Gateway of the Six

Gateway of the Six was introduced in the 2009 Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game expansion set Stardust Overdrive. As a Continuous Spell card, it was designed to support the Six Samurai archetype, a group of warrior-themed monsters inspired by feudal Japanese history and cinema. The card was created to provide the archetype with a resource engine, rewarding players for summoning their warriors by granting them Bushido counters, which could then be spent to search the deck for additional monsters or increase the attack power of the field.

The card's design features intricate artwork reflecting the aesthetic of the Six Samurai, emphasizing the theme of martial unity and strategic replenishment. Upon its release, it became a cornerstone of the archetype's competitive viability, eventually becoming one of the most powerful and feared support cards in the game's history. Its reception was marked by its profound impact on the meta-game, ultimately leading to significant restrictions and balancing efforts by game designers to mitigate its ability to generate overwhelming card advantage.