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"Gladiator Beast", known as "Gladial Beast" (剣闘獣 (グラディアルビースト) Guradiaru Bīsuto) in the OCG, is an archetype of monsters with various Attributes (primarily DARK and EARTH) and Types (primarily Beast, Beast-Warrior, and Winged-Beast) released in Gladiator's Assault. They are used by both the Battle Beast and Sanders in Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V.

Design[]

Appearance[]

The archetype resemble futuristic versions of the ancient Roman Colosseum slave-warriors.

Etymology[]

The archetype's name comes from "Gladiator", a man trained to fight with weapons against other men or wild animals in an arena.

Each monster is primarily named after types of gladiators that fought in the Roman Colosseum, while others are named after famous fighters from the Roman Empire.

Lore[]

In ancient times, a great empire ruled the world. The city was prosperous, and its inhabitants lived in peace. War was a thing of faraway lands, and the aristocrats, unknowing of the danger, decided to build a great amphitheater, the "Colosseum."
Therein "Gladiator Beasts" fought to the death for sport. Tournaments were held day and night to satisfy the latent bloodlust of the aristocrats.

Long live the empire!
Salute the dying heroes!

At the blast of a horn, a fierce battle would begin, in which the beasts would fight with claws, fangs, and any weapons available. At the "Colosseum," those who captivated the crowds were lavished with praise. This spurred on the "Gladiator Beasts," who risked great peril for the spectators' cheers.
The empire enjoyed the very height of prosperity, but a small spark would set it on the path of destruction. And with the decline of the empire, the frequency of fighting tournaments decreased. The aristocrats sealed the "Colosseum" for eternity, for fear that the Gladiator Beasts," who'd lost their battleground, might revolt.
Many years passed since the fall of the empire, and the "Colosseum" decayed over time. But one day, the ground with faded bloodstains shined, and the "Gladiator Beasts" appeared. Among the seats long empty of spectators, the starting horn once again echoed.

Long live the empire!
Salute the dying heroes!

Inside the "Colosseum," framed by that decaying city, the "Gladiator Beasts" fought once again. And in jubilation of their heroic travails, the cheers of the aristocrats could once more be heard.
The "Gladiator Beasts" enacted various contests as if in response to the voices of invisible spectators. One-on-one combat, platoon battles, sieges, naval battles...
And when their excitement peaked, the seal that bound the bravest of the "Gladiator Beasts" was broken. In close-combat platoon battles, they were the "Gladiator Beasts", beasts proud of their iron physiques. In the large-scale sieges, they were bird "Gladiator Beasts" most active in raiding parities and aerial assault. In the naval battles at the "Colosseum," they were the "Gladiator Beasts" of fish and sea serpent form, who drew their prey down into the dark waters. And the deadly weapons they'd wielded, "Battle Machines" and "Chariots," were revived.
The "Colosseum" regained their glory due to the brave heroics of the "Gladiator Beasts." When the fervor of their contests reached an epic crescendo, the gates of the "Colosseum" were opened and their terrifying death march commenced.

Members[]

Gladiator Beast Origin Unique effect
Reference Creature
Alexander Alexander the Great Winged lion Unaffected by Spell effects.
Andabata Andabata Hadrosaurid Special Summons 1 Level 7 or lower “Gladiator Beast” Fusion monster from your Extra Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions. Special Summons 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck.
Andal Andabata Black bear N/A
Attorix Gladiatrix Caracal Sends 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck or Extra Deck to the Graveyard, this card's Level and name become the sent monster' until the End Phase.
Augustus Augustus Caesar Dragon Special Summons 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your hand in Defense Position.
Bestiari Bestiarii Red-crowned amazon Destroys 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field.
Darius Darius the Great Horse Special Summons 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Graveyard.
Dimacari Dimachaerus Cape buffalo Attacks twice during the Battle Phase.
Domitianus Titus Flavius Caesar Domitianus Augustus

You choose your opponent's attack target. Negate the activation of monster effect. Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck.

Dragases Constantine Dragases Palaiologos Bald Eagle Protects your attacking “Gladiator Beast” monster(s) from being destroyed by battle and prevents your opponent from activating cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step. Special Summons 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters with different names from your Deck.
Equeste Equites Winged Centaur Adds 1 "Gladiator Beast" card from your Graveyard to your hand.
Essedarii Essedarius Gorilla N/A
Gaiodiaz Gordias Tyrannosaurus Inflicts damage to your opponent whenever it destroys an opponent’s monster by battle, equal to the DEF of the destroyed monster. Special Summons 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Spartacus".
Gyzarus Gaius Julius Caesar Unknown bird Destroys up to 2 cards on the field whenever it's Special Summoned. Special Summons 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Bestiari".
Heraklinos Heracles Chimera Negates the activation of a Spell/Trap Card and destroys that card, by discarding 1 card (Quick Effect).
Hoplomus Hoplomachus Rhino DEF becomes 2400.
Lanista Lanista Eagle Gains the name of 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster that was banished from your Graveyard.
Laquari Laquearius Tiger ATK becomes 2100.
Murmillo Murmillo Carp Destroys 1 face-up monster on the field.
Nerokius Nero Bat Cannot be destroyed by battle and when this card battles, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step. Special Summons 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck.
Noxius Noxii Leopard Special Summons itself from your hand when your opponent declares a direct attack and redirects the attack to itself then proceeds to damage calculation; also, it cannot be destroyed by that battle. Sends 1 Gladiator Beast monster from your Deck to the Graveyard.
Octavius Gaius Octavius Bald eagle Destroys 1 face-down Spell/Trap Card on the field.
Retiari Retiarius Crocodile Banishes 1 card from your opponent's Graveyard.
Sagittarii Sagittarii/Sagittarius Centaur Discard 1 "Gladiator Beast" card to draw 2 cards.
Samnite Samnite Smilodon Adds 1 “Gladiator Beast” card from your Deck to your hand whenever it destroys an opponent’s monster by battle.
Secutor Secutor Lizard Special Summons 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck, except itself.
Spartacus Spartacus Dinosaur Adds 1 "Gladiator Beast" Equip Spell Card from your Deck to your hand.
Tamer Editor Taming/Editor Deer Special Summons 1 “Gladiator Beast” Fusion monster from your Extra Deck, except itself, ignoring its Summoning conditions. Special Summons 1 “Gladiator Beast” monster from your Deck, by shuffling 1 “Gladiator Beast” monster that battled into your Deck or Extra Deck.
Torax Thraex Blowfish Allows you to draw 1 card by shuffling itself into your Deck.
Tygerius Tiberius White tiger Adds 1 “Gladiator Beast” monster from your Deck to your hand by discarding 1 “Gladiator Beast” card.
Vespasius Titus Flavius Vespasianus All monsters you control gain 500 ATK.

Support[]

Card Origin
Colosseum - Cage of the Gladiator Beasts Colosseum
Gladiator Beast War Chariot Chariot
Gladiator Beast's Battle Archfiend Shield Scutum
Gladiator Beast's Battle Gladius Gladius
Gladiator Beast's Battle Halberd Halberd
Gladiator Beast's Battle Manica Manica
Thumbs Down Pollice verso
Trojan Gladiator Beast Trojan Horse
Virtus of Gladiator Beast Virtus

Playing style[]

With a few exceptions, all non-Fusion "Gladiator Beasts" have an effect to return to the Deck during the end of a Battle Phase when it battled, and then to Special Summon another "Gladiator Beast" monster to replace it (this is also known as 'tagging out'). The newly Special Summoned "Gladiator Beast" monsters usually gain another effect when Special Summoned in this way.

"Gladiator Beasts" also have seven Fusion Monsters, four of which require a specific "Gladiator Beast" monster and either one or two other "Gladiator Beast" monsters as Fusion Material. However, "Polymerization" is not required to Fusion Summon these monsters. Instead, the correct "Gladiator Beast" Fusion Material Monsters are returned to the Main Deck to Special Summon the appropriate "Gladiator Beast" Fusion Monster. This process is otherwise known as Contact Fusion. Several of the "Gladiator Beast" Fusion Monsters are also able to 'tag out' to Special Summon 2 or more "Gladiator Beast" monsters from the Deck.

Nearly every card in the archetype is capable of being returned to the hand, field, or Deck from the Graveyard by utilizing the effects of "Gladiator Beast" monsters or their support cards. The "Gladiator Beast" Deck includes a mix of destruction, aggro, and toolbox cards and tactics. It is this versatility which landed this Deck as one of the top Decks in the Shonen Jump Circuit.

The September 2010 Forbidden List caused "Gladiators Beasts" to become more popular, especially with the banning of "Heavy Storm" and Limiting of "Royal Oppression", both of which were a threat to their strategy.

The April 2015 Forbidden List made the previously Limited "Gladiator Beast Bestiari" Unlimited, making the entire deck not as susceptible to having a "Bottomless Trap Hole" or other card that banishes monsters used on "Bestiari", which would render "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus" inaccessible for the remainder of the Duel.

Previous incarnations of the Deck used "Rescue Cat" to Summon monsters such as "Gladiator Beast Samnite" and "Test Tiger" to make big plays. With the Errata of "Rescue Cat", however, the Deck changed its strategy. With the release of "Rescue Rabbit", the new version of the Deck uses "Gladiator Beast Andal" to allow for the quick Summon of "Gladiator Beast Essedarii", "Gladiator Beast Heraklinos", "Gladiator Beast Nerokius" or "Gladiator Beast Dragases".

With the release of "Gladiator Beast Tamer Editor" and "Gladiator Beast Andabata", the deck is now able to special summon their boss monsters with ease, allow them to focus more on swarm their field rather than try to get the appropriate material off their deck. But shortly after that, with the release of Master Rules 4, the entire deck is hindered again because both "Tamer Editor" and "Andabata" requires an extra slot for Extra deck monster, while their Link monster is not too good and put an extra weight on their already weak swarming power.

The deck got their second wind with many new supports from Chaos Impact. "Test Panther", is a Link monster that combine searching power with a "Test Tiger"-like effect, both incredibly valuable to the deck. "Gladiator Beast Domitianus" is a new boss monster with big stats and a built-in monster negation, while easy to bring out with "Tamer Editor" or "Andabata". The deck also get two new Gladiator Beast monsters with "Destiny Draw" and "Prisma"-like effect.

The deck also got their own them's Fusion Spell, "Gladiator Beast United", a Quick-Play Spell Card that also accept material from GY as well. "Gladiator Rejection" and "Gladiator Beast's Comeback" both help the deck on swarming the field, not only allow them to make a better play without relying too much on "Rescue Rabbit"/"Prisma", but also open their chance to use some powerful generic Link monster like "Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess".


Weaknesses and counter-strategies[]

  • Effect canceling - Cards such as "Skill Drain", "Chivalry" or "Effect Veiler" can prevent your monsters from tagging out or negate the effects of the ones that are Summoned, leaving them defenseless against high ATK monsters. "Clear Wing Synchro Dragon" and "Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon" are also very effective, as they can negate the effects of the Gladiator Beasts upon summon or when they 'tag out', leaving them often helpless.
  • Attack negation/prevention - You can only 'tag out' a "Gladiator Beast" when it "attacks or is attacked", therefore, any Spell, Trap, or Monster Effect that lets you negate a monster attack would prevent the opponent from tagging out their "Gladiator Beasts".
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