Masked HERO

"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).

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 Japanese Kamen Rider heroes. 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.

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.

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".
• With the Extra Monster Zone, it is no longer possible to summon multiple powerful monsters with little field investment, requiring greater swarming to Link Summon.

Six Attributes
This box: view edit	DARK	EARTH	FIRE	LIGHT	WATER	WIND
/Assault Modes	Colossal Fighter / Red Dragon Archfiend	Hyper Psychic Blaster / T.G. Halberd Cannon	Doomkaiser Dragon	Arcanite Magician	None Yet	Stardust Dragon
Alchemy Beasts Summoners (Normal Spell Cards)	Moonface the Silver Silver Key	Leon the Lead Lead Compass	Salamandra the Steel Steel Lamp	Ouroboros the Bronze Bronze Scale	Ekenas the Mercury Mercury Hourglass	Aretos the Tin Tin Spell Circle
Aliens	Overlord / Mother / Psychic	Shocktrooper / Infiltrator / Warrior	Mars / Telepath	Ammonite / Dog / Grey / Kid / Shocktrooper Mighty/Frame	Hunter / Hypno	Skull
Altergeists	Primebanshee / Kidolga / Multifaker / Fifinellag / Dragvirion	Kunquery	Hexstia	Marionetter	Meluseek	Silquitous / Pixiel
Aroma	None Yet	Cananga	Bergamot	Jasmine / Angelica / Rosemary	Rosemary	Jar
Attribute Boosters (500 ATK▲/400 DEF▼) Link Monsters (500 ATK▲/500 DEF▲) Field Spells (500 ATK▲/400 DEF▼) Equip Spells (400 ATK▲/200 DEF▼)	Witch's Apprentice Wee Witch's Apprentice Mystic Plasma Zone Sword of Dark Destruction	Milus Radiant Missus Radiant Gaia Power Invigoration	Little Chimera Duelittle Chimera Molten Destruction Burning Spear	Hoshiningen Hip Hoshiningen Luminous Spark Elf's Light	Star Boy Mistar Boy Umiiruka Steel Shell	Bladefly Greatfly Rising Air Current Gust Fan
Attribute Knights	Armageddon	Dust	Brushfire	Dawn	Shore	Altitude
Attribute Reptiles	Umbral Soul	Raging Earth	Firestorm Prominence	Radiant Spirit	Silent Abyss	Destruction Cyclone
Attribute Summoners	Mystic Tomato	Giant Rat	UFO Turtle	Shining Angel	Mother Grizzly	Flying Kamakiri #1
Barrier Statues	Abyss	Drought	Inferno	Heavens	Torrent	Stormwinds
B.E.S.	Big Core	Covered Core	Big Core MK-2	Big Core MK-3	Crystal Core	Tetran
Charmers Familiar-Possessed Cataclysmic Charmers Spiritual Arts Familiar Possessed Familiars	Dharc Dharc None Yet Greed Meda Bat None Yet	Aussa Aussa Avalanching Aussa Kurogane Marmot Nefarious	Hiita Hiita Blazing Hiita Kurenai Fox Fire Inari Fire	Lyna Lyna None Yet Hijiri Happy Lover None Yet	Eria Eria Raging Eria Aoi Gigobyte Jigabyte	Wynn Wynn Storming Wynn Miyabi Petit Dragon None Yet
Chrysalis Neo-Spacians Evolved forms Contact Fusions Evolved forms Advanced Contact Fusions	Pantail Dark Panther None Yet Dark Neos None Yet Chaos Neos	Mole Grand Mole None Yet Grand Neos None Yet Nebula Neos	Larva Flare Scarab None Yet Flare Neos None Yet Magma Neos	Pinny Glow Moss Twinkle Moss Glow Neos None Yet Cosmo Neos	Dolphin Aqua Dolphin Marine Dolphin Aqua Neos Marine Neos None Yet	Chicky Air Hummingbird None Yet Air Neos None Yet Storm Neos
Code Talkers	Code / Decode / Decode Extend	Transcode	Powercode	Code Invert / Encode	Shootingcode	Excode
Color Ninjas Dragon Ninjas	Strike Ninja Black Dragon Ninja	Senior Silver Ninja None Yet	Crimson Ninja Red Dragon Ninja	White Ninja / Upstart Golden Ninja White Dragon Ninja / None Yet	Armed Ninja Blue Dragon Ninja	Yellow Ninja Yellow Dragon Ninja
Crusadia (Level 3-4)	None Yet	Leonis	Reclusia	Maximus	Arboria	Draco
Cubic	Vijam / Crimson Nova / Crimson Nova Trinity	Dark Garnex	Blade Garoodia	Duza / Buster Gundil / Indiora Doom Volt	None Yet	Geira Guile
D/D/D	Gilgamesh	Darius	Genghis	None Yet	Caesar	Alexander
Dice Roll Archfiends	Terrorking	Vilepawn	Infernalqueen	Desrook	Darkbishop	Shadowknight
Double Tributers Effigies	Double Coston Dark	The Trojan Horse Earth	Flame Ruler None Yet	Kaiser Sea Horse Light	Unshaven Angler None Yet	Whirlwind Prodigy Wind
Dustons (1/0/1000/Fiends)	Star	Yellow	Red	House / White	Blue	Green
Elemental HERO Fusion Monsters (1 "HERO" + 1 matching Attribute)	Escuridao	Gaia	Nova Master	The Shining	Absolute Zero	Great Tornado
Elemental Lords Elementsabers	Umbramirage Molehu	Grandsoil Aina	Pyrorex Malo	Phosphorage Lapauila / Lapauila Mana	Moulinglacia Nalu	Windrose Makani
Empowered Warriors Summoners	Dragonox None Yet	Terratiger White Tiger	Arnis Red Sparrow	Dragodies None Yet	Hydrortoise Green Turtle	Ventdra Blue Dragon
Entities	Azathot	Nyarla	Chthugua	N'tss	Norden	Hastorr
Fortune Fairies Fortune Ladies	Ann Dark	Chee Earth	En Fire	Hikari Light	Swee Water	Hu Wind
Fur Hire	Seal Folgo	Beat Dyna	Bravo	Rafale	Helmer Wiz	Donpa Recon Sagitta
Ghost Girls	Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries	Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion	Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring	Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit	Null Nun & Blooming Dogwood	None Yet
Guardians Weapons (Equip Spell Cards)	Baou / Dreadscythe Wicked-Breaking Flamberge / Reaper Scythe	Grarl Gravity Axe	Ceal Shooting Star Bow	Tryce Twin Swords of Flashing Light	Kay'est Rod of Silence	Elma / Eatos Buttefly Dagger / Celestial Sword
Invoked	Caliga	Magellanica	Purgatrio	Mechaba / Elysium	Cocytus	Raidjin
Kaiju	Radian	Kumongous	Dogoran	Jizukiru / Mecha-Dogoran / Thunder King	Gameciel	Gadarla
Knightmare Link Monsters	Unicorn	Cerberus	Phoenix	Gryphon	Mermaid	Goblin
Legendary Planets	Jupiter / Saturn / Pluto / Sun	Terra Firma	Mars	Venus / Uranus	Mercury / Neptune	None Yet
Masked HEROes Non-Fusion Monsters Level 6 Fusion Monsters Level 8 Fusion Monsters	Dusk Crow Dark Law Anki	Bassols None Yet Dian	Inferno Goka None Yet	Ray None Yet Koga	Fountain Vapor Acid	Gust Blast Divine Wind
Magician Girls	Dark	Berry	Apple	Lemon	Chocolate	Kiwi
Mirror Force	Dark	Quaking	Blazing	Radiant	Drowning	Storming
Monarchs Mega Monarchs Related "Monarch" Spell/Trap Cards Vassals	Caius / Erebus Caius the Mega Tenacity / The First Lucius / Eidos	Granmarg Granmarg the Mega Return Landrobe	Thestalos Thestalos the Mega Erupt Berlineth	Zaborg / Ehther Zaborg the Mega Strike / The Prime Mithra / Edea	Mobius Mobius the Mega Awaken Escher	Raiza Raiza the Mega Stormforth Garum
Musical Djinns	Maestroke	Temtempo	None Yet	Melomelody	Humhumming	Muzurhythm
Mythyrian Numbers	Djinn Buster	Lion Heart / Ronin Raccoon Sandayu	None Yet	Sky Pegasus / Dragluon	Abyss Splash / Crystalzero	None Yet
Number 10X Number C10X	None Yet Umbral Horror Masquerade	Giant Hand Giant Red Hand	Battlin' Boxer Star Cestus Battlin' Boxer Comet Cestus	Star Seraph Sentry / Masquerade / Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon Archfiend Seraph / Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon	Silent Honor ARK / Ragnazero Silent Honor DARK / Ragnafinity	None Yet None Yet
Odd-Eyes Dragons	Odd-Eyes / Pendulum / Rebellion / Raging / Phantom / Persona / Mirage / Supreme King / Venom / Wing / Performapal Metal Claw / Arc Pendulum / Advance	Gravity	Meteorburst	Saber / Lancer / Revolution	Absolute	Vortex
Pendulum Magicians	Stargazer / Timegazer / Xiangke / Timebreaker / Acrobatic / Dragoncaller / Harmonizing / Double Iris / Black Fang / Purple Poison	Dragonpulse	Nobledragon	Xiangsheng / Wisdom-Eye / Dharma-Eye / Performapal Five-Rainbow	Dragonpit	Oafdragon / White Wing
Prediction Princesses	Astromorrigan	Coinorma / Petalelf	None Yet	Tarotrei	Crystaldine	Arrowsylph
Resonators	Dark / Synkron	Clock	Flare / Red / Double / Net	Barrier / Chain / Mirror	Force	Creation
El Shaddoll Fusion Monsters (1 "Shaddoll" + 1 matching Attribute)	Winda	Shekhinaga	Grysta	Construct	Anoyatyllis	Wendigo
Signer Dragons	Red Archfiend / Black-Winged	Life Stream	Black Rose	Ancient Fairy	None Yet	Stardust
Six Samurai Legendary Six Samurai Secret Six Samurai	Irou Shi En Doji	Yariza Kizan Kizaru	Kamon Mizuho Genba	Zanji Enishi Rihan	Yaichi Shinai Hatsume	Nisashi Kageki Fuma
Sky Striker Ace	Raye	Kaina	Kagari	None Yet	Shizuku	Hayate
Synchro Warriors Tuner Synchrons	Junk Junk	Drill Drill	Nitro / Jet Nitro / Jet	Road Road	None Yet Steam	Turbo Turbo
The Weathers Canvas (Continuous Spell/Trap Cards)	Aurora Auroral	Snow Snowy	Sun Sunny	Thunder / Rainbow Thundery / Rainbowy	Rain Rainy	Cloud Cloudy
True Draco and True King	All Calamities	Lithosazim / Dreiath III	Agnimazud / Ignis Heat	Metaltron XII / Master Peace / King Master Peace	Bahrstos / Dinomight Knight	Mariamne / Majesty Maiden
Witchcraft	Heine	Poterie	Schmitta	Edel Verre	Pittore	None Yet
World Chalice Link Monsters	World Legacy - "World Chalice" None Yet	Beckoned by the World Chalice Ningirsu the World Chalice Warrior	Chosen by the World Chalice Auram the World Chalice Blademaster	Lee the World Chalice Fairy None Yet	Crowned by the World Chalice Ib the World Chalice Priestess	World Chalice Guardragon Imduk the World Chalice Dragon
Yang Zing Effect Monsters Synchro Monsters	Jiaotu / Taotie Yazi	Bi'an / Zefraxi / Zefraniu	Suanni	Chiwen Baxia / Chaofeng / Denglong	Bixi	Pulao