Shadow Riders

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The Shadow Riders, known in Japan as the Seven Stars Assassins (セブンスターズ刺客, Sebunsutāzu Shikaku^?), are a fictional group of villains in the anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX in Japan) appearing between episodes 29-49.

[edit] History

Enlisted by the elderly Kagemaru in his quest to retrieve his lost youth, the Shadow Riders are a collection of elite duelists who work towards the goal of reviving the Sacred Beast Cards (Three Phantom Demons; 三幻魔 Sangenma). Each of the members that Jaden Yuki (Judai Yuki) and company face possess a Shadow Charm (Dark Item; 闇のアイテム Yami no Aitemu), similar to the Millennium Items in terms of supernatural power, but of unknown origin. These relics bestow upon their owners different abilities depending on the Shadow Rider in question.

In the past, Kagemaru was forced to seal the Sacred Beasts away behind the Spirit Gate underneath Duel Academy (Duel Academia) due to their inability to grant his wish at that time. In order to access their true abilities, he bestows upon Chancellor Sheppard (Samejima) the seven keys capable of unlocking the Spirit Gate, and pits his subordinates against the school's finest to create the strong dueling presence needed to resurrect the Sacred Beasts.

[edit] Members

[edit] Kagemaru

Young Kagemaru

Kagemaru (影丸) - The leader of the Shadow Riders and former superintendent of Duel Academy. In horrible health, he hoped to attain eternal youth by sacrificing Duel Monster spirits to the Sacred Beasts. During his duel with Jaden, his youth gradually returned. After being defeated, however, he returned to his aged state. He then asked forgiveness and promised to renounce his former ways. He was last seen being carried to the hospital by helicopter. The "Kage" portion of his name is derived from the Japanese word "kage" (影), meaning "shadow."

[edit] Card list

Kagemaru's plays a Sacred Beast deck. He carries a basic Fiend deck to support Raviel, and plenty of Spell and Trap cards to support Uria and Hamon.

Monster cards
- Uria, Lord of Searing Flames (Divine Flame Emperor Uria)
- Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder (Descending Thunder Emperor Hamon)
- Raviel, Lord of Phantasms (Phantom Emperor Raviel)
- The Creator

Spell cards
- Abyssal Designator
- Monster Reincarnation (Reincarnation of the Dead)
- Premature Burial
- Pot of Greed
- Resurrection Tribute (Sacrifice of Revival)
- Phantasmal Martyrs
- Fallen Paradise

Trap cards
- Statue of the Wicked (Golden Statue of the Wicked God)
- Penalty Game!
- Mispolymerization (Fusion Failure)
- Jar of Greed
- Chain Burst
- Divine Wrath
- Cemetery Bomb

[edit] Trivia

In the English version, Kagemaru is voiced by David Wills (older) and Marc Thompson (younger), while Mugihito takes the role in the Japanese version.
The name of Uria, Lord of Searing Flames is derived from an alternate spelling of the name of Uriah.
The name of Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder originates from the Book of Esther, derived from the name of its villain, Haman.
The name of Raviel, Lord of Phantasms is derived from the name of the Judeo-Christian angel, Raziel.
Fallen Paradise references The Fall of Man.

[edit] Nightshroud

Nightshroud (Darkness) controlling Atticus Rhodes (Fubuki Tenjouin)

Darkness (ダークネス Dākunesu) / Nightshroud - The first of the Shadow Riders to challenge Jaden, and the owner of the other half of the Shadow Charm pendant in Jaden's possession. He wears a dark dragon mask, and sets a Shadow Game in which the loser would have his soul sealed in a card. When defeated, Nightshroud's soul (represented by the mask) is sealed away, and Atticus Rhodes (Fubuki Tenjouin), who had been the dark personality's vessel, is freed. During the Genex tournament, Atticus uses Nightshroud's deck in hopes of convincing his friend, Zane Truesdale (Ryo Marufuji), that the dark path taken by a duelist is a terrible course. As a result, Nightshroud's influence (that laid dormant within his cards) is once again able to take control of Atticus, only to be banished following his defeat.

[edit] Card list

Nightshroud plays a Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon deck.

Monster cards
- Troop Dragon (Army Dragon)
- Red-Eyes Black Dragon
- Attachment Dragon
- Mirage Dragon
- Red-Eyes Black Chick (Black Dragon Chick)
- Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon
- Spear Dragon

Spell cards
- Inferno Fire Blast (Black Flame Bolt)
- Mystical Space Typhoon (Cyclone)
- Super Rejuvenation (Super Rejuvenation Ability)
- Dragon's Gunfire (Fire Dragon's Flame Blast)
- Dragon Heart

Trap cards
- Call of the Haunted (Call of the Living Dead)
- Negate Attack (Attack Nullification)

[edit] Trivia

In the English version, Nightshroud is voiced by Jason Anthony Griffith, while Kouji Yusa takes the role in the Japanese version.

[edit] Camula

Camula

Vampire Camula (吸血美女 (ヴァンパイア) カミューラ Banpaia Kamyūra) / Camula - A vampire who is the second of the Shadow Riders. She is very serious when it comes to dueling, as she hopes to revive her race from its destruction by the people of Medieval Times. She had been asleep within her coffin until Kagemaru uncovered it and invited her to join the Shadow Riders. She captures the souls of her opponents following their losses within dolls to fuel her cause, and uses the Shadow Charm choker around her neck to bet the souls of others in conjunction with the Shadow Game-exclusive Illusion Gate to ensure victory. She manages to obtain the keys of Vellian Crowler (Cronos de Medici) and Zane, but during her duel with Jaden, her Shadow Charm's power is negated by the completed item that Jaden possesses. Out of self-confidence, Camula places her own soul on the line (in the Japanese version, she does not have a choice because the card was already activated), and it is dragged into the Gate after she loses, leaving her body empty and turning it to dust. Her name is derived from the name of Joseph Sheridan le Fanu's novel, Carmilla.

[edit] Card list

Camula plays a Vampire deck.

Monster cards
- Zombie Werewolf (Immortal Werewolf)
- Vampire Bat (Vampire Bats)
- Vampire Lord
- Vampire Genesis
- Vampire Lady
- Ryu Kokki
- Despair from the Dark

Spell cards
- Book of Life (Book of Life - Forbidden Magic)
- Infernalvania (Immortal Kingdom Hellvania)
- Illusion Gate (Phantom Gate)
- Pot of Greed
- Genesis Crisis
- Giant Trunade (Hurricane)

Trap cards
- Zombie Bed
- Red Ghost Moon (Dubious Red Moon)

[edit] Trivia

In the English version, Camula is voiced by Bella Hudson, while Kanako Irie takes the role in the Japanese version.
The design of Illusion Gate is based off The Gates of Hell.
The design of Infernalvania may be based off the signature castle in the Konami video game, Castlevania. The card's name is a pun on the name of Transylvania.

[edit] Tania

Amazoness Tania

Amazoness Tania (アマゾネス・タニヤ Amasonesu Taniya) - An Amazoness who is the third of the Shadow Riders. She falls in love with Bastion Misawa (Daichi Misawa), and after some sweet talking and showing off her amazing dueling skills, defeats Bastion and makes him her bridegroom for a short time until she grows tired of him. She fights Jaden in a soul match with the effect of Amazon Arena, and later reveals her true form to be that of a white tiger, using a Shadow Charm gauntlet she obtained from joining the Shadow Riders to assume human form to find a worthy duelist to be her husband. She eventually resumes her true form and runs off. She has a pet tiger named Bass, who resembles the Amazoness Tiger.

[edit] Card list

Tania's Amazoness cards, based off the Amazons of Greek mythology, are divided into two decks: Courage and Knowledge. She uses the Knowledge deck against Bastion, and the Courage deck against Jaden.

Monster cards
- Amazoness Swordswoman
- Amazoness Blowpiper
- Amazoness Paladin
- Amazoness Tiger (Amazoness Pet Tiger)

Spell cards
- Amazoness Spellcaster
- Amazoness Charm
- Amazoness Arena (Amazoness Death Ring)
- Amazoness Call (Amazoness Spiritualism)
- Amazoness Trainer

Trap cards
- Pride of Tribe
- Dramatic Rescue
- Amazoness Archers

[edit] Trivia

In the English version, Tania is voiced by Alyson Johnson, while Kazue Komiya takes the role in the Japanese version.

[edit] Don Zaloog

Don Zaloog in his detective getup

Don Zaloog (首領－ザルーグ Shuryō Zarūgu) - The fourth of the Shadow Riders, Zaloog is actually a Duel Monster spirit brought to life by the power of the Shadow Charm eyepatch he wears. He is also the leader of the band of thieves known as the Dark Scorpion Gang (Black Scorpion Graverobber Gang; 黒サソリ盗掘団 Kurosasori Tōkutsu-dan), who were also brought to life by the item. Zaloog is sort of a Robin Hood figure, as he steals from the rich and never hurts or kills anyone. He masquerades as a detective named Detective Zaloog (Police Inspector Manguer), sent to assist the students in hiding the remaining spirit keys, while his posse work on taking the keys incognito. However, since they fail to obtain the keys in a duel, they are unable to unlock the spirit gate of the Sacred Beasts. When Zaloog and his gang are discovered, he and Chazz Princeton (Jun Manjoume) duel with all the remaining keys on the line. In the end, he and his cohorts are defeated, and the power of his Shadow Charm is nullified. After reverting back to their spirit forms, the Dark Scorpions join the many weak monsters in Chazz's care, to the young duelist's annoyance.

[edit] Card list

Zaloog plays a Dark Scorpion deck.

Monster cards
- Golem Sentry
- Don Zaloog
- Dark Scorpion - Chick the Yellow
- Dark Scorpion - Meanae the Thorn
- Dark Scorpion - Gorg the Strong
- Cliff the Trap Remover

Spell cards
- Dark Scorpion Tragedy of Love
- Mustering of the Dark Scorpions
- Pot of Greed

Trap cards
- Dark Scorpion Combination
- Retreat of the Dark Scorpions

[edit] Trivia

In the English version, Zaloog is voiced by Darren Dunstan who impersonates Christopher Walken, while Taiten Kusunoki takes the role in the Japanese version.

[edit] Abidos

Abidos the Third

Abidos the Third (アビドス3世 Abidosu San-sei) - An ancient pharaoh who never lost a single duel who is the fifth of the Shadow Riders. Abidos regained physical form through the powers of the Shadow Charm headband he wore. With an army of mummies, Abidos gathers Jaden and company on his celestial yacht for a duel. During the duel with Jaden, Abidos realizes that the only reason he kept winning was because his opponents always lost on purpose, simply because he was pharaoh. Jaden, however, manages to give Abidos a real duel in which the opponent actually tries to win. Satisfied with his defeat, Abidos departs for the afterlife, giving Jaden his Shadow Charm, the latter making a promise to meet him again in one-hundred years time. His name is derived from the name of the ancient Egyptian city, Abydos.

[edit] Card list

Abidos plays a Servants of the Pharaoh deck.

Monster cards
- Pharaoh's Servant
- Pharaonic Protector (Pharaonic Guardian)
- Spirit of the Pharaoh

Spell cards
- Thousand Energy
- Tribute to the Doomed (Tribute to the Dead)
- The Second Sarcophagus
- The Third Sarcophagus
- Pot of Greed
- Soul Guide

Trap cards
- The First Sarcophagus
- Magic Jammer

[edit] Trivia

In the English version, Abidos is voiced by Darren Dunstan, while Mamoru Miyano takes the role in the Japanese version.
According to flashbacks of his life in Egypt, monsters summoned by Abidos include Sinister Serpent (Killer Snake), Hercules Beetle, and Embodiment of Apophis (Avatar of Apophis).
Pharaoh's Servant and Pharaonic Protector share the names of two expansions in the actual card game, Pharaoh's Servant and Pharaonic Guardian, respectively. This is only evident for the latter in the Japanese version, as the original name of Pharaonic Protector is Pharaonic Guardian.

[edit] Titan

Titan

Titan (タイタン Taitan) - A hitman originally hired by Crowler to deal with Jaden. He captures Alexis Rhodes (Asuka Tenjouin) and forces Jaden to duel for her life. Despite his reputation of possessing the power of a Millennium Item, the "Millennium Item" is a fake Millennium Puzzle, and Titan uses various tricks to mimic a Shadow Game. He becomes the victim of a real shadow duel, however, but is saved by Kagemaru under the condition that he will serve as the sixth of the Shadow Riders, wearing a Shadow Charm mask to bind him to the real world. Taking advantage of Alexis' desire to restore her brother's memories, Titan challenges her in the abandoned dorm where they first met. He is ultimately pulled back into the pits of darkness when he is defeated.

[edit] Card list

Titan plays an Archfiend (Demon) deck, composed largely of monsters based off chess pieces, in his first encounter with Jaden, which is later supported by Bullfighter Fiend (Demon's Bullfighter) cards in his duel with Alexis.

Monsters cards
- Infernalqueen Archfiend (Inferno Queen Demon)
- Terrorking Archfiend (Genocide King Demon)
- Desrook Archfiend (Death Rook Demon)
- Skull Archfiend of Lightning (Devil of Swift Lightning - Skull Demon)
- Summoned Skull (Demon Summon)
- Picador Fiend (Demon Picador)
- Matador Fiend (Demon's Matador)
- Banderillero Fiend (Demon Banderillero)

Spell cards
- Pandemonium
- Double Spell (Double Magic)
- Archfiend's Oath (Demon's Declaration)
- Dark Arena
- Ritual of the Matador (Ritual of Calling the Matador - Dark Paseo)

Trap cards
- Battle Scarred (Blood Seal)
- Des Counterblow (Death Counter)

[edit] Trivia

In the English version, Titan is voiced by Eric Stuart, while Norio Wakamoto takes the role in the Japanese version.

[edit] Amnael

Lyman Banner (Daitokuji) as Amnael

Amnael (アムナエル Amunaeru) - The seventh and final Shadow Rider, who challenges Jaden to a duel. "Amnael" is actually a pseudonym used by Lyman Banner (Daitokuji), who eventually reveals his body to be is a crumbling homunculus vessel. Banner overpowers his former pupil with his Alchemy deck, but Jaden manages to defeat him. After giving Jaden his Shadow Charm, the Emerald Tablet, Banner is reduced to dust, along with his original mummified body. His spirit, however, lives on in the body of his cat, Pharaoh.