Gladiator Beast

"Gladiator Beast", known as "Gladial Beast" (剣闘獣(グラディアルビースト) Guradiaru Bīsuto) in the OCG, is an archetype of cards released in Gladiator's Assault. They resemble futuristic versions of the ancient Roman Colosseum slave-warriors, and consist of many different Attributes and Types, primarily Beast, Beast-Warrior and Winged-Beast. With a few exceptions, all non-Fusion "Gladiator Beasts" have an effect to return to the Deck during the end of a Battle Phase when it battled, and then to Special Summon another "Gladiator Beast" monster to replace it (this is also known as 'tagging out'). The newly Special Summoned "Gladiator Beast" monsters usually gain another effect when Special Summoned in this way.

"Gladiator Beasts" also have four Fusion Monsters, three of which require a specific "Gladiator Beast" monster and either one or two other "Gladiator Beast" monsters as Fusion Material. However, "Polymerization" is not required to Fusion Summon these monsters. Instead, the correct "Gladiator Beast" Fusion Material Monsters are returned to the Main Deck to Special Summon the appropriate "Gladiator Beast" Fusion Monster. This process is otherwise known as Contact Fusion. Several of the "Gladiator Beast" Fusion Monsters are also able to 'tag out' to Special Summon 2 or more "Gladiator Beast" monsters from the Deck.

Nearly every card in the archetype is capable of being returned to the hand, field, or Deck from the Graveyard by utilizing the effects of "Gladiator Beast" monsters or their support cards. The "Gladiator Beast" Deck includes a mix of destruction, aggro, and toolbox cards and tactics. It is this versatility which landed this Deck as one of the top Decks in the Shonen Jump Circuit.

The September 2010 Forbidden List caused "Gladiators Beasts" to become more popular, especially with the banning of "Heavy Storm" and Limiting of "Royal Oppression", both of which were a threat to their strategy.

"Gladiator Beast" monsters are primarily named after types of warriors that fought in the Roman Colosseum, while others are named after famous fighters from the Roman Empire.
Gladiator Beast Named after Effect upon tagging out
Alexander Alexander the Great Unaffected by Spell effects
Andal Andabata
Bestiari Bestiarii Destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field
Darius Darius the Great Special Summon 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Graveyard
Dimacari Dimachaerus Attack twice during the Battle Phase
Equeste Equites Add 1 "Gladiator Beast" card from your Graveyard to your hand
Essedarii Essedarius
Gaiodiaz Gordias Special Summon 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Spartacus"
Gyzarus Gaius Julius Caesar Special Summon 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck, except "Gladiator Beast Bestiari"
Heraklinos Heracles
Hoplomus Hoplomachus DEF becomes 2400
Lanista Lanista Gains the name of 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster banished from your Graveyard
Laquari Laquerius ATK becomes 2100
Murmillo Murmillo Destroy 1 face-up monster on the field
Octavius Gaius Octavius Destroy 1 face-down Spell/Trap Card on the field
Retiari Retiarius Banish 1 card from your opponent's Graveyard
Samnite Samnite When it destroys an opponent's monster by battle, add 1 "Gladiator Beast" card from your Deck to your hand
Secutor Secutor When tagging out, Special Summon 2 "Gladiator Beast" monsters from your Deck
Spartacus Spartacus Add 1 "Gladiator Beast" Equip Spell Card from your Deck to your hand
Tygerius Tiberius Discard 1 "Gladiator Beast" card to add 1 "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck to your hand
Torax Thraex Tag it out to draw 1 card

Deck Types
Tigerless Gladiator Beasts

After the March 2011 Forbidden List, many people created an alternate version of the "Gladiator Beast" Deck that did not revolve around "Elemental HERO Prisma" or "Test Tiger". It introduced multiple copies of "Gladiator Proving Ground" and "Gladiator Beast's Respite" to increase the speed and stability of the Deck, while "Gladiator Beast Equeste" allowed the recycling of these cards.

Monsters

Gladiator Beast Bestiari
Gladiator Beast Murmillo
Gladiator Beast Retiari
Gladiator Beast Darius
Gladiator Beast Equeste
Gladiator Beast Hoplomus
Gladiator Beast Laquari
Thunder King Rai-Oh
Neo-Spacian Grand Mole

Extra Deck:

Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Tiger King

Spells

Gladiator Proving Ground
Forbidden Lance
Gladiator Beast's Respite

Traps

Horn of the Phantom Beast
Trap Stun
Gladiator Beast War Chariot

Prisma Gladiator Beasts

Also known "Prisma Glads", this Deck introduces "Elemental HERO Prisma" into the standard "Gladiator Beast" build. The effect of "Elemental HERO Prisma" treats it as "Gladiator Beast Bestiari", allowing it to be used in the summoning of "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus". After destroying two cards and attacking, you can return "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus" to the Extra Deck to summon "Gladiator Beast Darius", allowing you to resurrect "Bestiari" from the Graveyard. You can then summon "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus" once more, destroying more cards in the process, and putting "Bestiari" back in the Deck to be used again.

"Elemental HERO Stratos", "Reinforcement of the Army" and "E - Emergency Call" are all cards that add consistency to this build, allowing you to search your "Prismas" easily.

Another useful strategy in this Deck involves Special Summoning "Test Tiger" and tributing it to send an "Elemental HERO Prisma" that is being treated as "Gladiator Beast Bestiari" back to the Deck to Special Summon "Gladiator Beast Darius". "Darius" can then use its effect to Special Summon the "Bestiari" in the Graveyard, allowing you quick access to "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus". If you have another "Gladiator Beast" monster in your Graveyard, this can be followed up by tagging out with "Gyzarus" to Special Summon "Darius" and "Gladiator Beast Laquari", with the former resurrecting a third "Gladiator Beast". These 3 materials allow you to summon "Gladiator Beast Heraklinos" efficiently.

Monsters

Elemental Hero Prisma
Elemental Hero Stratos
Test Tiger
Thunder King Rai-Oh
Gladiator Beast Bestiari
Gladiator Beast Murmillo
Gladiator Beast Retiari
Gladiator Beast Darius
Gladiator Beast Equeste
Gladiator Beast Laquari

Extra Deck:

Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Tiger King

Spells

Book of Moon
My Body as a Shield
Reinforcement of the Army or E - Emergency Call
Smashing Ground
A Hero Lives
Fire Formation - Tenki

Traps

Dimensional Prison
Starlight Road
Trap Stun
Waboku

Rescue Gladiator Beasts

Previous incarnations of this Deck used "Rescue Cat" to summon monsters such as "Gladiator Beast Samnite" and "Test Tiger" to make big plays. With the banning of "Rescue Cat", however, the Deck became unusable. With the release of "Rescue Rabbit", the new version of the Deck uses "Gladiator Beast Andal" to allow for the quick Summon of "Gladiator Beast Essedarii" or "Gladiator Beast Heraklinos".

Monsters

Rescue Rabbit
Test Tiger
Thunder King Rai-Oh
Gladiator Beast Andal
Gladiator Beast Bestiari
Gladiator Beast Murmillo
Gladiator Beast Retiari
Gladiator Beast Darius
Gladiator Beast Equeste
Gladiator Beast Laquari

Extra Deck:

Gladiator Beast Heraklinos
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus
Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Tiger King

Spells

Book of Moon
My Body as a Shield
Smashing Ground
Fire Formation - Tenki
Fire Formation - Tensu

Traps

Dimensional Prison
Starlight Road
Trap Stun
Waboku

Weaknesses and Counter-Strategies

Prevention of Special Summoning - As "Gladiator Beast" Decks focus heavily on Special Summoning, they become crippled by cards that prevent it. "Solemn Warning", "Archlord Kristya" and "Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo" are all common Main Deck and Side Deck cards that prevent Special Summoning, or neutralize it. In the case of "Archlord Kristya", the Deck finds it hard to get over a monster with 2800 ATK without Contact Fusion, as long as it is protected from the high Trap Card count with cards like "Forbidden Lance". Other options include "Vanity's Fiend", "Vanity's Ruler", "Deck Lockdown" and "Corridor of Agony".

Counter-Destruction - Often, it is the "Gladiator Beasts" with the effect to destroy cards that are the most troublesome, but there are several cards that can be used to combat this. "Starlight Road" is a common card that is particularly effective against "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus". Other options include "Divine Wrath".

Monster Effects - As "Gladiator Beasts" must battle to gain their effects, monster effects that trigger during battle are highly effective. Note, however, that "Gladiator Beasts" have access to "Gladiator Beast War Chariot", so be prepared with something like "Dark Bribe" or "Seven Tools of the Bandit" to negate it. Here are some good monster card effects:
Monsters that destroy the monsters that attacked them - "Snowman Eater", "Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter"
Monsters that return the cards that attacked them - "Penguin Soldier", "Legendary Jujitsu Master", "Neo-Spacian Grand Mole"
Monsters that banish the cards that attacked them - "D.D. Warrior", "D.D. Warrior Lady"

Destroy on Summoning - Cards such as "Torrential Tribute", "Bottomless Trap Hole", and especially "Mirror of Oaths", that destroy the monsters when Special Summoned are great against "Gladiator Beasts".

Effect Canceling - Cards such as "Skill Drain", "Chivalry" or "Effect Veiler" can prevent your monsters from tagging out or negate the effects of the ones that are Summoned, leaving them defenseless against high ATK monsters.

Attack Negation/Prevention - You can only 'tag out' a "Gladiator Beast" when it "attacks or is attacked", therefore, any Spell, Trap, or Monster Effect that lets you negate a monster attack would prevent the opponent from tagging out their "Gladiator Beasts".
Fire Formation - Tenki