Skeleton Knight Roman Goodwin , known as Rudger Goodwin ( ルドガー ・ ゴドウィン , " Rudogā Godowin " ) in the Japanese version , is a character from the " Yu - Gi - Oh ! 5D ' s " manga and initially the main antagonist . He is the brother of Rex Goodwin and also goes by the alter ego , the Skeleton Knight ( 骸骨騎士 , " Gaikotsu Kishi " ) , a being from an urban legend . When a Duelist claps their cards together at sunset , the Skeleton Knight is said to appear and give them rare cards . However , this is a trap ; the cards that they are given , the " Duel Dragon " cards , eventually take over and corrupt them , making them loyal minions to Roman . Roman ' s ultimate plan is to conduce the Festival of Duality along with his brother , Rex Goodwin ; however , unlike Rex , who desires the power of the Ultimate God , Roman ' s goal is to free Rex from the control of the Ultimate God ' s dark miasma and save him . Biography . History . Roman was originally a nameless boy living on the Ican streets with his brother , 5000 years before the events of the manga . He and his brother were caught stealing food , but they were saved by Ish Kiq Goodwin , who took them home and adopted them , serving as their foster sister and mother and gave them their names : Roman and Rex Goodwin . Roman and Rex grew to respect Ish for her superior skills as a Duel Priestess , and Roman eventually developed apparent feelings for her . Roman rushed home one day to see Ish dressed in her new clothes for the Festival of Duality , having been chosen as the Duel Priestess . But tragedy struck when Ish fell victim to the ritual . Her wish had been for Rex and Roman to train as Duel Priests , and after the answers that the village council gave the brothers didn ' t satisfy them , they decided to conduct the Festival themselves . Roman had heard legends of the Ultimate God granting a single wish to at the end of the ritual , which they planned to use to revive Ish . Years later , the brothers , now the high Priests of the Northern and Southern Skies , were finally ready to enact their plans . Roman had doubts about involving the the current Duel Priestess in their plans , but Rex chastised him for getting cold feet . Their plan succeeded , and Roman traversed the Corridor of the Northern Sky in the Aerial Fortress Seibal . Seeing a Shadow Miasma gathering in the Machine Temple at the center , he realized that it was the sealed power of the Ultimate God and wondered if they could truly control it . He then saw Rex fighting Ish , both of them under the influence of the Shadow Miasma . Rex gained an advantage and prepared to stab her with the lance that Roman would later wield himself , but Roman threw himself in the way of the lance , and both of them were impaled . Ish returned to normal after Roman confessed that he loved her , begging him to save Rex , who too had fallen prey to the Ultimate God ' s darkness . Yu - Gi - Oh ! 5D ' s . After Sect Ijuin lost to Yusei Fudo in a factory in Satellite , he held his cards up to the sunset , clasped them together and prayed for cards to help him beat Yusei . Roman , in the form of the Skeleton Knight , appeared on an altar which had not been there before and took Sect captive . Yusei demanded that he give Sect back , but the skeleton challenged Yusei to a Duel . He is defeated when Yusei breaks the pipe he was running along , causing him to get disqualified for stopping . After losing , he starts to disappear , but asks Yusei his name before totally vanishing . While Sect is in the hospital , he appears to him in a dream . According to the ancient edicts , the knight says that he shall grant Sect ' s wish . When Sect wakes - up , he finds himself holding a card : A Level 8 Monster Card , named Archfiend Dragon Beelze " . The Skeleton Knight later appears behind Yusei whilst he is Turbo Dueling against Hunter Pace , as one of his servants , Sect was currently being infected by one of his dark cards , which Yusei along with the other Duel Priest reincarnations could feel . During Sect and Jack Atlas ' s Duel , the Skeleton Knight interrupts the Duel by bursting out of the ocean on his altar and salvaging Sect before he lost to Jack . He then reveals that he and Sect are involved within an evil , dark cult known as the Skeleton Knight ' s Crusade , which consist of several Duelists who wished for cards from the Skeleton Knight . These members all follow his commands and consider the Signers their enemies . He then disappears with Sect , leaving Yusei and Jack shocked at the events that just occurred . Skeleton Knights ' s plans are later revealed to involve the " Ultimate God " , which he plans to resurrect in the Aerial Fortress Seibal . Meeting Rex Goodwin inside the Duel Gate , both discuss their past and how they failed to complete the Festival of Duality years ago but now they will finish it today . After summoning their respective representatives Sect and Akiza , the Skeleton Knight proceeds to watch the duel between them . When Sect summons " Beelzeus of the Diabolic Dragons " in the climax of his duel , the Knight congratulates him for mastering the powers of darkness and tells him to rise to the pinnacle of darkness . Following Sect ' s victory over Akiza , the Knight leaves with Sect into the Aerial Fortress Seibal . Encountering Yusei in the Northern Sky Corridor , The Skeleton Knight explains to Yusei about what happened to Sect and Akiza and what he must do in order to reach them . Noting that he lost the last time they met , the Knight makes sure that it won ' t happen the same way again . Yusei is eventually able to defeat " Underworld Dragon Dragonecro " and the Skeleton Knight complimented him on his growth , wondering if Sect ' s situation had drawn out his power . He decided to unleash his full power , bringing out " Underworld Flood Dragon Dragocutos " and almost defeating Yusei , but Yusei was able to hold on with " Stardust Spark Dragon . " The Skeleton Knight ended his turn , poised to win on his next turn with the effect of " Dragocutos , " but Yusei was able to defeat him by combining " Stardust ' s " effect with " Phoenix Battle Wings . " Impressed by Yusei , claiming that he was indeed the warrior that he ' d recognized , the Skeleton Knight took his loss gratefully . Afterwards , Yusei asked the Knight what he ' d seen in his memories . Roman revealed his name and his history with Ish and Rex , and begged Yusei to save Rex if Jack could not . The Machine Temple began to collapse , and Roman mused that it had been worth waiting 5000 years for a warrior like Yusei . Roman died in the wreckage , content with the knowledge that he had passed on Ish ' s last request to the next warrior and reunited with Ish ' s spirit at last . Deck . Roman uses a " Hellfire " Deck focused on his " Duel Dragon " , " Underworld Dragon Dragonecro " . He also utilizes several cards to protect it , such as " Hellfire Veil " and " Spectral Ice Floe " .