combination with "Elemental HERO Necroshade".
 * Elemental HERO Bubbleman: "Bubbleman" has few uses and the Fusion Monsters that it makes are generally very weak. However, it can be a +2 if you draw it while you have no cards in your hand and on your side of the field (works in a special type of Burn deck).
 * Elemental HERO Burstinatrix: Like "Avian", it only has a few uses.
 * Elemental HERO Captain Gold: "Captain Gold" saw use in "Skill Drain" decks as it's a 2100 that can be searched. It also searches for "Skyscraper" which is a key card in "HERO" beatdown.
 * Elemental HERO Clayman: See "Avian".
 * Elemental HERO Flash: Doesn't have much use since it needs a significant Graveyard set up. It has a powerful effect but just isn't very reliable.
 * Elemental HERO Heat: Used in "HERO" beatdown as a potent attacker. It can be used in "HERO" Fusion decks but it only makes one non-"Omni HERO" monster.
 * Elemental HERO Ice Edge: "Ice Edge" is almost unused-he can attack directly but his low ATK and the cost make it not worth much and the ability to destroy a set Spell/Trap is offset by the cost of the direct attack and the fact that it would be more effective just to use "Mystical Space Typhoon".
 * Elemental HERO Knospe: "Knospe" is less useful than "Ice Edge"-it gains ATK and loses DEF at a very slow rate and maxes out at 1600, a mediocre score. However, it can attack your opponent directly and can't be attacked while you control another "Elemental HERO".
 * Elemental HERO Lady Heat: "Lady Heat" can be fused with "Heat" and it deals minimal burn damage, making it next to useless.
 * Elemental HERO Necroshade: "Necroshade" is used in "HERO Beatdown" with "Foolish Burial" and "HERO Mask" to allow you to Normal Summon "Bladedge" without a cost. It also makes a mediocre Fusion Monster and a great Fusion Monster.
 * Elemental HERO Neo Bubbleman: "Neo Bubbleman" cannot be summoned in Advanced Format because "Metamorphosis" is banned. Also, it's effect is mediocre.
 * Elemental HERO Neos: "Neos" is a two tribute 2500 monster with no effect-it's bad. However, it's used in "Neo Spacian" decks to make the "Neos" Fusion Monsters.
 * Elemental HERO Neos Alius: A Gemini Monster-it can be used with "Gemini Spark" and has made "Miracle Gemini" decks powerful. It also counts as "Neos" if re-summoned (however, almost never re-summoned).
 * Elemental HERO Ocean: "Ocean" can return a "HERO" monster from your side of the field or your Graveyard to it's owner's hand. This only works once per turn during your Standby Phase, making "Ocean" less useful than it could be.
 * Elemental HERO Poison Rose: Requires a useless card to summon and is basically a stronger "Knospe".
 * Elemental HERO Prisma: "Prisma" is a great card-you can reveal any Fusion Monster in your Extra Deck to send a monster fro your Deck to your Graveyard with that name AND treat "Prisma" as that card. This means that "Prisma" can be used as "Foolish Burial" as well as a Fusion Substitute (and it can be used with Fusion Substitutes since it counts as that monster). In addition to that, it counts as being part of that archetype-you can use it and "Test Tiger" to get out a "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus" on your first turn or turn it into a "Cyber Dragon" and use it for "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon". Lastly, you can use it to send a "Necroshade" to your Graveyard.
 * Elemental HERO Sparkman: See "Avian".
 * Elemental HERO Stratos: One of the best "HERO" monsters. It can search for any "HERO" monster when summoned (a +1) or destroy Spell/Trap Cards. It greatly increases the consistency of "HERO"-using decks.
 * Elemental HERO Voltic: "Voltic" has the most use in the "Voltic OTK" where you get "Voltic" to attack directly, resulting in it Special Summoning another "Voltic" and being removed from play by a combination of "Des Counterblow" and "Dimensional Fissure". It can also be used in "HERO Fusion" decks to Special Summon Banished "Elemental HERO" monsters.
 * Elemental HERO Wildheart: Due to it being immune to Trap Cards it can be used in quite a few combos. However, it isn't very good.
 * Elemental HERO Woodsman: "Woodsman", like "Ocean", has an effect that activates during your Standby Phase-you can add "Polymerization" from your deck to your hand. Combined with "Ocean" you get a Fusion Summon that is only a -1. Its 2000 DEF points also make it more durable than "Ocean".

Elemental HERO (Fusion):
 * Elemental HERO Absolute Zero: "Absolute Zero" is one of the Omni HERO monsters. Decks that commonly use it add "Snowman Eater" or "Penguin Soldier" so that they can make use of it. Its field-clearing effect is very powerful.
 * Elemental HERO Air Neos: The effect of "Air Neos" is mediocre and "Air Neos" itself is not worth using.
 * Elemental HERO Aqua Neos: "Aqua Neos" has a decent effect (a one for one) but since it returns to your Extra Deck during your End Phase it's safer not to use it.
 * Elemental HERO Chaos Neos: "Chaos Neos" requires you to use "Neo-Spacian Glow Moss" which is in itself a terrible card, making this not worth using.
 * Elemental HERO Dark Neos: "Dark Neos" has a very useful effect, making it one of the better "Neos" Fusion Monsters.
 * Elemental HERO Darkbright: "Darkbright" is terrible-it has only 2000 ATK and changes to Defense Position after attacking. It's piercing does not make up for it's negative effects.
 * Elemental HERO Divine Neos: "Divine Neos" has a very powerful effect but is too costly and too easy to get rid of.
 * Elemental HERO Electrum: "Electrum" is a fusion of four monsters-too difficult to get out effectively and its effect can be replaced by a "Burial from a Different Dimension".
 * Elemental HERO Escuridão: "Escuridão" is another Omni HERO that allows you to use the "Future Fusion FTK".
 * Elemental HERO Flame Wingman: One of the original "Elemental HERO" Fusion Monsters. It's not very good since the damage is usually inconsequential and its low ATK makes it vulnerable.
 * Elemental HERO Flare Neos: "Flare Scarab" is a little better than "Air Neos" because it gains ATK more often (since people set a lot of cards in today's metagame) and "Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab" can be used to make more powerful "Neos" Fusions.
 * Elemental HERO Gaia: Yet another Omni HERO. Its effect is one-shot but powerful.
 * Elemental HERO Glow Neos: "Glow Neos" has a decent effect. However, it requires you to use "Neo-Spacian Glow Moss" which is a terrible card through and through.
 * Elemental HERO Grand Neos: "Grand Neos" is excellent (for a "Neos" Fusion) because it uses "Grand Mole" and because you can return one of your opponent's monsters to their hand.
 * Elemental HERO Great Tornado: Yet another Omni HERO with a very powerful effect.
 * Elemental HERO Inferno: Not worth using-it's materials are not very good. It also has low ATK and an effect that is very situational (and unlikely to be made use of since WATER monsters aren't that common in the metagame).
 * Elemental HERO Magma Neos: Even better than "Grand Neos"-First, it gains massive amounts of ATK, and when it returns to your Extra Deck (via any effect) it returns every card on the field to its owner's hand. This can be more powerful than the effect of "Absolute Zero"-you can re-use a "Stratos" and return Synchro Monsters to the Extra Deck.
 * Elemental HERO Marine Neos: It has a great effect but requires you to add more cards to your deck ("NEX")
 * Elemental HERO Mariner: "Mariner" takes two weak "Elemental HERO" monsters and fuses them into a weak, worthless monster.
 * Elemental HERO Mudballman: "Mudballman" is a good defender but it's too costly to summon and not worth using.
 * Elemental HERO Necroid Shaman: "Necroid Shaman" is excellent-you can use it for the sole purpose of using "Prisma" to send "Necroshade" to your Graveyard. Also, you can use "Miracle Fusion" to Fusion Summon it after using "Necroshade's" effect. In addition to that, you get to destroy one of your opponent's monsters AND Special Summon a monster from their Graveyard-it makes "Polymerization" into a +0 and "Miracle Fusion" into a +2.
 * Elemental HERO Neos Knight: "Neos Knight" is mediocre as it requires you to use "Neos" (which is only worth using in "Neo-Spacian" decks). It gets a lot of ATK but it can't hurt your opponent (although it can attack twice).
 * Elemental HERO Nova Master: A great Omni HERO monster that lets you draw cards.
 * Elemental HERO Phoenix Enforcer: "Phoenix Enforcer" cannot be destroyed by battle but it's low ATK and lack of other effects means that it own't do much other than serve as a wall. It's also vulnerable to "Ally of Justice Catastor".
 * Elemental HERO Plasma Vice: "Plasma Vice" is powerful and has piercing, in addition to a 1 for 1 effect that is also quite powerful. However, it requires you to use "Bladedge" in "HERO" Fusion.
 * Elemental HERO Rampart Blaster: "Rampart Blaster" sits in Defense Position and deals damage through direct attacks. However, it can't actually deal damage through a direct attack if your opponent controls monsters.
 * Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman: "Shining Flare Wingman" is an okay card-it gets very powerful and deals a lot of effect damage but it has too costly Fusion Summoning requirements.
 * Elemental HERO Shining Phoenix Enforcer: Like "Shining Flare Wingman" this card is too costly.
 * Elemental HERO Steam Healer: "Steam Healer" combines two weak "HERO" monsters and makes a barely-useful Fusion Monster.
 * Elemental HERO Storm Neos: "Storm Neos" combines the worse of the five "Neo-Spacian" monsters. Its effect is super-powerful but requires using not-so-good cards.
 * Elemental HERO Tempest: "Tempest" is powerful but requires you to use three Fusion Material Monsters. It also has a -1 effect that is powerful but not very effective due to the abundance of destruction effects ("Smashing Ground", "Gemini Spark", "HERO Blast", "Dark Hole", "Scrap Dragon", etc)
 * Elemental HERO Terra Firma: "Terra Firma" is not very good-it has low ATK that can be boosted (with a sacrifice) and requires you to fuse two otherwise not-so-useful monsters.
 * Elemental HERO The Shining: A great Omni HERO. It is great in that it gains at least 600 ATK when Fusion Summoned by "Miracle Fusion" and it returns up to two Banished "Elemental HERO" monsters to your hand when removed from the field.
 * Elemental HERO Thunder Giant: "Thunder Giant" has good enough ATK to defeat a lot of monsters in battle. It can also destroy weaker monsters by having you discard a card.
 * Elemental HERO Wild Wingman: Since it requires you to use not-so-great cards "Wild Wingman" isn't that good. However, its effect is quite useful.
 * Elemental HERO Wildedge: "Wildege" came out with "Bladedge" and "Wildheart" for the anime but it's just not that good-it has a powerful effect but the two monsters are only good in totally different deck types.

Destiny HERO:
 * Destiny HERO - Blade Master: "Blade Master" is similar to "Honest" because it can be used to power up your "Destiny HERO" monsters. However, both the amount of ATK it gives and the low ATK of "Destiny HERO" monsters makes it not worth using.
 * Destiny HERO - Captain Tenacious: "Captain Tenacious" is slow but can continually bring back your "Destiny HERO" monsters. It's low ATK makes it vulnerable and an easy target.
 * Destiny Hero - Dasher: "Dasher" was used with "Destiny Draw" to draw cards and allow you to Special Summon big monsters for free. It's no good in battle but it is also used in an OTK.
 * Destiny HERO - Defender: "Defender" was once an okay card because of its huge DEF. However, in today's meta, the drawn cards will only spell your own downfall.
 * Destiny HERO - Departed: A terrible card-it gives your opponent advantage and does nothing for you except in one OTK.
 * Destiny HERO - Diamond Dude: "Diamond Dude" is used in Diamond Dude Turbo decks to Special Summon big monsters and clearing your opponent's field without paying costs or fulfilling requirements.
 * Destiny HERO - Disk Commander: "Disk Commander" is by far the most powerful "HERO" monster-it can be Special Summoned by most resurrection Spell and Trap Cards and it can be searched and Special Summoned from your deck easily ("One for One", "Reinforcement of the Army", "Elemental HERO Stratos".). It also makes every resurrection card a +2.
 * Destiny HERO - Dogma: "Dogma" is very powerful and it halves your opponent's Life Points. However, his cost is too high to be worth using.
 * Destiny HERO - Doom Lord: "Doom Lord" can temporarily get rid of a card (or be used to destroy "Spirit Reaper") but its low ATK makes it easy to get rid of.
 * Destiny HERO - Double Dude: "Double Dude" splits into two when destroyed by battle but it requires a tribute to summon it.
 * Destiny HERO - Dread Servant: Allows you to destroy "Clock Tower Prison" and get out "Dreadmaster" as well as adding counters to "Clock Tower Prison". Next to useless.
 * Destiny HERO - Dreadmaster: Used in some OTK decks due to it's powerful abilities. However, it's not very good since it's either a mediocre two-tribute monster or it requires you to stall while "Clock Tower Prison" gains counters.
 * Destiny HERO - Dunker: A terrible card that has very minor effects.
 * Destiny HERO - Fear Monger: "Fear Monster" will Special Summon a "Destiny HERO" monster from your Graveyard after being destroyed by battle but its slow and not very good.
 * Destiny HERO - Malicious: "Malicious", like "Disk Commander" and "Stratos", is an amazing card. It can be used to gain advantage with "Destiny Draw" and it can be tributed or used as a Synchro/Xyz Material.
 * Destiny HERO - Plasma: "Plasma", like "Dogma", has a high cost. However, since it negates your opponent's monster's effects and can steal your opponent's monsters, along with not having a requirement as to what the monsters are, can be worth using and is very powerful.

Evil HERO:
 * Evil HERO Dark Gaia: "Dark Gaia" can be used with "Dark Fusion" to perform an OTK when combined with "Infernal Gainer" or "Megamorph". Doesn't work in normal "Evil HERO" decks.
 * Evil HERO Infernal Gainer: Allows your Fiend-Type monsters to attack twice. However, its effect is too minor to be worth using.
 * Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy: "Infernal Prodigy" is great in that it can be Special Summoned from your hand while you don't control any monsters. It can then be tributed or used in a Synchro Summon. Also, if tributed for a "HERO" monster, you get to draw a card during your End Phase.
 * Evil HERO Infernal Sniper: An upgraded "Rampart Blaster" that deals Effect Damage and works at all times.
 * Evil HERO Inferno Wing: An upgraded "Flame Wingman" that also deals Piercing damage.
 * Evil HERO Lightning Golem: An upgraded "Thunder Giant" that can destroy any monster for free once per turn.
 * Evil HERO Malicious Edge: An upgraded "Bladedge" that can be tributed with only one tribute.
 * Evil HERO Malicious Fiend: A Fusion of "Malicious Edge" with another Level 6 or higher Fiend-Type monster that has a powerful effect. However, it requires using a few not-so-great cards.
 * Evil HERO Wild Cyclone: An amazing monster-it stops your opponent from using Spell and Trap Cards in response to its attack and it destroys all of your opponent's set Spell and Trap cards after the Damage Step, which is incredibly powerful.

Masked HERO:
 * Masked HERO Goka: "Goka" gains 100 ATK per "HERO" monster in your Graveyard. However, it isn't very powerful.
 * Masked HERO Vapor: "Vapor" is quite good-it can't be destroyed by card effects, stopping it from being affected by "Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter", "Dark Hole", and other commonly used cards.

Vision HERO:
 * Vision HERO Adoration: Unlike Omni HERO monsters it can't be Special Summoned by "Miracle Fusion", making it not-so-good. However, it allows you to fuse two "HERO" monsters that normally wouldn't make a good Fusion Monster into a powerful beatstick.
 * Vision HERO Trinity: "Trinity" can attack three times but doesn't inflict damage to your opponent's Life Points. Too costly to be worth using.

Spells
Elemental HERO:
 * A Hero Lives:
 * Bubble Blaster:
 * Bubble Illusion:
 * Bubble Shuffle:
 * Burst Return:
 * Cyclone Boomerang:
 * E - Emergency Call:
 * Fake Hero:
 * Feather Shot:
 * Fifth Hope:
 * Hero Flash!!:
 * Hero Heart:
 * Hero Mask:
 * HERO'S Bond:
 * Instant Neo Space:
 * Miracle Fusion:
 * Neo Space:
 * Neos Force:
 * Parallel World Fusion:
 * R - Righteous Justice:
 * Reverse of Neos:
 * Rose Bud:
 * Skyscraper:
 * Skyscraper 2 - Hero City:
 * Spark Blaster:
 * Wrath of Neos: