Yu-Gi-Oh! (Tabletop Game)/Characters

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


This page is for the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game characters. It is still a work-in-progress, so please help out as much as you can. See these Character Sheets for more info on the cards that are prominent in the anime.

The Agents of Heaven

Aliens

  • Alien Invasion
  • Brainwashed: Their gimmick, namely through Mass Hypnosis, Alien Mother, and Brainwashing Beam.
  • The Corruption/The Virus: A-Counters, distributed to enemy monsters as a means of weakening and eventually controlling them.
  • Eldritch Abomination: Their strongest level cards are "Cosmic Fortress Gol'gar" and "Cosmic Horror Gangi'el", obviously based on Lovecraftian monsters.
  • Reptiles Are Abhorrent
  • Weaksauce Weakness: Though it's against a decktype, they really don't stand much of a chance against Gladiator Beasts, which can tag themselves out after conducting a battle. A tag-out automatically removes the A-Counters on the monsters that they need for their effects.

Amazoness

  • Amazon Brigade
  • Amazonian Beauty: A lot of them are scantily clad; and range from toned to having noticeable musculature.
  • Annoying Arrows: Amazoness Archers. Their effect is basically the arrows burdening their opponents' bodies and blinding their foes with rage.
  • Amplifier Artifact: Amazoness Heirloom. It protects an Amazoness from being destroyed. It represents how their ancestors are protecting them through this artifact
  • The Archer: Amazoness Archer. She has an effect that lets her inflict 1200 damage to the player's opponent. This effect shows that she has an excellent aim and can aim for the opponent's vitals.
  • Authority Equals Asskicking: Amazoness Queen. Her effect lets her fellow Amazonesses survive a battle that they would have lost. This effect is basically her giving her troops strong willpower by being on the battlefield.
  • Battle Aura: Amazoness Fighting Spirit. It lets an Amazoness to gain 1000 ATK points if she faces a strong opponent. Basically, she unleashes her full potential when this card is activated.
  • Continuity Cameo: Amazoness Paladin basically resembles Mai Kujaku/Valentine.
  • Eyepatch of Power: Amazoness Queen
  • Fiery Redhead: Amazoness Swords Woman
  • Hot Chick with a Sword:
    • Amazoness Paladin. She gains more power when there are Amazonesses in the Graveyard. This effect shows how her loyality to her fellow Amazonesses affects the way she fights.
    • Amazoness Swords Woman. The Player's opponent takes all Battle Damage that he/she would have taken from a battle involving this card. This effect is basically Amazoness Swords Woman being determined to beat her opponent, even as she's dying.
  • Lady of Black Magic: Amazoness Sage. If she attacks, she can destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card your opponent controls at the end of the Damage Step. This effect is basically Amazoness Sage showing control over her dark magic. This also shows that she is experienced in combat.
  • Panthera Awesome: Amazoness Tiger. It gains more power when there are Amazonesses in the Graveyard. This effect shows how loyal the creature is to the Amazonesses.
  • Poisoned Weapons: Amazoness Blowpiper has effect of targetting an opponent's monster and having it lose 500 ATK until the end of a turn. In said artwork, she holds a blowpipe. Thus, this effect is her using the poisoned darts to weaken the targetted monster in an attempt to make the monster easier to kill.
  • Variable-Length Chain: Amazoness Chain Master. Her effect lets the player obtain a Monster Card from the opponent's hand. This effect is basically Amazoness Chain Master is stating that she is willing to die if it means that the rest of her team can get a hold of enemy information.

Ancient Gear / Gadgets

  • Ancient Grome
  • Anti-Magic: Most of the Ancient Gear monsters have effects that stop the opponent from using Spells and Traps when they attack.
  • Clock Punk: Their main theme is Ancient Greece's Antikythera mechanism. Studies of the Antikythera mechanism put its complexity and craft as comparable to 18th century Europe.
  • Combination Attack: Several monsters are depicted as incorporating the Gadgets into their mechanics to power themselves up.
  • Cute Machines: The Gadget sub-archetype
  • Eternal Engine: Ancient Gear Castle and Geartown
  • Expy: Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem can be seen as the Ancient Gear counterpart to "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon":
    • In the anime this requires 3 identical Fusion Material Monsters, as does "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon". All of which have 3000 ATK and are Level 8.
    • In the OCG, both monsters follow the same naming scheme: (Archetype) Ultimate (Card name)
  • Fusion Dance: Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem
  • Mechanical Lifeforms
  • Mini-Mecha: Stronghold the Moving Fortress and Backup Soldier-Dread Dynamo, which are piloted by the Gadgets.
  • More Dakka: Ancient Gear Cannon
  • Multiple Head Case: Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Chimera
  • Mix-and-Match Critters: Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Chimera
  • Our Centaurs Are Different: Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon
  • Power Fist: Ancient Gear Golem and Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem
  • The Right Hand of Doom: Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem
  • Rocket Punch: Ancient Gear Fist
  • Tank Goodness: Ancient Gear Tank
  • This Is a Drill: Ancient Gear Drill and Ancient Gear Engineer
  • Throw Down the Bomblet: Ancient Gear Explosive
  • Trojan Horse: Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem's appearance may be based off of the Trojan Horse in Roman Mythology. It wears what appears to be a Roman helmet on its head.

Archfiends

Atlantean

  • Anti-Magic: Atlantean Dragon Poseidra's effect upon using the Special Summon effect. This means Poseidra is trying to soften up its foe before attacking with its full might.
  • Back from the Dead: One of Atlantean Dragon Poseidra's effects. This effect indicates that the Atlantean Fishmen are so dedicated to the Atlantean cause, they are willing to give up their lives just so Poseidra can be summoned to the battlefield.
  • Captain Ersatz: Atlantean Dragon Poseidra resembles the Lagiacrus, from Monster Hunter. Its position, color scheme, and posture is also similar to Lagiacrus (Include the dermal spikes on its back).
  • Dragon Rider: Atlantean Dragon Rider. Atlantean Dragon Rider's effect is basically Atlantean Dragon Rider leading the troops in a direct attack against their enemies.
  • Dub Name Change: Known as Sea Emperor in the OCG.
  • Enemy Summoner: Atlantean Armed Soldier and Atlantean Marksman's effects. Atlantean Armed Soldier's effect is basically Armed Soldier asking for backup to arrive and support them. Atlantean Marksman's effect is basically Atlantean Marksman calling in more troops to finish off their enemies.
  • Expy:
    • Atlantean Dragon Poseidra's appearance resembles "The Dragon Dwelling in the Deep". Also they are both WATER and Sea Serpent-Type monsters despite both having Dragon in their name.
    • Atlantean Dragon Poseidra's effect seems be a mix between "Masked HERO Acid" and "Giant Trunade". "Giant Trunade" returns all Spell and Trap Cards on both sides of the field to the hand and the effect of "Acid" reduces the ATK of your opponent's monsters.
  • Fish People: Most Monsters of this archetype, which indicates that they live under the sea and work for Poseidra.
  • Fusion Dance: Mermail - Gaioabyss seems to have been Xyz Summoned by using both Mermail - Megaloabyss and (oddly enough) Atlantean Dragon Poseidra. This is evident in that the lower half of this monster has the lower half of Poseidra, as well as Poseidra's Trident tail as the tip of its own Trident and their ATK and DEF points are the same. This card is also based off of the god Poseidon himself.
  • Meaningful Name: Atlantean Dragon Poseidra's name is a portmanteau of "Poseidon", the Greek god of the sea, and a dragon/hydra. Even the tip of its tail has the image of Poseidon's Trident.
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Atlantean Dragon Poseidra.
  • Weapon of Choice:
  • Zerg Rush: Atlantean Assault Trooper's effect is based off this.

If you control another face-up Fish, Sea Serpent, or Aqua-Type monster, this card gains 800 ATK.

B.E.S.

Batteryman

  • Back from the Dead: Battery Charger and Recycling Batteries.
  • Cute Bruiser: Batteryman AA. With 3 of him in a deck, the player can make an OTK.
  • Cute Machines
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Super-Electromagnetic Voltech Dragon, which gains a different effect, depending on which Batteryman the player tributes for it.
  • Improbable Weapon User: Batteryman Industrial Strength uses a pair of jumper cables as weapons.
  • Shock and Awe
  • Stone Wall/Diving Save: Batteryman D has an effect that forces the opponent to not target any Thunder-Type monster except Batteryman D.
  • Theme Naming: Internationally, Batterymen are named after the commonly used battery names. In Japan, they were numerically named based on the Levels they had shown on the card.

Blackwing

  • Big Badass Bird of Prey
  • Fragile Speedster/Glass Cannon: The Blackwing's main strategy resolves around swarming the field and easily bringing Synchro monsters. However, the player will have their hand burned out of cards, also their Synchro monsters are the only truly powerful monsters of the archetype in raw power (the strongest non-synchro only has 2200 ATK whereas the Synchro monsters reach up to 2800).
  • Stone Wall: Mistral the Silver Shield, not only does it have a rather strong DEF (1800), it blocks a second attack launched from the opponent should it be destroyed. Also, it's a tuner monster.
  • Winged Humanoid

Chaos

  • Black Knight: Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
  • Expy: The Sky Scourges were an attempt to revitalize the Chaos archetype with more challenging summoning conditions and less powerful effects.
  • Finishing Move: More likely than not, getting one of them to the field.
  • Glass Cannon: They can hit the field on your first turn if you build the deck right, come out of nowhere, and will give you a massive lead in the duel. But they're completely defenseless during an opponent's turn, so you'd better have some traps ready to protect them.
  • Kill'Em All: Chaos Emperor Dragon's effect.
  • Obvious Rule Patch: The Chaos Emperor Dragon-Yata Garasu combo is pretty much the reason the ban list was first created, and they've been gone ever since.
  • Took a Level in Badass: Black Luster Soldier -> Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
  • Yin-Yang Bomb

Charmers

Coach Goblin/Second Goblin/DD Trainer

Cyber Dragon

  • Animal Mecha
  • Breath Weapon: Cyber Dragon's attack, Evolution Burst
  • Evil Counterpart: The Cyberdarks to the Cyber Dragons.
  • Evolutionary Levels: "Cyber Larva" > "Proto-Cyber Dragon" > "Cyber Dragon Zwei" > Cyber Dragon > "Cyber Twin Dragon" > "Cyber End Dragon" > "Cyber Eltanin" / "Chimeratech Overdragon" / "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon".
  • Expy: Cyber Dragon’s evolution is similar to "Blue-Eyes White Dragon". Their Fusions requires 3 copies each. Both of their Final Forms ("Cyber End Dragon" and "Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon") have the similar Blue orbs on their wings and chests.)
  • Fusion Dance: "Cyber Dragon" fuses with:
    • Another "Cyber Dragon"/"Proto-Cyber Dragon"/"Cyber Dragon Zwei" to form "Cyber Twin Dragon".
    • Two other "Cyber Dragon"s/"Proto-Cyber Dragon"s/"Cyber Dragon Zwei"s to form "Cyber End Dragon"
    • Any number of Machine-Type monsters to form "Chimeratech Overdragon".
    • "Cyber Dragon" also performs a VWXYZ - style fusion with Machine-Type monsters to form "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon".
    • "Elemental HERO Voltic" to form "Elemental Hero The Shining".
  • Instant Awesome, Just Add Dragons
  • Light'Em Up
  • Meaningful Name:
    • "Chimeratech Overdragon" and "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon" originate from the 'Chimaera', a mythical beast that had the heads of a lion, goat and snake. More recently, 'chimaera' refers to the idea of combining things that occur naturally, much like both monsters are fused from varying Machine-Type monsters.
    • Eltanin, also called Gamma Draconis, is the brightest star in the constellation Draco. The name comes from Arabic (التنين at-tinnīn) meaning The Dragon, which is the name of the constellation. The star itself is called (رأس التنين raʾs at-tinnīn) The Dragon's Head.
  • Multiple Head Case: Its fused forms, which indicates the strength it has within those forms.
  • Nerf: In the anime, "Chimeratech Overdragon"’s effect was different than its real-life counterpart. In the anime it could attack as many times (including direct attacks) as the amount of monsters used to play it while its real-life counterpart's effect only allows multiple attacks to monsters, but direct attacks aren't allowed.
  • One-Hit Kill: Dedicated real life decks using Cyber Dragon and its variants can also pull these off.
  • Ouroboros: Cyber Ouroboros. An Ouroboros is a serpent that bites his own tail, forming a circle. It symbolizes the endless cycle of the end followed by the beginning. This symbol is used in Alchemy. This also represents its effect. A card is banished, another is sent to the Graveyard, and another replaces it in the hand.

Darklords

Dark Ruler Ha Des/Revived King Ha Des

Dark Scorpions

Dark World

  • Back from the Dead: Many of them revive when discarded to the Graveyard.
  • Big Bad: Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World.
  • Bigger Bad: Colorless, Chaos King of Dark World, said to be the ultimate card of the theme...it was only mentioned in the anime, was never summoned or even shown, and years after its mention it appears it's going to stay that way.
  • Chained by Fashion: Bronn.
  • Dark Is Evil: Ask anyone who's faced them.
  • The Dragon: Latinum, Exarch of Dark World. Sillva and Goldd to a degree as well.
  • Evil Overlord: Reign-Beaux, whio even has "Overlord" as his title.
  • Lightning Bruiser: A well-built Dark World deck can swarm the field with powerful monsters while depleting the opponent's field and hand with their effects, and still maintain a good sized hand and back row for ensurance.
  • Loophole Abuse: Dark World cards only get their effects when discarded by a card effect, not if discarded for a cost. Everyone quickly learned the difference once they came out. It's this rule that makes Card Destruction and Morphing Jar game-ending movies, allowing a Dark World deck to dump their hand full of Dark World cards to trigger their effects, then draw a new hand.
  • Nebulous Evil Organisation: As seen in Dark Deal, Dark Scheme and Dark World Dealings, they engage in a lot of shady practices to further their power.
  • Noble Demon: Most prominently Zure, but Word of God says they're all like this.
  • Obviously Evil
  • Our Demons Are Different:
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Grapha.
  • Religion of Evil: Has shades, particularly in the anime where Bronn tries to use a tome and rune cards to summon Colorless.
  • The Sixth Ranger: Dark Blade's flavor texts say he's an inhabitant of the Dark World, but has nothing to do with the archetype. Kozaky has the same distinction, and is a pseudo-archetype in his own right.
  • Spikes of Villainy
  • Theme Naming: "<Color>, <Rank> of Dark World".

Divine Dragon

  • Distaff Counterpart: "Lady of D." is the female counterpart of "Lord of D.". They share the same DEF, Attribute, Type, and Level. She protects Dragons from battle while he protects them from targeting effects. Each are seen in the artworks of different Dragon-Type monsters that are stored in the Extra Deck, have upgraded versions of their respective effects, and depict them as having merged with a Divine Dragon and holding an instrument of summoning dragons.
  • Elemental Powers
  • Enemy Summoner: Flute of Summoning Dragon. It's more effective when Lord of D. is on the field because he's the owner of the flute.
  • Expy: Divine Dragon Apocralyph is likely a more obvious counterpart to "Divine Dragon Ragnarok". Both it and "Apocalypse" refer to the end of the world. They are both Level 4 Monster Cards, have inverted ATK and DEF to one another, and their Attributes are opposite, LIGHT and DARK respectively.
    Also, both cards offer Dragon-Type support: "Ragnarok" fuses with "Lord of D." into "King Dragun", a monster that protects Dragons from being targeted and Special Summons them from the hand, and "Apocalypse" returns Dragons from the Graveyard to the hand.
    Another Similarity is that it appears in the artwork of "Queen Dragun", an Extra Deck Dragon type monster that protects and summons dragons similar to "King Dragun". Like Ragnarok, this card appears to have become the lower body of a spellcaster with a downgraded version of the new monster's effect. The difference is that King Dragun is a fusion monster that requires the 2 specific monsters as materials whereas Queen Dragoon is an Xyz monster that accepts any 2 level 4s.
  • Fusion Dance: King Dragun and Queen Dragun
  • Lady of Black Magic: Dragon Witch and Queen Dragun
  • Names to Run Away From Really Fast: Divine Dragon Ragnarok and Divine Dragon Apocralyph. Both are named relgious events
  • Our Dragons Are Different
  • Wreathed in Flames: Divine Dragon Apocralyph

Evol

Fortune Ladies

Freed the Brave Wanderer/Freed the Matchless General

Frog

  • Anti-Magic: Unitoad's effect lets it destroy a Spell or Trap Card if another Frog or Toad is on the field.
  • Battle Aura: Des Frog
  • Bubblegloop Swamp: Their homeland, Wetlands.
  • Brown Note: Des Croaking, which destroys all of your opponent's monsters. The art of Des Croaking shows three Des Frogs croaking in unison.
  • Deflector Shields: Froggy Forcefield
  • Frogs and Toads
  • Fusion Dance: 3 Des Frog become D.3.S Frog
  • Lost in Translation: All the original Japanese names for Frogs included puns based on their effects and artworks. Very few Frogs recieved this treatment at the international releases.
  • Making a Splash
  • Mix-and-Match Critters: Treeborn Frog, Unifrog, Belze Frog, Substitoad, Tradetoad
  • Nerf: One card that kept "Frogs" versatile and powerful was "Substitoad", but after Frog FTK won the 2010 World Championships, it was Forbidden, and so many "Frog" Decks lost their supreme speed.
  • Never Say "Die": Death Frog->Des Frog
  • Overly Long Tongue: Poison Draw Frog and Flip-Flop Frog
  • Samurai: Ronintoadin
  • Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Tradetoad after Substitoad got banned.
  • Stone Wall: Dupe Frog's effect forces the opponent to target it only. Also it has 2000 DEF
  • Visual Pun: Submarine Frog's appearance is likely based on the term "frogman," which is a person equipped to work underwater. The term is quite often used to refer to combat divers, which Submarine Frog certainly is.
  • Weak but Skilled: Though weak, "Frog" cards can unleash devastating effects that include rapid summoning, the option to increase their ATK or protect themselves from destruction, and wiping out all cards the opponent controls.

Gaia the Fierce Knight

  • Badass Normal: Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth is not only one of the strongest level 6 synchros, but one of the strongest non-effect synchros as well. Fuse with another and you get...
    • Badass Abnormal: Gaia Drake, the Universal Force, whose effect bypasses targeting, or destruction, by the effects of other monsters.
  • Black Knight: Gaia the Fierce Knight.
  • Cool Horse: Which is colored violet.
  • Cyborg: If you look closely, you can see that "Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth" and his horse are mechanical. His torso is attached to the top of the horse.
  • Dual-Wielding: With lances.
  • Fusion Dance: With Curse of Dragon to Form Gaia the Dragon Champion.
    • Later, Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth with any other non-effect synchro becomes Gaia Drake, the Universal Force. Especially considering Gaia Drake is something of a portmanteau of Gaia and Naturia Leodrake, one of the potential fusion components, and the latter is a Beast, which completes Gaia's fusion into a Beast-Warrior type monster.
  • Horse of a Different Color: Curse of Dragon for Gaia when he is Gaia the Dragon Champion.
  • Mechanical Horse: Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth and Gaia Drake, the Universal Force.
  • Knight in Shining Armor: Gaia Drake, the Universal Force.
  • Took a Level in Badass: Originally, Gaia the Fierce Knight -> Gaia the Dragon Champion. Pretty much every copy of the card released since (Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight, Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth, Gaia Drake, the Universal Force) has had him take more levels each time. He also took another level as Gaia Dragoon, the Force of Thunder, who is the third Xyz Monster able to use Chaos Xyz Change.

Gigobyte/Gagagigo/Giga Gagagigo/Gogiga Gagagigo

Gearfried

  • Anti-Magic: Phoenix Gearfried and Lightray Gearfried's effect
  • Black Knight: Gearfried the Iron Knight
  • Knight in Shining Armor: Phoenix Gearfried and Lightray Gearfried
  • Light'Em Up: Lightray Gearfried
  • The Phoenix: Phoenix Gearfried
  • Playing with Fire: Phoenix Gearfried
  • Power Limiter: Joey tells the story of "Gearfried the Swordmaster", in one of his duels. According to his story, the power of "Gearfried" was so great, that merely holding a weapon resulted in the widescale devastation of entire battlefield. Fearful of his own might, he sealed himself in a suit of iron armor to limit his power. This "devastation" effect can been seen in the ability of "Gearfried the Swordmaster" to instantly destroy a monster when equipped, and "limiting his power" can be seen as "Gearfried the Iron Knight" cannot be equipped with any Equip Card.
  • Single-Stroke Battle: Gearfried the Swordsmaster's effect
  • Walking Shirtless Scene: Gearfried the Swordsmaster

Geargia

  • Combining Mecha: Geargiganto X
  • Cool Car: Geargiaccel
  • Expy: "Geargia" monsters resemble "Gadget" and "Wind-Up" monsters in appearance.
  • Glass Cannon: Geargiarsenal
  • Homage:
    • Geargiganto X resembles Optimus Prime and/or Star Scream from the Transformers franchise.
    • This card also resembles the namesake of the series Gurren Lagann. Its chest resembles the "Kamina shades" on Gurren Lagann's chest and its chest and hip areas form a mouth-like shape together, reflecting how the Gunmen such as Gurren Lagann have a face on their front with a mouth. The head on top also looks similarly to a smaller version of the body, like the mini-mecha Lagann is to Gurren.
    • Given the fact the "X" in it's name is pronounced as "cross", this card also pays homage to the Digimon franchise, most notably the "Xros Wars" era, where the letter X in the name is constantly pronounced as "cross" instead of "eks"; further reference to that note is the fact that this card slightly resembles the Digimon Shoutmon X3, has a similar name and pose, not to mention it's a powerful fighter made out of seemingly harmless components (in this case, a bunch of gears with Geargia monsters).
  • Mechanical Lifeforms
  • Repetitive Name
  • Stone Wall: Geargiarmor
  • Zerg Rush: All 5 "Geargia" monsters focus heavily on searching out each other, swarming the field in the process and summoning their ace card, "Geargiganto X" and other Rank 3 and 4 Xyz Monsters. Each monster has a different effect to search out cards: "Geargiano" Special Summons any Level 4 or lower Machine-Type monster from the Graveyard by tributing itself, meaning that the card can be good to support other archetypes; "Geargiano MK-II" can do the same as "Geargiano", but only with Geargia monsters, however it can also Special Summon the monster from the Hand; "Geargiarmor" search any Geargia from the Deck each time time it is flipped face-up and is a solid wall with 1900 DEF; "Geargiaccel" helps to swarm the field, as it can Special Summon itself from your Hand and has the bonus effect of adding another Geargia from your Graveyard to your Hand when it goes to the Graveyard; "Geargiarsenal" can tribute itself to Special Summon any Geargia from your Deck and also gains 200 ATK for each Geargia you control, even itself

Gladiator Beasts

Goblin Attack Force

  • Actually Four Mooks
  • Butt Monkey: Interestingly, on some card artwork, Goblin Attack Force is used as the butt of jokes, usually receiving detrimental effects or being attacked. They are also often drawn in a more cartoonish style. This is likely a reference to Goblin Attack Force's vulnerability after attacking.
  • Cacophony Cover-Up: Goblin Decoy Force
  • Crippling Overspecialization: Goblin Pothole Squad exists only to negate "Trap Hole" cards, if the opponent does not use them, making Goblin Construction Force a useless 1500 ATK monster.
  • Drop the Hammer: On the receiving end of a huge mallet in the artwork of Hammer Shot.
  • Elite Mooks: Elite Goblin Attack Force
  • Hero Worshipper/Irritation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery: In artwork for Goblin Marauding Force, one of the Goblins strikes the same position as "Marauding Captain"; a similarity noted in the card's name.
    Due to the fact that the Goblins are putting on blonde wigs and similar armor as Marauding Captain, they may now idolize his skills after he has managed to defeat them at their own headquarters.
    This is further referenced in this card's effect. Marauding Captain seems to have the uncanny ability to go up against much stronger monsters and come out alive. As such, Goblin Marauding Force is weaker than the regular Goblin Attack Force, but they are immune against cards that would normally stop the Goblin Attack Force.
  • Knight in Shining Armor: Elite Goblin Attack Force
  • Ninja Zombie Pirate Robot: Goblin Black Ops are goblin ninjas.
  • Oh Crap: Their reaction to Marauding Captain invading their base, as seen in Prepare to Strike Back and Attack on GHQ.
  • Puppeteer Parasite: Shown in Mass Hypnosis which was done to them by A-Counters.
  • Our Goblins Are Wickeder
  • Schizo-Tech: In the artwork of Goblin Recon Force, they are shown using headsets and night goggles. The setting is usually believed to take place in the medieval times.
  • Shrink Ray: Victims of one in the artwork of Micro Ray.
  • Super-Deformed: Toon Goblin Attack Force.
  • Taken for Granite: Done to them in the artwork of Medusa Worm.

Goblin of Greed

Gravekeepers

  • Ancient Egypt: Their main theme and homeland, Necrovalley, is based off this.
  • Antidote Effect: Gravekeeper's Spy is not just used in Gravekeeper's decks. In fact, it is used moreso outside of Gravekeeper's decks. Most people will put two "Gravekeeper's Spy" into their deck simply to search one out with the other, creating a wall of 1 or 2 2000 DEF monsters.
  • Authority Equals Asskicking: Gravekeeper's Visionary. He even powers up when his fellow Gravekeepers are in the Graveyard.
  • Back from the Dead: Gravekeeper's Chief's effect
  • Bald of Awesome: Gravekeeper's Recruiter and Gravekeeper's Guard
  • Badass Beard: Gravekeeper's Chief and Gravekeeper's Visionary
  • Black Magic
  • Cats Are Mean: Cat of Ill Omen
  • Casting a Shadow
  • Continuity Cameo: Gravekeeper's Descendant is Marik Ishtar (with blonde hair), Gravekeeper's Priestess is Ishizu Ishtar (with the hood and mask covering up her features), Gravekeeper's Recruiter is Odion Ishtar (without the ponytail) and Gravekeeper's Visionary is Mr. Ishtar (wearing an Anubis mask).
  • Dark Is Not Evil: They may use the dark arts. However, they use them to protect the Pharaoh and his resting place.
  • Dark-Skinned Blond: Gravekeeper's Descendant
  • Expy:
    • Gravekeeper's Priestess and the "Maiden of the Aqua" have a similar, yet different pseudo-field spell card effect. They also both have "priestess" in their Japanese names.
    • Gravekeeper's Recruiter is the Gravekeeper's counterpart of Witch of the Black Forest, Goblin Zombie, XX-Saber Darksoul, Botanical Girl, and Sangan.
  • High Priest: Gravekeeper's Visionary
  • In the Hood: Gravekeeper's Assailant
  • The Owl-Knowing One: An Owl of Luck, which can search for Necrovalley
  • Samus Is a Girl: Gravekeeper's Assailant
  • Summoning Ritual: Which is used to summon Cobraman Sarkozy
  • Weapon of Choice
    • BFG: Gravekeeper's Cannonholder
    • Cool Sword: Gravekeeper's Assailant, which is unique because swords aren't typically used by stealthy assassins.
    • Blade on a Stick: Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier
    • Magic Staff: Gravekeeper's Chief, Gravekeeper's Commandant, Gravekeeper's Descendant, Gravekeeper's Visionary and Gravekeeper's Priestess

Guardians

Harpie

  • Badass Decay: Invoked. Harpie's Pet Baby Dragon is a lot stronger than the adult form due to a variety of effects its possesses.
  • Bowdlerise: The Japanese artwork for all the Harpies has straps over their breasts, which are rather large, and nothing else covering their torsos. The English art covers them up entirely.
  • Combination Attack: Triangle Ecstasy Spark
  • Cute Monster Girl
  • Harping on About Harpies: Of course!
  • Power Trio: Harpie Lady Sisters.
  • Team Pet: The name "Harpie's Pet Dragon" should be a clue.
  • The One Guy: Sort of. Harpie's Brother is the only male of the group and looks like a Harpie, but isn't actually a member of the theme, he was subject to a Dub Name Change and in the Japanese version was called "Birdman". This is why most of the English cards of the theme now specify they effect Harpie monsters except Harpie's Brother.
  • The Sixth Ranger: Birdface supports the Harpie theme but isn't compatible with their other cards.
  • Took a Level in Badass: The original Harpie Lady was a fairly remarkable normal monster. Three "retrained" versions give her handy effects, and Cyber Harpie boosts her attack strength.
  • Whip It Good: With either Rose Whip or Electro Whip.
  • Winged Humanoid
  • You Gotta Have Blue Hair: Blue, pink, and purple.

Hieroglyphs

Inpachi

Inzektors

Itsu/A-Team

  • Amazing Technicolor Population
  • Anti-Magic: A-Team: Trap Disposal Unit has the ability to destroy Trap Cards.
  • Back from the Dead: Seen in Fossil Excavation
  • The Blank
  • Homage: to Parodius.
  • Irony: A-Team: Trap Disposal Unit appears in the card artwork of Gravity Collapse and they can negate traps. But since Counter Traps are the highest Spell Speed, they (A-Team) can't negate this trap.
  • Lethal Joke Character: Weak in attack, but they very powerful Union monsters.
  • Theme Naming: When translated, the names "Koitsu", "Soitsu", "Aitsu" and "Doitsu" mean "This Guy", "That Guy", "That Other Guy" and "Which Guy?" respectively. The names are whimsical, and are not meant to be taken literally. To keep the flavor, an appropriate translation might be "Eeney", "Meeney", "Miney", and "Moe".

Jar

  • Cyclops
  • Homage:
    • Fiber Jar bears an uncanny resemblance to the heavily vegetated ancient ruins of 'Laputa' from the Studio Ghibli movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky. In the movie, Laputa had the general appearance of a giant floating tree, especially at the end of the movie. At the bottom of the ruins was a large, round laser cannon similar to the one that is visible at the bottom of this monster. (And in fact, some of the Yu-Gi-Oh! video games for the Nintendo DS even actually show "Fiber Jar" to fire a laser when it attacks.)
    • The artwork of Cyber Jar is reminiscent of the famous Death Star from Star Wars.
  • Loophole Abuse: Called "Empty Jar", it's a deck that forces your opponent to throw away his entire deck in one turn. A major complaint about this deck is that it kills you and you won't even have a chance to play a single card or even take your turn. With that said, pray that the player running this deck doesn't go first, because all he has to show you in his hand is a Morphing Jar and a Book of Taiyou, and he wins. Full stop.
  • Nerf: Many of the Flip Effect "Jars" have been banned or Limited because of their effects.
  • Random Number God: Is a major part of Dice Jar's effect

Both players roll a six-sided die once. The player with the lowest result takes damage equal to their opponent's result x 500 Life Points. However, if a winner's result is 6, the loser takes 6000 points of damage. If the results are the same, both players roll again.

  • Reset Button: The now long-banned card "Fiber Jar" resets pretty much everything in the duel except for Life Points and cards that were removed from play. Its only purpose is to draw out duels and make them even longer, so it was banned to prevent this.
  • Taking You with Me: Flipping a Morphing Jar when both players have less than 5 cards in their deck? Indeed.
  • Trickster Archetype/Troll: The Jars. The majority of them have game-breaking effects that can turn entire strategies upside-down...and the artwork indicates that they do it all with a huge, goofy smile on their face.
  • When Trees Attack: Fiber Jar

Jinzo

Karakuri

  • Angry Guard Dog: Karakuri Watchdog mdl 313 "Saizan". It also has an ability to give the other Karakuri more power when its controller take Battle Damage from a battle involving this card.
  • Artificial Stupidity: The gimmick of the Karakuri archetype is that they must attack if able (even if it would get them killed) and always shift into defense when attacked (even when their defense is lower, and they would survive if they counterattacked).
  • As Long as It Sounds Foreign: Japanese-print Karakuri are named after numbers. TCG-print Karakuri are named with Japanese-sounding random words (like Haipa or Shinkuro).
  • Attack! Attack! Attack!: Most "Karakuri" monsters, with the exception of the Synchro monsters, must attack if able.
  • Authority Equals Asskicking: Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 "Burei" and Karakuri Steel Shogun mdl 00X "Bureido"
  • Bilingual Bonus: Karakuri is a "mechanical device to tease, trick, or take a person by surprise"
  • Blade Below the Shoulder: Karakuri Ninja mdl 7749 "Nanashick"
  • Blade on a Stick: Karakuri Muso mdl 818 "Haipa"
  • Blow You Away: Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 "Burei"
  • Chest Monster: Karakuri Barrel mdl 96 "Shinkuro"
  • Clockwork Creature
  • Dual-Wielding: Karakuri Steel Shogun mdl 00X "Bureido"
  • Eternal Engine: Karakuri Showdown Castle
  • Glass Cannon
  • Improbable Weapon User: Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 "Burei"'s weapon resembles the Bansho Fan, an artifact from "Journey to the West" and "Dragonball". It had the power to create massive gusts with each wave of the fan, which could also symbolize its ability to change monster positions on the field.
  • Intrepid Merchant: Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 "Inashichi". He helps out by retrieving a Karakuri monster from your deck when its normal summoned.
  • Keep It Foreign: To make sure the Karakuri archetype stood out in the TCG, Konami kept the name untranslated.
  • Knife Nut: Karakuri Ninja mdl 339 "Sazank"
  • Robot Ninja: Karakuri Ninja mdl 339 "Sazank", Karakuri Ninja mdl 7749 "Nanashick" and Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 "Kuick"
  • Shoulder Cannon: Karakuri Watchdog mdl 313 "Saizan"
  • Theme Naming: Most Karakuri have names that are made up of Japanese numerals, often the Japanese daiji, are used. The first 2 numbers in their names when multiplied together get the last number.

Koa'ki Meiru

Koala

"A species of huge Des Koala. He's meek, but people are afraid of him because he's very powerful."

Kozaky

  • Bowdlerise: His horns are removed in the International artwork.
  • Creating Life: Created the Core Chimail monsters with the help of the Magical Scientist. Unfortunately, they blow up if they are not near an Iron Core of Core Chimail or they are not near their kind.
  • Big Red Button: Shown pressing it in the artwork of Kozaky's Self-Destruct Button.
  • Butt Monkey
  • Foreshadowing: His card lore hints at the existence of the Dark World 6 sets before the Archetype was released.
  • Giant Mecha: Pilots Giant Kozaky, which blows up if he's not around to maintain it or if he presses the button on the Giant Kozaky.
  • Mad Scientist: Created the Core Chimail monsters with the Magical Scientist and also turned Gagagigo into Giga Gagagigo
  • Married to the Job
  • Scary Shiny Glasses

Kuriboh

LV

  • A Day in the Limelight: The Armed Dragons got prominent roles in the anime as trademark cards of Chazz/Manjoume, and got a few more support cards for themselves for it including Armed Dragon LV10.
  • Anti-Magic: The Horus, Silent Magician and Silent Swordsman lines have varying degrees of immunity to Spells, and Horus LV8 can negate any Spell at your discretion.
  • Awesome but Impractical: The higher level monsters all have very strong effects, but they usually cannot be summoned except by the effects of their weaker forms, and may have other restrictions that further hamper your attempts to get them to the field.
    • Awesome Yet Practical: Which in turn means their lower-level forms are more viable for their weaker but still potent effects. Armed Dragon LV5 for example is a nice 2400 beatstick easily gotten out by using a searcher like Masked Dragon to get out LV3, then level it up on your next turn.
  • Big Badass Bird of Prey: Horus
  • Big Creepy-Crawlies: Ultimate Insect
  • Chest Monster: Dark Mimic
  • Damage Increasing Debuff: The Ultimate Insects sap the opponent's ATK, allowing your attacks to do more damage.
  • Elemental Powers
  • Evil Counterpart: Dark Armed Dragon and Dark Horus.
  • Expy
    • Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 is very similar to "The Winged Dragon of Ra" in appearance. In later Egyptian dynastic times, Ra was subsumed into the god Horus, as Re-Horakhty (and many variant spellings). He commanded sky, earth, and underworld.
    • Ultimate Insect appears to be a reference to the Grat Moth series, with power levels similar to the Great Moth and debuffing effects that the Great Moth has in the anime and some video games.
  • Kill'Em All: Armed Dragon LV7 and LV10 can destroy all monsters on your opponent's field for a discard cost, though only face-ups and LV7 needs a second strong monster to ensure total destruction[2].
  • Magikarp Power: While they do it differently, each Level monster starts out as a weakling Level 2/3/4, then grows into a big and buff Level 7/8 with a lot of attack strength and an excellent effect.
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Horus looks more like a bird than a dragon.
  • The Sixth Ranger: The Masked Knights, a line of LVs featured only in the anime and video games. Allure Queen and Horus also have their specific support cards in the form of Queen's Bodyguard and Horus' Servant.
  • Spikes of Villainy: Armed Dragon, increasingly so as it powers up.
  • Weapon of Choice

Lightsworn

  • Ambiguously Brown: Ehren and Lumina
  • Atlantis: Realm of Light bears a resemblance to The Lost City of Atlantis, being a port city with a moat, channels, channel locks, and a ring within ring city layout situated in the side of a Mountain. The city is also made out of gold, silver and a reddish material, like Atlantis.
  • Back from the Dead: Lumina's effect
  • Badass: Wulf
  • Bare Your Midriff: Lumina
  • Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: Lumina, Ehren and Jenis
  • Cool Sword: Lightsworn Sabre
  • Druid: Aurkus
  • Dub Name Change: Lightlord->Lightsworn
  • Glass Cannon: Celestia, Lyla and Wulf
    • Also the deck theme itself. Lightsworns can quickly call out powerful monsters like Wulf and Judgement Dragon, and have strong draw and search power. The problem is that the deck is milled so quickly you're liable to deck yourself out if you can't beat the opponent fast enough.
  • Goggles Do Nothing: Ehren
  • Knight in Shining Armor: Jain
  • Life Drain: Jenis's effect
  • Light Is Good
  • Meaningful Name:
    • Rinyan is a very appropriate name for Rinyan. It comes from the Japanese ri, meaning "clever" or, more accurately, "sneaky", and nyan, a term for a cat after their version of the English "meow".
    • Ryko's Japanese name (Lightlord Hunter Raikou) comes from Raikou, a legendary archer and demon-queller of Japan.
    • Celestia's OCG name is "Lightlord Angel Cherubim". The Cherubim in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions are believed to be the second highest ranking caste of angels. They are believed to be guardians of light and the stars and keepers of all knowledge.
    • The name "Jenis" may possibly be derived from 'Janus', the Roman god with two faces. This could be a reference to the two sides of her effect, a damage dealing and healing one.
  • Name's the Same:
  • Our Angels Are Different: Celestia
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Gragonith and Judgment Dragon
  • Uncatty Resemblance: Rinyan and Lumina
  • Voluntary Shapeshifting: Rinyan is wearing "Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner's" headdress, necklace, and one armband on her tail, so it could be said that she's turning into Lumina.
  • White-Haired Pretty Boy: Jain

Madolce

  • Battle Butler: Madolce Butlerusk. He may seem weak, but he can search for Madolce Chateau. This shows that he is devoted to the Madolce cause, he can summon the manor and give them a home field advantage.
  • Back from the Dead: Whenever they die, they are shuffled back into the deck instead. This indicates their Sugar Bowl nature.
  • Bilingual Bonus:
    • Madolce Puddingcess's name is the combination of the words Pudding and Princess. If you imitate the Japanese pronunciation of "Princess" (purincessu), it sounds similar to the name of this card.
    • Madolce Majoleine's name is the combination of the Japanese word for witch "Majo" and the name and dessert, Madeleine. "Majo" + "Madeleine" = "Majoleine".
  • Cuteness Proximity: Madolce Mouple. It can change an opponent's monster into Defense Mode, which indicates that it uses this as a way to defend itself.
  • Cute Witch: Madolce Majoleine
  • Everything's Better with Princesses/Princess Classic: Madolce Puddingcess. She has the ability to destroy a card her opponent controls. She also can gain 800 ATK when there's no monsters in the Graveyard.
  • Funny Animal: Madolce Mille-feuille
  • Gingerbread House/Sugar Bowl: Madolce Chateau. It gives them a home field advantage and revives the Madolce in the Graveyard, giving them a second chance at beating their opponents.
  • High-Class Glass: Butlerusk
  • Meaningful Name: Madolce is possibly based on "ma" and "dolce", the Italian words for "but/though" and "sweet". It also could be seen as combination of "madou," which is Japanese for "magic/magical," and "dolce," Italian for "sweet."
  • Mismatched Eyes: Madolce Majoleine
  • Puppy Love: Puddingcess and Chouxvelier. Seen in the artwork of Madolce Waltz.
  • Taking the Bullet: Madolce Chouxvalier's effect. This indicates Chouxvalier's loyalty to the other Madolce. Chouxvalier's willing to give up his life, so that the other Madolce can defeat their opponents in his place.
  • Theme Naming: The archetype members' names appear to be a mix of royalty and French desserts and wines. The royalty is used to show that Madolce are nobility, while the desserts indicate that they are cutesy.

Machine King

  • Authority Equals Asskicking
  • Expy: This card is the Dark Ruler Ha Des of the Machine world. Similarly, they both have 3 servants. For Ha Des, "Dark Resonator", "Opticlops", and "Berserk Dragon", and for Machine King, "Mechanicalchaser", "Robotic Knight", and "Cyber Soldier".
  • Evolutionary Levels: Machine King - 3000 B.C.->Machine King Prototype->Machine King->Perfect Machine King
  • Homage: Perfect Machine King is based loosely on the personal trooper "Alteisen" from Super Robot Wars Compact 2. Perfect Machine King's stance is strongly similar to GaoGaiGar's ending sequence of Final Fusion. Due to its appearance in "Roll Out!", it is likely that "Perfect Machine King" is inspired by Optimus Prime.
  • Mechanical Lifeforms
  • Schizo-Tech/Time Abyss: Machine King - 3000 B.C.'s name suggests that the Machine King is over 5000 years old.

Magical

Marron the Dog

Mermail

  • Fusion Dance: Mermail - Gaioabyss seems to have been Xyz Summoned by using both Mermail - Megaloabyss and (oddly enough) Atlantean Dragon Poseidra. This is evident in that the lower half of this monster has the lower half of Poseidra, as well as Poseidra's Trident tail as the tip of its own Trident and their ATK and DEF points are the same. This card is also based off of the god Poseidon himself.
  • Our Mermaids Are Different
  • Zerg Rush: Level 3 "Mermail" monsters all share the same effect: when are sent to the Graveyard, they Special Summon another "Mermail", letting them swarm the field. The Level 4 "Mermail" monsters can activate their effects when they are Normal or Special Summoned, by discarding a Water monster from your Hand, which will trigger the effect of the previous monsters effects. The higher-level Mermails can Special Summon themselves with relative-ease by sending other "Mermails" to the Graveyard, which will also trigger their effects.

Mokey Mokey

Monarchs

Morphtronic

  • Dub Name Change: They are known as Deformers in the Japanese version
  • Homage: These cards may be based on the entire Transformers toyline that are still very popular. (Transformers have the ability to change from objects/animals/vehicles to humanoid robots and vice-versa.)
  • Mechanical Lifeforms: Despite their appearances, "Morphtronics" are not all Machine-Type monsters and they also represent a wide array of Attributes.
  • Transforming Mecha: They are depicted in how they "morph" when they change their Battle Position, which changes their effect and appearance (humanoid form in Attack Position; item form in Defense Position). They transform into small household items, like magnets and mobile phones.
  • Weak but Skilled: "Morphtronics" are low in Level and have low ATK and DEF but many have effects that can rapidly boost their collective power. Amassing enough collective power, "Morphtronics" can produce powerful OT Ks and strong defensive locks.

Ninja

Ojama

  • Butt Monkey: The "Ojamas" seem to be used as the butt of humor on several card illustrations, such as being hunted down on "Harpies' Hunting Ground", being tossed by "Man-Thro' Tro'", being used to practice boxing in "Ojamuscle" or flattened on "Power Filter".
  • Combination Attack/Kamehame Hadoken: Ojama Delta Hurricane, which is a parody of "Triangle Ecstasy Spark". Based off of that, It's safe to say that this card may be the reason Harpie Lady 1 was attacking the Ojama Trio in Harpies' Hunting Ground.
  • Fusion Dance: The design of "Ojama King" contains that of its three Fusion Materials: eyes of "Ojama Yellow", body & nose of "Ojama Black", and mouth of "Ojama Green". The design also includes the same clothing that the Fusion Materials wear.
  • Geo Effects: Ojama Country can summon Ojamas from the grave, which indicates that they become determined to beat their opponents when they're near their home field. The ATK and DEF switching is because everyone except the Ojamas are confused by the strangeness of Ojama Country.
  • Homage: Ojama Red's effect may be a homage to the Super Sentai series of television shows, as the Red Ranger is always the leader of the team.
  • Knight in Shining Armor: Ojama Knight
  • Lethal Joke Character: As if Ojama Delta Hurricane!, which obliterates your opponent's hand and field but requires the three Ojama brothers as an activation condition, weren't enough, the more recent additions to the family, Red and Blue, can mass-summon fellow Ojamas from the hand and tutor Ojama cards from the deck respectively. Last but not least, Ojama Country can summon Ojamas from the grave and flips the attack and defense of all monsters on the field. Run with Ojama King and other Stone Wall monsters and...
  • Meaningful Name: "Ojamashimasu" is a Japanese phrase roughly translating as "pardon me for interrupting/intruding". It's why the flavor text on the card mentions the Ojamas always butt in on things, and why their stronger cards fill up the opponent's Monster Zones.
  • Stone Wall: Ojama King has 3000 defense, and Ojama Knight trails just after it with 2500.
  • Underwear of Power

Parshath

Petit Dragon/Darkfire Dragon/Five-Headed Dragon

Princesses

Rose

  • Authority Equals Asskicking: Queen Angel of Roses. She can destroy a monster with the weakest ATK. This indicates that she's so strong, the weak simply fall against her.
  • Black Knight: Twilight Rose Knight. It can prevent Plant-Type monsters from being attacked and can summon another Plant-Type to the field upon being Normal Summoned. The first effect is Twilight Rose Knight showing his loyalty to the Rose clan. The second effect is Twilight Rose Knight calling another member of the Rose clan to the field.
  • Black Magician Girl: Witch of the Black Rose.
  • Evil Counterpart: "Earthbound Immortal Ccarayhua" is the antithesis to this card; "Black Rose Dragon" destroys all cards on the field when it's summoned, where as "Ccarayhua" destroys all cards on the field when it's destroyed. Also Misty Tredwell (Ccarayhua's user) was Akiza's nemesis at one point.
  • Fallen Angel: Fallen Angel of Roses and Rosaria the Stately Fallen Angel. Rosaria could be based on the fallen arch-angel "Lucifer", as he is commonly depicted as having angel wings on one side and black wings on the other side.
  • Fiery Redhead: Rose the Warrior of Revenge, is so passionate on the battlefield, she has the fire element and deals extra damage to her foes.
  • The Hedge of Thorns: Black Garden
  • Homage: Splendid Rose's black and green costume, its halving effect and drop kick attack are similar to Kamen Rider Double, particularly Double's "CycloneJoker]" form. This is made evident by the fact that the '"CycloneJoker]" form embodies both a "Trickster" style, as seen by the first effect of this card, and a "Wind" style, seen by the second effect of this card allowing it to attack twice, similar to the monsters of the Element archetype's WIND attribute effects.
  • Our Angels Are Different: Fallen Angel of Roses, Rosaria the Stately Fallen Angel and Queen Angel of Roses
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Black Rose Dragon and Blue Rose Dragon
  • Planimal: Bird of Roses. Its effect calls two Plant-Type Tuners when it dies. This effect is the Bird of Roses using a death call to bolster the Rose army forces.
  • Petal Power
  • Plant People: Rose Witch, Splendid Rose, Fallen Angel of Roses and Queen Angel of Roses
  • Something About a Rose
  • Weak but Skilled: Black Rose Dragon has the lowest combined ATK and DEF out of all Signer Dragon. Ironically, its effect is one of the most powerful, effective and easily to use
  • Zerg Rush: Many of these cards are geared towards Plant-Type support and have a variety of effects ranging from swarming the field to Synchro Summoning easily.

Scrap

  • Awesome Yet Practical: Scrap Dragon; it's one of the two Synchros of this archetype with no summoning restrictions, high attack and a beneficial effect, making it one of the most splashable Synchros in the game.
  • Dishing Out Dirt
  • Mechanical Lifeforms: Scraps are so mechanical in appearance yet only four members are Machine-type.
  • Made of Explodium: This is their main gimmick; many of their effects will activate upon their self-destruction.
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Scrap Dragon, Scrap Twin Dragon and Atomic Scrap Dragon.
  • Theme Naming: Scrapyards, no less.

Six Samurai

  • Animated Armor: Shinai sacrificed himself to save a comrade, his spirit possessing his armor as Spirit of the Six Samurai.
  • Artifact Title: There are six who have the Legendary Six Samurai title, and six bearing the Six Samurai title. However, there are also six cards that represent older versions of the Legendary Six Samurai, and handful of other support monsters.
  • Badass Decay: The members of the Legendary Six Samurai sub-type, who are generally more powerful than the original Six Samurai, are younger versions of support cards to the originals.
    • Took a Level in Badass: Yes, they fulfill both tropes. While in the story the Legendary Six Samurai obviously grew older and lost power to act as supporters to the second generation, the Legendary Six Samurai cards came out many years after their older counterparts.
  • Badass Grandpa: Grandmaster of the Six Samurai
  • The Chick: Mizuho is the only female Six Samurai.
  • Color Coded for Your Convenience
  • Cool vs. Awesome: "Blind Spot Strike" seems to suggest the Six Samurai are rivals of the Ninja archetype.
    • Truth in Television: Samurai were honorable and noble swordsmen. Ninja were shady covert assassins. Naturally, they didn't really get along.
  • Eye Scream/Eye Beam: Kizan lost an eye sometime before becoming the Grandmaster of the Six Samurai. He had it replaced with a bionic eye that fires lasers, as seen in Cunning of the Six Samurai.
  • Laser Blade: Several of the members wield them.
  • Love Triangle: Seems to be one between Shinai, Mizuho and Shien. Shinai and Mizuho are wearing necklaces with bands the color of the other's armor, while Shinai and Shien are the only members of the Legendary Six Samurai to wear the clan crest on their helmets. Shinai died, leaving Shien to become the shogun.
  • Magitek: Caries a vibe -- it's hard to tell if their Laser Blades and Tron Lines are due to technology, magic, or both.
  • The Magnificent Seven Samurai: The base six with Great Shogun Shien.
  • Multi-Armed and Dangerous: Kageki
  • Retired Badass: As mentioned, it turns out from the Legendary Six Samurai series that the support cards to the original clan were once Six Samurai themselves. You can see their old armor hung up in their card art.
  • The Rival: Kizan and Enishi, who are seen fighting in Gozen Match and Shien's Dojo. Enishi presumably prevailed, being appointed Shien's chancellor when he became shogun.
  • Samurai: Duh.
  • The Seventh Ranger: Kagemusha of the Six Samurai and Shien's Daredevil. Kagemusha is implied to be a body double for Yariza and not actually a member of the group. When he got older, he became Shadow of the Six Samurai - Shien.
    • Call Back: The card appears to be an armored version of Kagemusha of the Blue Flame, a card so old it was played in the very first episode of the anime. Wow.
  • Sigil Spam: The glyph of the Six Samurai clan is all over their support cards.
  • Taking the Bullet: The original Six Samurai share an effect that let you destroy a different Six Samurai than the one that is about to be. This indicates their loyalty and friendship to one another.
  • Tron Lines
  • Weapon of Choice: Obviously katanas are the predominant ones, but other weapons such as scythes, bows or clubs pop up.

Skull Servant

  • Asskicking Equals Authority: In the artwork for King of Skull Servants, he is shown on top of a pile of Skull Servants, which indicates that he beaten them in combat for the title. Also, he gains more power when there are Skull Servants in the graveyard.
  • Atop a Mountain of Corpses: King of Skull Servants after beating the other Skull Servants for the title. It indicates that King of Skull Servants deserves the title.
  • Back from the Dead: Tri-Wight, which shows three Skull Servants crawling out of the grave to fight again. It is supposed to show that death is not a permanent thing for them.
  • Dem Bones
  • Dub Name Change: Wight->Skull Servant
  • Fusion Dance: Skull Servant with Dissolverock becomes Flame Ghost and Skull Servant with Battle Warrior becomes Zombie Warrior.
  • Spot of Tea: Wightmare is shown drinking it in his art.
  • Joke Character: Skull Servant
  • Lethal Joke Character: King of the Skull Servants's original attack can reach up to 11000 by using 2 copies of "King of the Skull Servants", 3 copies of "Skull Servant", 3 copies of "The Lady in Wight", and 3 copies of "Wightmare".
  • Our Wights Are Different
  • Playing with Fire: Flame Ghost
  • Woman in Black: Lady in Wight
  • Pun
    • Wightmare->Nightmare
    • Lady in Wight->Lady in White
    • Tri-Wight Zone->Twilight Zone

Sphinx

  • Bilingual Bonus:
    • Hieraco comes from the Name "Heiera". It is Greek and translates into hawk.
    • The first part of Criosphinx's name, "Crios", is Greek, and roughly translates to "male goat".
    • "Andro-" is the Greek root for man or masculine, showing that Andro Sphinx is the masculine form of the two sphinxes.
  • Chained by Fashion: Sphinx Teleia
  • Dishing Out Dirt: Criosphinx, Exxod, Guardian Sphinx and Hieracosphinx.
  • Fusion Dance: Theinen the Great Sphinx is a fusion of Sphinx Teleia and Andro Sphinx.
  • Light the Way: "Andro Sphinx", "Sphinx Teleia" and "Theinen the Great Sphinx"
  • Mix-and-Match Critters:
    • Criosphinx is Half Goat and Half Lion.
    • Hieracosphinx is Half-Bird and Half-Lion.
    • Andro Sphinx and Sphinx Teleia are part Human and part Lion.
  • Our Centaurs Are Different: Theinen the Great Sphinx and Criossphinx.
  • Panthera Awesome
  • Riddle of the Sphinx: The cards of "Traveller's Ordeal" and "Sphinx Teleia" are said to be based off this.
  • Living Statue: Guardian Sphinx
  • The Sphinx: Their main theme.
  • Stone Wall: Exxod, Master of The Guard and Guardian Sphinx

Tempest Magician

  • Black Magic
  • Casting a Shadow: Night End's Sorcerer and Tempest Magician
  • Fusion Dance: Tempest Magician is a fusion between Night End's Sorcerer and Magical Exemplar, which is similar to the Soul Resonance between Soul and Maka in Soul Eater. It happens because Night End's Sorcerer and Magical Exemplar combined levels are 6 and Tempest Magician is Level 6.
  • Homage: Night End's Sorcerer bears a strong resemblance to 2 characters from the Nippon Nichi game series. Laharl from Disgaea: Hour of Darkness and Gig from Soul Nomad and The World Eaters. He also bares a slight resemblance to the character Maka Albarn from the anime Soul Eater.
  • Little Bit Beastly: Night End's Sorcerer is partially rabbit-like in appearance.
  • Sinister Scythe: Wielded by Night End's Sorcerer and Tempest Magician.
  • You Require More Vespene Gas: Spell Counters are needed for her effect, which basically drains life energy away from her opponent.

Toons

  • Actually Four Mooks: Toon Goblin Attack Force
  • Awesome but Impractical: They can attack a player's life points directly and count as Special Summons so the player can call out more than one each turn. AWESOME! Save for one, they have to wait an entire turn to do so and many of them require Toon World to be in play and die when it's destroyed. Impractical.
  • Cast from Hit Points: The Class 'A' Toons require the player to pay 500 life points to attack.
  • Casting a Shadow: Toon Summoned Skull, Toon Dark Magician Girl, Toon Masked Sorceror and Toon Cannon Soldier are all DARK monsters.
  • Cloudcuckooland/Cloudcuckoolander: Toon World and the Toon Monsters.
  • Femme Fatale: Toon Gemini Elf
  • Joke Characters: Seems to be deliberately invoked.
  • Magical Girl: Toon Dark Magician Girl.
  • Shock and Awe: Toon Summoned Skull.
  • Super-Deformed: With the exception of Toon Alligator, all Toon monsters are deformed counterparts of pre-existing Yu-Gi-Oh monsters.
  • The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: This is literally the case if both players control a Toon monster and a player attacks with one. Your attacks must target the opposing Toon.
  • Toon Physics: On the show, the Toons invoke this to avoid attacks. In the game, Toon Defense can do this, but only for Level 4 Toon monsters.
  • Weaksauce Weakness: Toon World. Necessary for Toons to do what they have to do, but the fact that they die when this does makes it seem like a big bullseye on your side of the field.

Tour Guide From the Underworld

  • Afterlife Express: Tour Bus From the Underworld.
  • Cute Little Fangs
  • Cute Monster Girl
  • Expressive Hat: The skull on her hat seems to be this.
  • Me's a Crowd: Her effect can be this if you use her to summon another copy or a Tour Bus From the Underworld.
  • Nerf: An indirect one, of sorts. Because of a previous ruling that XYZ materials sent to the Graveyard are considered to have gone from field to Graveyard, this made Tour Guide's effect horrifically broken, as it guaranteed Sangan's effect. Now that that ruling's been changed, this card is no longer broken (but still good).
  • Non-Human Sidekick: Sangan is seen as this by players of the game before the nerf. Lampshaded with Sangan actually appearing on the Tour Bus From the Underworld card.
  • Red Eyes, Take Warning: She is a tour guide from the underworld, after all.
  • Skeletons in the Coat Closet: Her hat, dress and purse are adorned with skull brooches.

Umi

  • Abnormal Ammo: Cannonball Spear Shellfish and Torpedo Fish are used as ammo for Orca Mega-Fortress of Darkness's cannons
  • Anti-Magic:
    • As long as "Umi" is face-up on the field, Deepsea Warrior, Cannonball Spear Shellfish, Torpedo Fish and Legendary Fisherman unaffected by any Spell Cards.
    • When Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord is on the field, all face-up Level 3 or lower WATER monsters you control cannot be destroyed by battle or by card effects.
    • Codarus, Levia-Dragon - Daedalus and Ocean Dragon Lord - Neo-Daedalus can destroy cards on the field if Umi is sacrificed.
  • Atlantis: A Legendary Ocean. In fact, it was called Legendary City of Atlantis in the OCG.
  • Fish People: Deepsea Warrior and Warrior of Atlantis
  • Geo Effects: All of these monsters specialize in getting stronger when Umi is played. Maiden of the Aqua basically turns the field into Umi.
  • Hydra Problem: Ocean Dragon Lord - Neo-Daedalus was based off the Hydra from Greek mythology; considering the origin of its name and the the fact it was two heads.
  • Making a Splash
  • Meaningful Name: Levia-Dragon - Daedalus is named after Daedalus. In Greek mythology, Daedalus was the father of Icarus and Iapyx, and is said to have designed the labyrinth in which the Minotaur was kept.
  • Our Dragons Are Different: Codarus, Levia-Dragon - Daedalus and Ocean Dragon Lord - Neo-Daedalus.
  • Our Mermaids Are Different: Mermaid Knight
  • Prongs of Poseidon: Maiden of the Aqua and Deepsea Warrior
  • Took a Level in Badass: Amphibious Bugroth MK-3 is one for Amphibious Bugroth. Amphibious Bugroth is an unremarkable fusion monster while Amphibious Bugroth MK-3 can directly attack when Umi is on the field.

Vehicroid

  • Anti-Magic: Armoroid, Carrierroid and Stealthroid’s effects
  • Arm Cannon: UFOroid Fighter
  • Back from the Dead: You can do a nice combo by combining Ambulanceroid's and Rescueroid's effects. After a Vehicroid monster has been destroyed, like "UF Oroid", you can use Rescueroid's effect to send it back to your hand, and then use Ambulanceroid's effect to summon it back. It may also be done with multiple Rescueroid's and Ambulanceroid's. This combo becomes even better if you combine it with Cyber Summon Blaster. Their combined form, Ambulance Rescueroid, also can do this.
  • Cannibalism Superpower: Truckroid’s effect.
  • Combining Mecha/Fusion Dance: Ambulance Rescueroid, Barbaroid, Steam Gyroid, Super Vehicroid - Stealth Union, Super Vehicroid Jumbo Drill and UFOroid Fighter
  • Cool Plane: Stealthroid
  • Cool Train: Expressroid
  • Cute Machines
  • Death From Above: Implied with Shuttleroid’s effect. It flies into outer space to avoid an attack, and then it crashes with a massive impact.
  • Expy: It could be argued that this is GX's equivalent to "Dark Flare Knight" or "Black Skull Dragon" because it is the Fusion Monster of the main characters' cards, ("Elemental HERO Tempest" according to the anime,) and his best friend's card ("UF Oroid".)
  • Flying Saucer: UFOroid
  • Homage: his card is a direct tribute to GaoGaiGar, from the 1997 Sunrise anime, The King of Braves GaoGaiGar. Namely, it bears more resemblance to Gao Figh Gar, a variation on the original GaoGaiGar mecha, which appeared in the 2000 sequel OVA, The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL. On top of looking practically identical, the component machines are strikingly similar: Gao Figh Gar is a combination of a specialized phantom fighter, a stealth fighter, a multistage rocket, and twin drill tanks; whereas the original Gaogaigar is composed of a similar stealth fighter and drill tank, but with a bullet train replacing the rocket in the combination, and a lion-robot.
    This is more obvious in the anime, when once joined with a monster the "absorbed" monster's head is placed on the chest of this card, and this card's design alters to gain several more of the traits normally associated with GaoGaiGar (such as squared lower legs, thicker upper arms/legs, and prongs on either side of the head). The short sequence where the monster is being summoned even bears a resemblance to the Final Fusion sequence. The ideal fourth Machine for the homage is "Jetroid" rather than "Truckroid", as this would cause the result to be near-perfectly identical Gao Figh Gar.
  • Steam Never Dies: Steamroid
  • This Is a Drill: Drillroid and Super Vehicroid Jumbo Drill.
  • We Need a Distraction: Decoyroid’s effect may come from the fact that RC vehicles are generally used to distract people in movies.
  • Winged Humanoid: UFOroid Fighter

Venom

  • Reptile Sacrifice: Offerings to the Snake Deity. While it can be used on any Reptile monster, it was specifically designed to bring out Venominaga, since Rise of the Snake Deity can't be used when Venominon is destroyed in battle.
  • Instant Win Condition: You win of Venominaga gets 3 Hyper-Venom counters on her, which she gets by doing direct damage.
  • Nigh Invulnerability: Venominaga is immune to all monster effects, spells and traps! And even if you destroy her in battle, she can use her ability to revive herself.
  • Reptiles Are Abhorrent
  • Stone Wall: Venom Cobra
  • Snake People: Venominaga and Venominon.
  • Swamps Are Evil / Death World: Venom Swamp, which slowly kills all non-Venom monsters!

Warrior Dai Grepher/Dark Lucius

Warrior Lady of the Wasteland/DD Warrior Lady

Warrior of Zera/Archlord Zerato/Darklord Zerato/Mazera Deville/Zera the Mant

Watt

  • Armor-Piercing Attack/One-Hit Kill: Wattmole's effect, which is basically Wattmole seeing the unseen and destroying it in a flash.
  • Barrier Warrior: Wattkiwi is annoying because it prevents Watt monsters from being destroyed in battle if they are attacking. This effect is basically Wattkiwi giving the other Watt creatures protection in combat.
  • Everything's Better with Monkeys: Wattlemur. He has the ability to end the Battle Phase when he dies. This effect is basically Wattlemur paralyzing the rest of the opposing side.
  • Feathered Fiend: Wattkiwi and Wattpheasant are annoying because of their effects. Wattpheasant can send an opponent's monster to the Different Dimension until the end of the turn.
  • Flying Seafood Special: Wattberyx and Wattbetta both look like fish (not in type) and both have the effect of discarding cards from your opponent's hand. They are trying to make the opponent waste their resources more quickly.
  • Homage: Wattmole bears a strong appearance to Gurren-Lagann's Boota and its sunglasses are similar to those worn by Kamina from the same show.
  • Mix-and-Match Critters: Wattchimera. It can send a card from an opponent's hand back into the deck. This effect is basically Wattchimera making the opponent's resources harder to access.
  • Mechanical Lifeforms
  • Never Smile At a Crocodile/Hydra Hybrid Monster: Watthydra. It can directly attack. If it does that, it can help the player retrieve a card from his/her deck. This effect means that Watthydra can retrieve resources at a very slow rate.
  • Dub Name Change: Elec (OCG) -> Watt (TCG)
  • Kitsune: Wattfox, who was named Elekitsune in the OCG. It has an effect that can lock down an opponent's field when it dies. Basically, it has connected itself into the opponent's resources, so when it goes, the resources go with it.
  • Shock and Awe: They fit with this trope so well, the cards all have classified them under the Thunder type.
  • Weak but Skilled

White Nights

Wind-Up

  • Badass Adorable
  • Cool Ship: Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity resembles an aircraft carrier and is used to store the flying Wind-Up Mooks such as Wind-Up Bat.
  • Cool Tank: Wind-Up Zenmaines can be seen as a land war vehicle, probably a tank, seeing it's large bulking lower body similar to Granel.
  • Cool Plane: Wind-Up Zenmaister is an aerial war vehicle, seeing as there are jet wings coming off its shoulders.
  • Crazy Prepared: "Wind-Up Factory", "Zenmaity", and "Honeybee" can provide you with single-use monsters to address any situation. You can toolbox "Soldier" to kill low-Level beatsticks, "Juggler" to break walls, "Kitten" to deal with Extra Deck monsters and defuse Flip Effects, "Rat" to produce Rank 3 Xyzs, "Rabbit" for reuse and deflection, or "Knight" for defense.
  • Fusion Dance: Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh, Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity, Wind-Up Zenmaines and Wind-Up Zenmaister.
  • Meaningful Name/Wind Up Key: An actual wind-up toy is wound up (Summoning it), doing what the toy was made to do (activating the effect), then is completed (effect can only activate once). Returning to hand or flipping it face-down and back up signifies "winding-up" the monster.
  • Mechanical Lifeforms: They are so lifelike, the only Machine-Type monsters in this archetype are the Xyz Monsters and "Wind-Up Bat".
  • Zerg Rush:
    • Some "Wind-Up" Decks swarm low-ATK monsters by looping "Wind-Up Rat" to produce multiple "Zenmaity". This can be used alongside "Wind-Up Magician" to create OT Ks.
    • Another way to OTK is by using "Zenmairch" alongside "Zenmailstrom", and utilizing "Soldier" and "Knight". Having both "Soldier" and "Knight" on the field, along with activatable "Zenmairch" and "Zenmailstrom" on the field is needed, together with either another Knight or Soldier in the hand. The combination lands for at least 9000 damage, but 9400 with an activated Soldier.
  1. ↑ unless you count Mystical Shine Ball
  2. ↑ you discard a monster for its cost to destroy all monsters weaker than that discarded monster
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