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Six Samurai

The Six Samurai, or the Six Warmen (六武衆 Roku Bushū) in the OCG, is a complex series of cards in story. The group consists of six samurai warriors lead by the Great Shogun Shien, and their support cards are older versions of the original group, known as the Legendary Six Samurai. Their effects activate based on having other Six Samurai cards in play, and to this end they can easily swarm the field. Their leader is Shien, the Great Shogun who leads the Six Samurai, who's also the archetype's boss monster in gameplay.

Animal Motifs: Shien's Footsoldier was based on Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a samurai lord who helped unite Japan, serving under Oda Nobunaga (the model of Shien) as a footsoldier. He had the nickname Saru, meaning "monkey", because he looked like one. Kizaru continues this motif by having both Shien foot-soldiers in his artwork.
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: invoked 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.
Blind Weaponmaster: Irou appears to be blind or have got his eyes damaged, as he wears a visor over his eyes and his longsword resembles a blind man's cane.
Combination Attack:
- In the artwork of Double-Edged Sword Technique, Kamon and Yariza are attempting a risky maneuver to defeat their opponent. With Yariza dashing in for a direct attack and Kamon covering him with dynamite.
- "Breakthrough!"'s artwork somewhat resembles that of the card "Double Tag Team", since there is a figure leaping forward, while the other in the image is standing.
- "Six Strike-Triple Impact" depicts Shien, Enishi and Kizan charging at an enemy. Given that this card depicts "Legendary Six Samurai", this card can be considered a foreshadowing of some of the effects the next generation would come to use. One can consider that the powers of the "Triple Impact" were implemented into the weapons of the later "Samurai", to be easier to use.
  Effect 1: Zanji, as he destroys any monster he attacks. Though this might also reference "Enishi, Shien's Chancellor", as he can destroy 1 face-up monster per turn.
  Effect 2: Kamon, as he destroys 1 face-up Spell/Trap per turn.
  Effect 3: Yaichi, as he destroys 1 face-down Spell/Trap per turn.
Continuity Cameo:
- Grandmaster of the Six Samurai looks similar to the priest Aknadin except that the missing eye of Aknadin is the left one, whereas Grandmaster lost his right one.
- Shien's Daredevil slightly resembles Officer Trudge/Tetsu Ushio.
Gadgeteer Genius: The Elder of the Six Samurai. He even travels in a walking stall.
Gameplay and Story Integration: Many of their effects reflect their abilities and roles in lore.
- "Six Samurai - Irou"'s face-down monster destruction effect is based on the "Swallow Reversal" technique of the famed Sakaki Kojiro, which was reputedly so fast and strong it could cut down a bird on mid-flight.
- "Six Samurai - Kamon"'s effect to destroy face-up backrow is meant to reflect his role as the demolition expert. "Yaichi"'s effect is similarly based on his role as the team's archer.
- "Yariza"'s effect is meant to invoke his ability to break through enemy lines.
- The dual-attacking ability of "Ninashi"'s is obviously based on his usage of twin laser blades.
- The destruction effect of "Zanji" reflects his usage of a deadly naginata blade, of which no one that saw it flash by would live to tell the tale.
Laser Blade: Several of the members wield them.
Magitek: Carries 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.
Ninja: The Secret Six Samurai sub-archetype are themed after ninjas.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed:
- Irou is based on Sasaki Kojiro. In fact, Irou appears in Swallow Flip, which refers to a mythical sword technique from Japanese legend, the Tsubame Gaeshi (or the Turning Swallow Cut). The technique was created by Sasaki Kojiro, legendary rival of Miyamoto Musashi.
- Nisashi might be a reference to Miyamoto Musashi; a master swordsman well known for his Niten Style (2 sword combat style). Both the name and two swords are reminiscent of Musashi, and his appearance in Six Style - Dual Wield reinforces this reference.
- Yariza is based on Maeda Toshiie.
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.
Sigil Spam: The glyph of the Six Samurai clan is all over their support cards.
Single-Use Shield: "Legendary Ebon Steed" and "Spirit of the Six Samurai" can be destroyed while equipped to prevent the destruction of their equipped "Six Samurai".
Status Buff: One common characteristic of the Legendary "Six Samurai" series is their ability to buff themselves when there's a companion present on their side of the field, possibly meant to invoke a morale boost whenever they are in group.
Taking the Bullet: A common effect shared between the original wave of "Six Samurai" monsters is the ability to destroy another "Six Samurai" monster you control in exchange. Possibly meant to invoke their nature as True Companions and how they would sacrifice themselves for the sake of each other and their lord.
Took a Level in Badass: They fulfill both this trope and (invoked) Badass Decay. 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.
Tron Lines: Most Six Samurai monsters have glowing lines all over their armor.

Characters

Legendary Six Samurai

Shi En

Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En

Ambiguously Evil: Some cards suggest that Shien may not be as benevolent as he seems. Shien's Scheme was the first to suggest something sinister, while Stand-Off suggests that he may have been responsible for Shinai's death in some way. (The Master Guide 3 confirmed that Mizuho was Shinai's wife, and also that Shinai is dead; the card art does suggest that Mizuhu and Shadow of the Six Samurai, who has a necklace similar to Shinai's, are working against Shien for some reason.) However, Master Duel reveals that Shinai willingly sacrificed himself to save Shien and the rest of the Six Samurai.
Animated Armor: In a twist of fate, Shien becomes a ghost and turns into the Legendary Shadow of the Six Samurai. He can copy the abilities of a Level 4 or lower Six Samurai monster.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Shien is based on Oda Nobunaga.
Red Eyes, Take Warning: His sharp eyes can freeze men's blood with just a stare, as seen n the artwork of "Great Shogun Shien".

Kizan

Legendary Six Samurai - Kizan

^{Grandmaster of the Six Samurai}

Eye Scream: 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 (where ironically he is using it to write down in a scroll).
Friendly Rival: There is rivalry for merit even within the Legendary Six Samurai, Kizan constantly spars with his friendly rival, Enishi. Kizan, showing off his power before Shien, becomes the Grandmaster of the Six Samurai.
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.

Enishi

Legendary Six Samurai - Enishi

^{Enishi, Shien's Chancellor}

Leeroy Jenkins: Enishi is often mocked for his recklessness. As a result, Enishi is known as "The Daredevil". Since he knew Shi En when they were part of the Legendary Six Samurai, he ended becoming Shien's Chancellor because Enishi is not intimidated by him.

Kageki

Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki

^{Chamberlain of the Six Samurai}

Game-Breaking Injury: With mechanical arms installed in the back for support, Kageki was feared as the "Four-Armed Oni-Gami". But when he lost both arms in the midst of battle, he had two artificial arms installed, and was given the job to protect Shien as a chamberlain after leaving the frontlines.
Mysterious Past: It's stated that the current Six Samurai ignore the Chamberlain's past as the samurai Kageki.

Shinai

Legendary Six Samurai - Shinai

^{Spirit of the Six Samurai}

Animated Armor: Shinai was most trusted by Shi En as a heroic warrior who could escape from the jaws of death, no matter what. However, after sadly dying in the later years of the great war, his soul ended up dwelling inside the armor he died in, and now protects the current generation of the Six Samurai.
Heroic Sacrifice: When the Six Samurai had to flee from a losing battle, Shinai stayed behind to slow down the enemy, but his unit never returned.
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.

Mizuho

Legendary Six Samurai - Mizuho

^{Hand of the Six Samurai}

Meditating Under a Waterfall: Mizuho in the artwork of "Asceticism of the Six Samurai". She's training to become the Hand of the Six Samurai after mourning for Shinai's death.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Mizuho seems to be based on Hōjō Masako, a prominent female politician under the the Kamakura shogunate who became a Buddhist nun after the death of her husband.
The Smurfette Principle: Mizuho is the only female Six Samurai in the Legendary Six Samurai ensemble.
Taking the Veil: After the death of Shinai, Mizuho joined a religious order apparently out of grief. However, she remains an expert combatant, and in the present she is still working as an assassin for Shien, using her nun status as a cover.

The Kagemusha

Kagemusha / Shadow of the Six Samurai

"Blind Idiot" Translation: Kagemusha of the Blue Flame's English name is a bit off due to Gratuitous Japanese and an overly-literal translation. Romanized from Japanese, his name is Shien no Kagemusha. "Kagemusha" means "body double", describing his role, not his name. "Shien" translates to "blue flame", but is actually referring to the monster Great Shogun Shien (where "Shien" is his given name), released years later. The true translation of his name would be along the lines of "Shien's Body Double".
Body Double: He is styled after the standard Japanese kagemusha character archetype, and is suggested to be a body double for Great Shogun Shien.
Duel to the Death: Shadow of the Six Samurai challenged Shien to a duel, as depicted in the cards Stand-Off, Face-Off, and Evenly Matched. As shown by Legendary Secret of the Six Samurai, the Kagemusha won the duel and Shien was killed.
Mr. Fanservice: The Kagemusha of the Blue Flame appears to prefer going lightly clothed, as his card art has him barechested and barefoot.
Revenge: It was implied that the Kagemusha is related to Shinai in some way, and that he learned that Shinai was secretly killed by Shien, leading him to challenge Shien to a duel to the death.

Characters / Yu Gi Oh Six Samurai

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Legendary Six Samurai

The Kagemusha

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