The HERO Archetype was introduced during the GX era in 2005. All these years later, HEROs are still one of the most popular Archetypes in all of Yu-Gi-Oh! There are tons of variations of HERO Monsters, from Masked HEROs to Evil HEROs.
The Elemental HERO Monsters are the oldest, and perhaps the most iconic as it was the deck of choice of the protagonist of the GX anime. Despite their age, there are plenty of powerful Elemental HERO cards in the game, many of which are staples in all HERO decks. Elemental HEROs tend to be very versatile, and do many things to boost up the Archetype in power.
Updated August 18, 2021 by Johnny Garcia: Elemental HERO Monsters remain one of the most popular Archetypes in all of Yu-Gi-Oh! Ever since their release in GX, Elemental HEROs have continued to see new support cards consistently. Some question whether or not the Elemental HERO deck is good, and with how many support cards and playstyles it has, the answer is a sound yes. Elemental HERO decks have options for plenty of Fusion Monsters, as well as Link Monsters if you dip into the Xtra HERO lineup. With how popular Elemental HERO cards are, they are likely to wind up as cosmetics in the recently announced Master Duels, and will find a potential home in Cross Duels as well.
15 Elemental HERO Neos
Elemental HERO Neos is a Normal Monster, but is also the card that any deck utilizing the Neos lineup of Elemental HERO needs to function. There are plenty of ways to cheat it out onto the field, and plenty of Fusion Monsters to Contact Fuse into.
While Elemental HERO Neos on its own isn't spectacular, it's the cards that it can make that are. Elemental HERO Contact Fusions have plenty of powerful effects, though they often need Neos Space on the field to stick around. Similar to Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Elemental HERO Neos is a required Normal Monster to run in any Neos focused Elemental HERO deck.
14 Elemental HERO Brave Neos
A part of one of the best Elemental HERO decks in Duel Links, Elemental HERO Brave Neos is a solid choice for Neos TCG decks as well. For materials, all it requires is an Elemental HERO Neos and any Level Four or lower Effect Monster. With a card like Neos Fusion, this can act as a Foolish Burial for any Monsters fitting that criteria.
Elemental HERO Brave Neos is also a great searcher, as it can fetch out any Spell or Trap card that lists Elemental HERO Neos in its text whenever it destroys a Monster by battle. It also has the honor of being one of the few Neos Fusions that does not shuffle itself back into the deck.
13 Elemental HERO Core
Elemental HERO Core requires a bit of effort to summon, as it needs three Elemental HERO Monsters to summon. This is more than worth it, as it can give itself massive amounts of attack all while destroying other Monsters on the field. It even has recursion, as it can revive any Elemental HERO Fusion from the Graveyard that is Level Eight or lower.
Elemental HERO Core is a key Fusion Monster in Elemental HERO decks, and one of the main boss Monsters pure Elemental HEROs play. Its stats are fantastic, making it even more of a threat and problem to get rid of.
12 Rainbow Neos
While it doesn't have Elemental HERO in its name, Rainbow Neos is a part of the Archetype and one of the best Elemental HERO cards in the game. It does require also running Rainbow Dragon to summon, but running a brick like that is worth it for the powerful effects Rainbow Neos has.
Rainbow Neos can deal with any part of the opponent's field that needs answering. It can take away all backrow, Monsters, or a Graveyard from the opponent, all with minimal costs. Rainbow Neos is such a powerful card, one of the best Elemental HERO decks would just turbo out Rainbow Neos and shut down the opponent.
11 Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier
Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier immediately became a staple in every HERO deck, not just Elemental HERO decks. Inspired by Elemental HERO Bubbleman, it can draw you cards if used for a Fusion summon, or Special Summon a Monster from the Graveyard on its Normal Summon.
It is an incredibly versatile card and part of what makes Elemental HERO decks so good. Since many Elemental HERO Fusion Monsters need mostly generic materials in Archetype, Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier is often a candidate for Fusion to draw into your best Elemental HERO support cards.
10 Elemental HERO Dark Neos
Elemental HERO Dark Neos is a part of the Neos line-up of Elemental HEROs, and the best one at that. All Neos Fusions have an effect that shuffles them back into the Extra Deck during the End Phase.
However, Elemental HERO Dark Neos has an effect that allows it to negate the effect of any Monster on the Field. This is not only useful to negate a powerful Monster on the opponent's Field but can also be used to negate its own effect so it stays on the Field and doesn't get shuffled away in the End Phase.
9 Elemental HERO Bubbleman
Elemental HERO Bubbleman used to be a part of many decks that weren't even focused on the HERO Archetype. It's a fantastic card to draw into when both players are relying on their top decks. This is because when Elemental HERO Bubbleman is the only card in your hand, you can Special Summon it.
After it's Summoned, if there are no other Monsters or cards in your hand you can draw 2 cards. Card advantage is incredibly important in Yu-Gi-Oh!, so being able to gain hand advantage while getting a Monster on the Field is fantastic.
8 Elemental HERO Honest Neos
Elemental HERO Honest Neos is an in-Archetype version of the once staple card Honest that's good for any Elemental HERO deck. It has an effect on the Field where, as a Quick Effect, you can discard a HERO Monster and Elemental HERO Honest Neos gains the Attack equal to the discarded Monster's Attack for the rest of the turn.
However, Elemental HERO Honest Neos is more often going to stay in the hand for its effect there. Elemental HERO Honest Neos can discard itself to have any HERO Monster on the Field gain 2500 Attack. This is a great surprise factor, and since it's a Quick Effect it can catch an attacking opponent off guard.
7 Elemental HERO Blazeman
A searcher in Yu-Gi-Oh! will always be a good card. Elemental HERO Blazeman fits the bill, as when it is Normal or Special Summoned, you can add Polymerization from your deck to the hand. Since the Elemental HERO deck is very Fusion-heavy, this is especially useful to get to the Fusion Monsters quickly.
In addition, Elemental HERO Blazeman has a Foolish Burial effect on the Field at the cost of only being able to Special Summon Fusion Monsters for the rest of the turn. This allows you to dump any Elemental HERO Monster into the Graveyard. There are HERO cards that want to be in the Graveyard, which is what makes Elemental HERO Blazeman one of the best Elemental HERO cards.
6 Elemental HERO Prisma
Elemental HERO Prisma is one of the most generic HERO cards that any Deck can make use of. On the Field, Elemental HERO Prisma can reveal a Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck and send a Fusion Material listed on that card from the Deck to the Graveyard.
This also gives Elemental HERO Prisma that card's name to be used as a substitute for that Monster. This can be used as a Foolish Burial for a Monster, and if it has a Graveyard effect it can be used right away since Elemental HERO Prisma doesn't put any restrictions on you for using its effect.
5 Elemental HERO Sunrise
Elemental HERO Sunrise is a Fusion Monster with materials being two HERO Monsters with different Attributes. Since the Elemental HERO deck has Monsters of every Attribute this condition is really easy to meet. If it's Special Summoned, Elemental HERO Sunrise can add Miracle Fusion, one of the best Fusion Spells in the game from the deck to the hand.
It also has the effect to target and destroy any card on the Field when another HERO Monster attacks. Elemental HERO Sunrise tends to not stay on the Field for long, as it's primarily made for its ability to search out Miracle Fusion.
4 Elemental HERO Absolute Zero
Having a ticking time bomb on your Field will always be powerful, especially when it only affects your opponent. Elemental HERO Absolute Zero is a Fusion Monster that requires any HERO Monster and any Water Monster as its Fusion materials.
Elemental HERO gains 500 Attack for each Water Monster on the Field excluding itself. However, its powerful effect is the one that destroys all Monsters the opponent controls whenever it leaves the Field. This is under any circumstance, so even using it for any kind of Link Summon destroys all Monsters on the opponent's Field.
3 Elemental HERO Shadow Mist
Elemental HERO Shadow Mist has two different effects that are equally powerful, but only one can be used a turn. If Elemental HERO Shadow Mist is Special Summoned, you can add any "Change" Quick-Play Spell from the deck to the hand.
The Masked HERO line-up of Monsters is great, and Elemental HERO Shadow Mist can be made into Masked Hero Dark Law. Elemental HERO Shadow Mist's other effect activates when it's sent to the Graveyard, which adds any HERO Monsters from your deck to the hand. This effect makes for a great extender, making Elemental HERO Shadow Mist one of the best Elemental HERO cards out there.
2 Elemental HERO Solid Soldier
When Elemental HERO Solid Soldier is Normal Summoned, it allows you to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower HERO Monster from the hand. This can quickly combo off with other HERO Monsters, going into powerful Link and Fusion Monsters.
Elemental HERO Solid Soldier is one of the best Normal Summons for the HERO Archetype and can spiral into a giant board. Elemental HERO Solid Soldier has an extra effect where if it is sent to the Graveyard by a Spell Effect, you can Special Summon any HERO Monster in the Graveyard in Defense Position. This can recycle powerful cards, making it a fantastic target to use for Fusion Summoning.
1 Elemental HERO Stratos
Elemental HERO Stratos is the only Elemental HERO Monster that has ever been banned (although not the only HERO Monster to be). That's how good Elemental HERO Stratos is. While it's Unlimited now, it's just as good for the HERO deck as ever before. When Elemental HERO Stratos is Summoned, it can destroy Spell and Trap Cards on the Field equal to the number of HERO Monsters you control without targetting.
Alternatively, the main effect would be its ability to add any HERO Monster from the deck to the hand. Searchers are the best cards in Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Elemental HERO Stratos can easily be comboed with other HERO Monsters to get multiple effects at once and gain tons of advantage.