HERO Deck List and Card Guide

HERO is an Aggro deck in Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel. Check out the core deck list, key combos, how to play & beat as well as F2P or budget options!

HERO Deck List

Main Deck: 42 cards
x3	x3	x3	x3	x2
x2	x2	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x3	x3	x2	x2	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
Extra Deck: 15 cards
x2	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	-

HERO Breakdown

Tier Evaluation

Tier Ranking
Tier 1
Deck Archetype		Deck Difficulty
Aggro		Medium
Deck Evaluation
Combines the various HERO subarchetypes: Elemental, Destiny, Vision, Masked, Xtra Features a plethora of powerful Fusion Monsters, some of which do not need Polymerization With certain HERO boss monsters, it can also be a defensive Deck that's hard to respond against

HERO Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

Destiny HERO, Elemental HERO, Evil HERO and Vision HEROes are subarchetypes that can stand on their own as their respective Decks, but they can have their best parts taken and combined into a cohesive Deck that pushes all of their strengths.

A HERO Deck is basically the combination of its subarchetypes into one cohesive Deck, using all of their advantages and condensing it into 40 cards. They are the iconic Fusion-based archetype, having a Fusion Monster for just about any situation, and can even bring them out on the opponent's turn as forms of disruption.

Combo Starters

With the sheer amount of monsters within the HERO archetypes, mixing and matching is very much encouraged. Take advantage of their various effects as well, especially cards in specific subarchetypes that also benefit other HERO subarchetypes as well. These five monsters (Destiny HERO - Malicious, Elemental HERO Shadow Mist, Elemental HERO Stratos, Evil HERO Adusted Gold, Vision HERO Varis) are pretty much staples in different variations in HERO Decks.

DPE Engine

With Fusion Destiny reinstated to its Semi-Limited status, the [Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer] Engine has made somewhat of a comeback. While it has lost its card advantage consistency due to [Destiny HERO - Celestial] being banned from the game, going into Verte Anaconda to bring out Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer remains simple as ever.

Replacing Celestial is Destiny HERO - Denier, which can be used to cheat out a card like Destiny HERO - Plasma to the top of the Deck, making it your next Draw.

Key Spell Cards

The Spell Cards are as much of an important key aspect in a HERO Deck as the Monsters are, especially as they are crucial in getting the Monsters out on the field. If you can afford to half your Life Points, A Hero Lives lets you Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Elemental HERO monster straight from the Deck--and the card does not have a once-per-turn clause.

As for Fusion Monsters, these key Spell Cards are all crucial in bringing out the Fusion Monsters, which are very important and are the core strength of any HERO Deck. Fusion Destiny, Mask Change and Miracle Fusion are the signature Fusion Spell Cards that brings out the boss monsters; Super Polymerization acts as a hand trap that the opponent cannot respond with because of how its effect is worded.

Key Extra Deck Monsters

At the end of a combo, the ideal end is to have multiple Fusion HERO monsters on the field, all with powerful effects. They provide both spectrums of playstyles--from controlling the pace of the game and denying plays, to having monsters with impressive ATK to win the game with aggression.

Boss Monsters like Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, Masked HERO Dark Law and Elemental HERO Absolute Zero forces the opponent to be careful with their next few steps in dealing with them.

Meanwhile, monsters like Evil HERO Malicious Bane, Vision HERO Trinity and Elemental HERO Sunrise encourages the player to go all in as much as possible, either with added ATK or providing one more Fusion to do.

Core Combos and Interactions

Dark Law and Honest Neos

An easy combo that can set up other plays down Duel, this card brings out Masked HERO Dark Law very easily, and adds a copy of Elemental HERO Honest Neos to the hand in the case of a needed ATK Boost.

Card(s) Needed
1	Special Summon Vision HERO Faris by discarding Elemental HERO Shadow Mist.
2	The second effect of Vision HERO Faris triggers upon being Special Summoned; place Vision HERO Increase from your Deck to one of the Spell/Trap Zones face-up, acting as a Continuous Trap.
3	Activate Elemental HERO Shadow Mist from the GY, and search out a copy of Elemental HERO Honest Neos to add to your hand.
4	On your discretion, activate Mask Change from the hand, use Vision HERO Faris on the field as material, and Special Summon Masked HERO Dark Law.

Vision HERO Trinity Combo

Arguably, Vision HERO Trinity is one of the strongest monsters to Fusion Summon should this Deck go second. This combo provides a good way to bring the Fusion Monster out easily, but can be altered to provide combo coverage to other Fusion Monsters if need be.

Card(s) Needed
1	Normal Summon Elemental HERO Stratos, activate its effect upon being Normal Summoned, and search out a copy of Vision HERO Faris from the Deck to add to your hand.
2	Special Summon Vision HERO Faris by discarding Destiny HERO - Malicious; the second effect of Vision HERO Faris triggers upon being Special Summoned; place Vision HERO Increase from your Deck to one of the Spell/Trap Zones face-up, acting as a Continuous Trap.
3	Activate the effect of Vision HERO Increase as a Continuous Trap; tribute Vision HERO Faris, and Special Summon itself from the Spell/Trap Zone.
4	Upon being Special Summoned, activate the second effect of Vision HERO Increase, and Special Summon Vision HERO Vyon from the Deck.
5	After being Special Summoned, activate the second effect of Vision HERO Vyon, and send Destiny HERO - Plasma from the Deck to the Graveyard.
6	Activate the third effect of Vision HERO Vyon, banish Vision HERO Faris from the Graveyard, to search out a copy of Polymerization from the Deck.
7	Using Vision HERO Vyon and Vision HERO Increase on the field as materials, Link Summon Xtra HERO Cross Crusader.
8	Upon being Link Summoned, activate the effect of Xtra HERO Cross Crusader, and Special Summon the Destiny HERO - Malicious that was in the Graveyard earlier.
9	Activate the second effect of Xtra HERO Cross Crusader, tribute Destiny HERO - Malicious, and search out Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier.
10	Activate the effect of Destiny HERO - Malicious from the GY; banish it, and Special Summon another Destiny HERO - Malicious from the Deck.
11	Activate Polymerization, use Xtra HERO Cross Crusader, Destiny HERO - Malicious and Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier from the hand as Fusion Materials, and Fusion Summon Vision HERO Trinity.
12	Upon being Fusion Summoned, Vision HERO Trinity's ATK will be doubled for the rest of the turn.

Boss Monsters

	Masked HERO Dark Law
	Masked HERO Dark Law is one of the most important monsters in the Deck, as this card denies the opponent the Graveyard as all cards sent there are Banished instead, so long as this card is on the field face-up. This Fusion Monster can come out at the worst times for the opponent, thanks to the Quick-Spell nature of Mask Change.
	Evil HERO Malicious Bane
	As it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effect, Evil HERO Malicious Bane is a threat to the opponent so long as it's on the field. It also has a field-clearing effect that destroys the opponent's monsters with ATK less than this card's, and an ATK boost on top of this effect based on the number of monsters destroyed.
	Vision HERO Adoration
	One of the easier Fusion Monsters to summon in this Deck Recipe, Vision HERO Adoration simply needs any two HERO monsters as Fusion Materials. It also has a powerful effect of targeting one monster the opponent controls and making it lose ATK and DEF based on the ATK of another targeted monster you control.
	Vision HERO Trinity
	All this card needs is any three HERO monsters, regardless of subarchetypes, as Fusion Material. While Vision HERO Trinity cannot attack the opponent directly at all, this card is often used for OTK attempts, especially when this Deck goes second due to its effect of having its ATK doubled for one turn as soon as this card is Fusion Summoned.
	Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer
	One of the most iconic Destiny HERO monsters because of its splashability in the early days of Master Duel, Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer can be cheated out on the field with Fusion Destiny, and is often the last monster to be Fusion Summoned in a HERO combo. Its abiliy to destroy cards and revive itself when destroyed makes this card nearly impossible to stop unless the player has certain key cards.

Budget HERO: F2P Friendly

Lower Rarity Replacements

SR/UR		Replacements
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Called by the Grave is currently one of the best counters to the usual handtraps, like Maxx C and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. For a more unorthodox counter, consider running Prohibition as it blocks the opponent from using a specifically declared card so longg as it remains face-up on the field. Another way to neutralize hand traps is to take them out of their hands, with cards like Exchange.

	→

For HEROes to be at their full power, key cards must always be at their reach. Having extra draw power is always a handy advantage, and Pot of Prosperity is one of the best cards to do it. However, the drawbacks of it might prove to be detrimental as it banishes 3 or 6 monsters from the Extra Deck face-down.

If you want extra draw power without having to reduce your options from the Extra Deck, consider running Pot of Avarice, which has no once-per-turn effect clause and recycles monsters from the Graveyard back to the Deck. Another option would be to have Destiny Draw, which can work consdering this Deck does have a few Destiny HERO monsters incorporated.

	→

Fusion Destiny is needed to bring out Destiny HERO - Dystopia with ease, but in the off-chance you want Fusion Summon more while having it as a contingency plan, you can reduce the number of copies to one, and add in one copy of Parallel World Fusion, which can act as a last-resort Fusion Summon using banished monsters as Fusion Material for a Elemental HERO monster.

	→

Masked HERO Dark Law is a very important card for the Deck to deny the opponent using the Graveyard as a secondary resource pool. As long as that monster remains active and face-up on the field, all cards meant to be sent to the Graveyard gets banished instead. If you want its effect without having to summon Dark Law, you can reduce having two copies to one to replace it with a Fusion Monster of your choosing, as the ever-popular Dimensional Fissure amd Macro Cosmos will work well in its stead.

	→

Aside from the ATK boost, Elemental HERO Sunrise provides as way to search out the lone copy of Miracle Fusion in the Deck, and can destroy cards on the field whenever a fellow HERO monster attacks. Depending on preference, you can swap out Sunrise for a different HERO Fusion monster in Destiny HERO - Dangerous, which provides an ATK boost for other Destiny HERO monsters, and can be used as fodder for Mask Change to bring out Masked HERO Dark Law. Some variants of HERO Decks even run both Sunrise and Dangerous together.

There are also a couple of honorary mentions that can work with HERO Decks. Elemental HERO Solid Soldier should fit right in for its ability to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower HERO monster from the GY. Another option is the Neos Engine, which should have no problem mixing well, with Elemental HERO Neos and Neos Fusion providing another Fusion Monster powerhouse in the form of Elemental HERO Neos Knight.

Other Extra Deck options to consider include Number 39: Utopia and its other variants, especially ones that can Rank Up this monster like Number S39: Utopia the Lightning. As for Link Monsters, a good beatstick to consider is Black Luster Soldier - Soldier of Chaos which has effects to choose from whenever it destroys a monster by battle.

HERO Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against HERO

Drytron Fairy

Drytron decks are loaded with numerous ways to negate and disrupt a HERO Deck's combo, between Herald of Orange Light, Herald of Ultimateness and Drytron Meteonis Draconids all having Quick Effects. HERO Deck users should try to get the offensive first before Drytrons, otherwise the Ritual-based Deck will win out the games more.

Drytron Fairy Deck List and Card Guide

Branded Despia

Probably the strongest Fusion-centric Deck in the current meta, Branded Despia Decks have some of the strongest combos when it comes to Fusion Monsters, and they seem to have an out for everything. They can even end up using your own HERO Fusion Monsters as material; players take caution!

Branded Fusion Decks
Branded Tri-Brigade	Branded Despia
Branded Cyber Dragon	Branded Zombies
Branded Ishizu	Branded Dragonmaids

Runick

Runick Decks prevent Decks that do not benefit from having their cards be banished from the game to actually play the game. Their goal is to Deck out the opponent and deprive as many resources as they can. Going first against this Deck will prove to be advantageous, but that's stil one of many things that this Deck will have to go through to win.

Runick Deck Lists
Pure Runick	Spright Runick
Ishizu Runick	Naturia Runick

Sprights

In the current meta, Spright Decks have one of the toughest fields to break once they complete their combo. Negates that affect both Spell/Trap and Monster effects are troublesome, and can also surprise the opponent with low-level monsters boosted to suprising ATK levels.

Spright Deck Lists
Pure		Runick		Evil★Twin
Tri-Brigade		Melffy		Gishki

Best Cards to Tech Against HERO

	Thunder King Rai-Oh
	This one monster card stops pretty much all search effects so long as this card is face-up on the field; something that HERO decks heavily need to get the necessary cards out as soon as possible. Thunder King Rai-Oh can also cancel out a Special Summon of a monster, negating it and destroying it afterwards.
	Nibiru, the Primal Being
	HERO Decks can go beyond five Summons in a single turn, especially when they try to look to win the game or even go for an OTK. Nibiru, the Primal Being is an instant board clear for the monsters, and even the token it summons with ridiculous stats can be mitigated afterwards. Just be careful for specific Fusion Monsters whose effects trigger when they leave the field.
	Summon Limit
	Summon Limit counts both Normal and Special Summons alike, limiting the options of a HERO Deck both in early game and late-game plays so long as this Continuous Trap remains face-up and active on the field. Just remember that you will also have to follow the Summon restrictions as well.
	Dimensional Barrier
	When Dimensional Barrier is activated, it outright prevents both players from Summoning a specific monster card type, between Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz or Pendulum monsters. On top of that, monster cards on the field that were the declared monster type have their effects negated for the rest of the turn.
	Imperial Order
	Spell Cards are so important for a HERO Deck, more often than not they do not run any Trap Cards in hand. Imperial Order cripples a HERO Deck's ability to conduct a Fusion Summon, among other beneficial effects, forcing the player to resort to monster effects for a mirmacle play.
	Dark Ruler No More
	Some of the HERO monsters have lingering effects as they remain face-up on the field. Dark Ruler No More neutralizes on-field monster effects like the pesky ones on Masked HERO Dark Law and Elemental HERO Sunrise, which can completely offset the cost of not being able to deal any damage the turn this card is activated.
	Interrupted Kaiju Slumber
	Another field-clearing spell, Interrupted Kaiju Slumber forces HERO Decks to level the playing field by destroying all of their monsters, before replacing them with a single Kaiju monster. While you have to be careful with effects that trigger once certain monsters leave the field, this card can seriously mess up their game plan.

Related Packs to HERO

Dragon Kings from the Abyss	Dragon Luster
Dragon Luster	Inevitability of Chaos
Legacy Pack	Master Pack
Revival of Legends	Shot Through Fiction
Space-Time Transcendents	The Cerise in the Ebony
The First Heroes

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Related Guides

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Deck Archetypes

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Decks

Deck Tier List: Best Decks for Season 35

List of All Covered Decks

World Champion Decks

2024 World Champions: Team 7
Horus Tearlaments	Yubel	Fire King Snake-Eyes
Salamangreat	Purrely	Vanquish Soul

Decks Used in Worlds 2024

Decks Used By All Teams in Worlds 2024
snipehunters	CER	Hero's Future
BOTB	MYYGO	Thank Love
CER 2 x FCG	BRAZ IL	Maxx “Yee”
Double Noir	Rogue Ruler

Aggro Decks

List of All Aggro Decks
D/D/D Aggro	Code Talker / Prank Kids	Zoodiac
Blue-Eyes	Virtual World	SPYRAL Control
Toon Kingdom	Red-Eyes	Blue-Eyes
Zoodiac	Prank-Kids	Zoodiac Tri-Brigade
Pure Tri-Brigade	Ancient Gear	Dragonmaid
Tri-Brigade Lyrilusc (Bird Up)	Dinosaur	Raidraptor
HERO	Dragon Link	Despia
Magikey	Adamancipator	Black Luster Soldier
Pendulum Magician	Stardust Dragon	Tenyi Swordsoul
Cyberdark	@Ignister	Cyber Dragon
The Winged Dragon of Ra	Despian Predaplant	Despia Darklord
Odd-Eyes Performapal	Numeron FTK	Six Samurai
ABC	Trickstar Windwitch	Blackwings
Fluffal	Cupid Pitch Turbo	Lunalight
Vampire	Ultra Athletes	Thunder Dragon
Z-ARC Pendulum Magician	Adventurer Rose Dragon Tenyi	Adventurer P.U.N.K.
Suship	Pure D/D/D	Numeron Egyptian Gods
Galaxy Eyes OTK	Borrelend Dragon Link	Vaylantz
Beetrooper	Icejade Ra	Therion ABC
Libromancer	Mathmech	Spright Evil☆Twin
Spright Tri-Brigade	Ishizu Chaos	Slifer Arcana Knights
Gaia OTK	Vernusylph	Ancient Warriors
Ghoti	Springans	8-Axis Gizmek Orochi
Danger! Dark World	Mikanko	Scareclaw Kashtira
Zombie World P.U.N.K.	Hungry Burger Nouvelles	Obelisk the Tormentor
Mannadium	Gate Guardian	Gold Pride P.U.N.K.
Superheavy Samurai	Nemleria	Dragon Rulers
Snake-Eye	T.G. Diabellstar	Skull Servant
Kaiju	Resonators	Earthbound
Malefic	Kozmo	Armored Xyz Shark
Unchained	Battlin' Boxer	Chimera Illusion
Fire King Snake-Eyes	Vaalmonica	Memento
Horus Tearlaments	Centur-Ion	Dragon Master Magia
Ice Barrier	Infernoid	Lightsworn
Ogdoadic Ragnaraika	Genex	Tenpai Dragon
Goblin Biker	Infernoble	Armed Dragon
Flame Swordsman	Melodious

Control Decks

List of All Control Decks
Invoked Shaddoll	Eldlich Control	Drytron Fairy
True Draco	Dark Magician	Traptrix
Phantom Knights	Madolche	Relinquished
P.U.N.K.	DPE Scythe	Evil★Twin
Paleozoic Frog	Salamangreat	Gravekeepers
Monarch	Tellarknight	Agent
Exosisters	Darklord	Plunder Patrol
Rikka	Floowandereeze	Adventurer Phantom Knights
Dinomoprhia	Tri-Brigade Gladiator Beast	Adventurer Witchcrafter
Dark Magician Gravekeeper	Branded Tri-Brigade	Branded Despia
Zombie Vampire	Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon	Spellbook
Branded Cyber Dragon	Branded Zombies	Pure Scareclaw
Dinomorphia	Runick	Labrynth
Harpies	Buster Blader	Umi Control
Endymion	Nekroz	Spright
Spright Runick	Ishizu Runick	Branded Ishizu
Crystal Beasts	Orcust	Altergeist
Witchcrafter	Subterror Krawler	Mayakashi
Ishizu Tearlaments	Evilswarm	Melffy Spright
Bystial Branded	Dogmatika Bystial	Naturia Runick
Generaiders	Kashtira	Purrely
Ninja	Rescue-ACE	Gishki Spright
Prediction Princess	Vanquish Soul	Jinzo
Egyptian God	Ojama Control	Aromage
Ghostrick	Kuriboh	Anti-Meta Stun
Runick Spright Fur Hire	Horus Control	Toy Box Dark Magician
Yubel	Voiceless Voice	Rikka Ragnraika
Ritual Beast	Shining Sarcophagus

Burn Decks

List of All Burn Decks
Red-Eyes Burn	Timelord Burn	Chain Burn
D.D. Dynamite	Igknight OTK	Cubic
Dinosaur Bishbaalkin FTK	Volcanic Snake-Eyes	Transaction Rollback Burn

Alt-Win Decks

List of All Alternate Win Decks
Crooked Cook Exodia	Flower Cardian Exodia	Treasure Panda Exodia
Suicide	Defense OTK

All Budget Decks

List of All Budget Deck Guides
Budget Shark Xyz	Budget Eldlich	Budget Hippo Turbo
Budget Despia	Budget F.A. Metalfoes	Budget Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Budget Chain Burn	Budget Majespecter	Budget Yosenju
Budget Flower Cardian	Budget True Draco	Budget Amorphage
Budget Ishizu Tearlaments

Best Cards for Decks

Lists of Best Cards for Deck Building
Best Staple Cards		Best Searchers		Best Hand Traps
Best Board Wipes		Best Negates		Best Fusion Monsters
Best Synchro Monsters		Best Xyz Monsters		Best Link Monsters
Best Structure Decks			Best Decks to Go 1st or 2nd