Masked HERO

Masked HERO
Ｍ・ＨＥＲＯ「マスクドヒーロー」 (Masukudo Hīrō)
From left to right: "Masked HERO Dark Law", "Masked HERO Koga", "Elemental HERO Shadow Mist", "Masked HERO Divine Wind" and "Contrast HERO Chaos"
Manga
Japanese	Ｍ・ＨＥＲＯ 「マスクド・ヒーロー」
Other names
French	HÉROS Masqué
German	Maskierter HELD
Italian	EROE Mascherato
Korean	마스크드 히어로 Maseukeudeu Hieoro (romanized)
Portuguese	HERÓI Mascarado
Spanish	HÉROE Enmascarado
Sets
TCG Sets	Generation Force Premium Collection Tin Duelist League 14 Astral Pack One HERO Strike Structure Deck Premium Gold: Return of the Bling Astral Pack Eight Premium Gold: Infinite Gold OTS Tournament Pack 1 Weekly Shonen Jump October 2016 membership promotional card Raging Tempest Special Edition Duelist Saga Legendary Hero Decks Toon Chaos
TCG Sets	Generation Force Premium Collection Tin Duelist League 14 Astral Pack One HERO Strike Structure Deck Premium Gold: Return of the Bling Astral Pack Eight Premium Gold: Infinite Gold OTS Tournament Pack 1 Weekly Shonen Jump October 2016 membership promotional card Raging Tempest Special Edition Duelist Saga Legendary Hero Decks Toon Chaos
OCG Sets	Premium Pack 13 Jump Festa 2012 - Promotion Pack A Jump Festa 2012 - Promotion Pack B Premium Pack 14 Structure Deck: HERO's Strike Premium Pack 17 20th Legendary Collection 20th Anniversary Pack 2nd Wave Tournament Pack 2018 Vol.2 LINK VRAINS Pack 2
OCG Sets	Premium Pack 13 Jump Festa 2012 - Promotion Pack A Jump Festa 2012 - Promotion Pack B Premium Pack 14 Structure Deck: HERO's Strike Premium Pack 17 20th Legendary Collection 20th Anniversary Pack 2nd Wave Tournament Pack 2018 Vol.2 LINK VRAINS Pack 2
Korea-Only Sets	Premium Pack Vol.6 Premium Pack Vol.7 Premium Pack Vol.10 Premium Pack Vol.11
Korea-Only Sets	Premium Pack Vol.6 Premium Pack Vol.7 Premium Pack Vol.10 Premium Pack Vol.11
Appearances
Manga appearances	Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
Manga appearances	Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
Lists
Members Support
Members Support

"Masked HERO" (Ｍ・ＨＥＲＯ (マスクドヒーロー) Masukudo Hīrō in Japan, written as Ｍ (マスクド) ・ＨＥＲＯ (ヒーロー) or Ｍ (マスクド) ・Ｈ (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).

Only the Fusion Monsters of this archetype were released into the OCG (and subsequently TCG). The Transformation Summon method is utilized by this archetype.

Design

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 the Japanese Tokusatsu series Kamen Rider. 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. These are also related to the "Inzektor" since their designs are only related to only one Kamen Rider except for Hopper & Ladybug.

Members

Attribute	Masked HERO		Origin
	English	Japanese
DARK	Anki	闇鬼	Kamen Rider Shin/Kamen Rider Hibiki
	Dark Law	ダーク・ロウ	Kamen Rider Tiger/Kamen Rider OOO (Latorartar Combo)/Kamen Rider Beast
EARTH	Dian	ダイアン	Kamen Rider Knight/Kamen Rider Femme/Kamen Rider Wizard
FIRE	Goka	剛火	Kamen Rider Kuuga (Mighty Form)/Kamen Rider Agito (Burning Form)
LIGHT	Koga	光牙	Kamen Rider Blade (King Form)/Kamen Rider Nishiki
WATER	Acid	アシッド	Kamen Rider Garren/Kamen Rider Ibuki/Kamen Rider Diend
	Vapor	ヴェイパー	Kamen Rider Kuuga (Dragon Form)/Kamen Rider Den-O (Rod Form)
WIND	Blast	ブラスト	Kamen Rider 1/Kamen Rider 2/Skyrider
	Divine Wind	カミカゼ	Kamen Rider Double/Kamen Rider Wizard (Hurricane Dragon)

Playing style

Rather than Fusion Summoning like most Fusion Monsters do, "Masked HERO" monsters use cards like "Mask Change" to be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck. In the manga, Chazz Princeton was amazed seeing how "Masked HERO" monsters could use the same effect of "Fusion" using one single material rather than 2 or more.

This archetype favors a fairly straight-forward beatdown strategy. Their "transforming" cards being Quick-Play Spell Cards allows them to be transformed at any time, including during the Battle Phase, for multiple attacks, or in response to an opponent's effect or attack.

While "Masked HERO" is an independent archetype in the manga, in the TCG/OCG they were revamped to be a general "HERO" support, making them splashable options for any "HERO" Deck (though they essentially work well only with "Elemental HERO" monsters, due to their varied Attributes). "Mask Change II" takes this even further by allowing "Masked HERO" monsters to be splashable in any Deck, as long as one can handle the increased cost and Extra Deck real estate.

An efficient build can consist of running a few "Elemental HERO" monsters that help conduct Fusion Summons (Like "Elemental HERO Blazeman" and "Elemental Hero Woodsman") to Fusion Summon "Elemental HERO Absolute Zero" ("King of the Swamp" help this even further) which has 2 advantages: it can be Fusion Summoned using even "Masked Hero" monsters, and when combined with "Mask Change" or "Form Change", lets you get a WATER or high Leveled "Masked HERO" while destroying the opponent's monsters. In particular, "Masked HERO Acid", who will destroy the opponent's Spells/Traps as well, leaving them open for at least 2600 damage if used on the player's turn, or stopping their turn.

The most powerful and popular Masked HERO in competitive play has been "Masked HERO Dark Law", with his one-sided Macro Cosmos-type effect capable of shutting down certain Decks by itself. Its other effect can also be useful for depleting the opponent's resources while they try and find a way around him. His popularity is also helped by his Attribute, as he is Summonable with the ever-important "Elemental HERO Shadow Mist", and splashable with Mask Change II in many important meta Decks.

Recommended Cards

Monsters

Effect Monsters

• Elemental HERO Blazeman
• Elemental HERO Bubbleman
• Elemental HERO Honest Neos
• Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier
• Elemental HERO Neos Alius
• Elemental HERO Ocean
• Elemental HERO Shadow Mist
• Elemental HERO Solid Soldier
• Elemental HERO Stratos
• Elemental HERO Wildheart
• Vision HERO Faris
• Vision HERO Increase
• Vision HERO Vyon

Extra Deck

Fusion Monsters

• Contrast HERO Chaos
• Masked HERO Acid
• Masked HERO Anki
• Masked HERO Blast
• Masked HERO Dark Law
• Masked HERO Dian
• Masked HERO Divine Wind
• Masked HERO Goka
• Masked HERO Koga
• Masked HERO Vapor

Link Monsters

• Xtra HERO Wonder Driver
• Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights

Spells & Traps

Spells

• Form Change
• Mask Change
• Mask Change II
• Mask Charge
• A Hero Lives
• E - Emergency Call
• Miracle Fusion
• Polymerization
• Reinforcement of the Army
• The Warrior Returning Alive

Traps

• Evenly Matched

Weaknesses

• With their reliance on "Mask Change", Decks built around Masked HEROs can be shut down by "Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell", like many other Fusion Decks. However, having "Polymerization" and the Omni-HERO Fusions available to them as well makes a total lockdown less likely.
• With much of the Deck's firepower down to Dark Law, his splashablity makes it easy to use him with "Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries".
• During New Master Rules, due to the Extra Monster Zone and its restrictions on summoning, it was not possible to summon multiple Fusion Monsters from the Extra Deck without the use of Link Monsters. This made it difficult for the Masked HERO decks to be played without outside support, due to their focus on using small amounts of Main Deck Monsters to facilitate their game plans.