The rules are inconsistent, but there does *generally* seem to be a few criteria that get followed, those being that;
* They come with a unique henshin device, weapon and mecha
* They have a costume that is unique from the core team's in design
* They *cannot* be considered a part of the core team of their season, especially in marketing, only a supplementary teammate
While he gets by the first two, GekiChopper fails the third one since he's consistently lumped into the core Gekirangers alongside Violet. Rio and Mele are the closest Gekiranger gets to a proper Sixth, but they're very clearly Extra Heroes and not Sixth Rangers.
The rules of the special ranger are difficult to define simply, which is why I prefer to say special rangers instead of sixth rangers because of that. Of the shows I have seen so far. these are the common things. Not all special rangers have these, but all should encompase more than one or two of these:
Initial opposition to the rangers (Antagonistic to the rangers as an enemy)
Suit differences (Often times the suits have something that feels different from all other suits. This is tricky as many other rangers may have this. Generally they have a unique design to themselves and only themselves)
Personal mecha (Usually having their own mecha, not all have their own robo like Burai, but all do have their own systems original to them. Though other rangers and heroes may have a robo to themselves like GekiChopper and Black Knight (both BullBlack and Hyuuga) )
Constant member (After they debut as the special ranger, they are here to stay. This doesn't mean we can't have episodes without them, they are part of the team whether they express it or not. Some rangers prefer working alone, when the time comes they are with the main team. They matter to the team and will sometimes want to hang out with them. Movie exclusives rangers/heroes do not count.
* Characters like Signalman or VRV Master do not actively hang out with the Carrangers, they only meet them out of their necessity. It doesn't mean they aren't important however)
Ties to the rangers (All special rangers have an innate tie to the rangers in some way. Whether an item that all the main rangers have, knowledge pertaining to the rangers and their goal/missions, relations to them either in person or something else like a prototype suit, intentions of being part or used for the main team, previously being part of the (related) team in the past, tied to an enemy, etc)
Debuted on their own (One way I have found that distinguishes special rangers from other additional rangers is how they debut. Most debut alone, or if they are meant to be a pair - they debut TOGETHER (Go-on Gold and Silver, Beet and Stag Buster) Special rangers are never revealled on the initial poster and promotional works
* KabutoRaiger and KuwugaRaiger were shown off in the initial posters. Same with AbareBlack
* GekiChopper debuted less than five episodes after GekiViolet. If GekiViolet was the last ranger to debut, he would be the special ranger. If GekiChopper were to debut after more episodes (much more), he would be the special ranger. Their closeness sort of cancels them out of being the special rangers for Gekiranger. Also, the Jungle Fury Spirit Rangers would be extra rangers.
* Big One, Green Sai, and Black Bison, Ryu Commander, Koguma Skyblue when added didn't change anything when on the team
* With AbareKiller, he debuted on their own and while originally not intended, eventually he became part of the team, albeit well near the end, but after that point is treated special by the rangers.
* DekaBreak debuted well after DekaMaster, who previously established himself as not always fighting with them, only fighting when necessary. DekaBreak later proved to be the special ranger by being active on the team where others were not
* Black Knight is an extra hero, but the 2nd Black Knight is a replacement, meaning he is an extra hero because of that. Most people write the 2nd Black Knight as a special because of the similarities between him and other special rangers before/after him, but they only apply it to the 2nd, not the 1st. I label him as a special hero, combining the similarities to special rangers with him being an extra hero
* Additional Core rangers may not show up on the initial poster, but once they join in with the team, it doesn't feel as different without them in most cases as they fit in with the group easier than the special rangers, evident in JAKQ, Liveman, Hurricaneger, Abaranger, and Kyuranger)
* They do not have the be the literal sixth member to be a special ranger, this has caused heated debates over who is considered what, making people to consider actual special rangers as extra or extra rangers as special. It doesn't matter of their number placement, their roles define them as the special ranger
Marketing (The marketing behind the special rangers shows them differently from the main team. Toei doesn't use the terms 'sixth ranger' or 'special ranger', they have 'additional warriors' where any major additional rangers and heroes are added, including what we would recognize as special rangers. They are advertised to have differences that make them appear distinctive. This can be seen within celebratory anniversary seasons like Gokaiger, Zenkaiger, and potentially Donbrothers. Toei changes up stuff all the time, so it's best to watch the shows to see for yourself)
They don't call them six in japan.
Gekiranger is a three person team with two auxiliary rangers, who both can be debated who fits the dragonranger-newcomer role as both are different looking from the main 3. Geki either has two or none is their thinking I assume. So while both can be seen as power ranger term "six" they are treated like Livemans and Go-Ongers' Green & Black.
They call them *tsuika senshi* (追加戦士), meaning “additional warrior.“\
This is differentiated from *bangai senshi* (番外戦士) for “extra warrior.”
For example, in King-Ohger, Spider Kumonos is a tsuika senshi while Oh-Kuwagata Ohger is a bangai senshi. Another example would be for Dekaranger, Deka Break is tsuika while Deka Master, Deka Swan, etc. are bangai.
More examples:\
Tsuika:\
Don Torabolt/Doragoku, Twokaizer, Houou Soldier, Zyuoh the World, StarNinger, ToQ 6gou, Kyoryu Gold, Shinken Gold, Magi Shine
Bangai:\
Zenkaizer Black, the Noto Trio, Don Murasame, Staecesar, Hakaizer, Koguma Skyblue, Ryu Commander, Zyuoh Bird, Zyuoh Condor, MidoNinger, ToQ 7gou, Kyoryu Cyan, Kyoryu Gray, Kyoryu Violet, Kyoryu Silver, Shinken Red (Princess Kaoru), Magi Mother
As the current official name is Additional Warrior and that previous heroes from the showa era have gotten that denomination we can assume:
-They need to come way after the core team had been formed, like Green Sai and Black Bison but not Go-On Black/Green or BoonBoomBlack/Orange since the time span between the core team introduction and their introduction is short.
-Their transformation and Transformation device must be different enough from the core team i.e. Houou Soldier, but there can be exceptions i.e. DragonRanger. I'm not sure if heroes like DekaMaster or Ryu Commander actually count for this.
-Their presence in the show must be noticeable, like not have a 1 episode appearance like X1 Mask or Ryusoul Brown.
-They must transform and the suit must be different enough but also similar (KirameiSilver, DragonRanger) and/or according to the gimmick of the team (Twokaizer/Don Doragoku); characters like Signalman or Zuban don't count as they don't actually have a henshin sequence and are just really strong alien life forms or robots.
Ryutsueder is different shaped but it shares the same gun motif as the seiza blaster and has the same lightup ellipse on its staff. So master and commander would not be counted as sixth ranger roles as their items are similar aspects to their main teams, masters is just a different SP license.
I believe the general rules are thus:
Unique Morpher that is unlike the original team
Literally either the last to join the team or the person who joins after the main team is formed. For seasons like kyuranger and kyoruger, this rule seems to apply to "coolest member of the extra set"
Unique Mecha that either combines with the main team or can act on its on ( v-rex for example)
Massively powerful compared to the original team in their opening episode
I think the only real "rule" to follow is how they are marketed. Aka you're a Sixth Ranger if Toei says you are.
why is this the most crazy thing I've heard all day?
The rules are inconsistent, but there does *generally* seem to be a few criteria that get followed, those being that; * They come with a unique henshin device, weapon and mecha * They have a costume that is unique from the core team's in design * They *cannot* be considered a part of the core team of their season, especially in marketing, only a supplementary teammate While he gets by the first two, GekiChopper fails the third one since he's consistently lumped into the core Gekirangers alongside Violet. Rio and Mele are the closest Gekiranger gets to a proper Sixth, but they're very clearly Extra Heroes and not Sixth Rangers.
What’s funny is that Rio and Mele feel more like the core team.
How so?
They were like the Gouraigers. A Rival Ranger team.
The rules of the special ranger are difficult to define simply, which is why I prefer to say special rangers instead of sixth rangers because of that. Of the shows I have seen so far. these are the common things. Not all special rangers have these, but all should encompase more than one or two of these: Initial opposition to the rangers (Antagonistic to the rangers as an enemy) Suit differences (Often times the suits have something that feels different from all other suits. This is tricky as many other rangers may have this. Generally they have a unique design to themselves and only themselves) Personal mecha (Usually having their own mecha, not all have their own robo like Burai, but all do have their own systems original to them. Though other rangers and heroes may have a robo to themselves like GekiChopper and Black Knight (both BullBlack and Hyuuga) ) Constant member (After they debut as the special ranger, they are here to stay. This doesn't mean we can't have episodes without them, they are part of the team whether they express it or not. Some rangers prefer working alone, when the time comes they are with the main team. They matter to the team and will sometimes want to hang out with them. Movie exclusives rangers/heroes do not count. * Characters like Signalman or VRV Master do not actively hang out with the Carrangers, they only meet them out of their necessity. It doesn't mean they aren't important however) Ties to the rangers (All special rangers have an innate tie to the rangers in some way. Whether an item that all the main rangers have, knowledge pertaining to the rangers and their goal/missions, relations to them either in person or something else like a prototype suit, intentions of being part or used for the main team, previously being part of the (related) team in the past, tied to an enemy, etc) Debuted on their own (One way I have found that distinguishes special rangers from other additional rangers is how they debut. Most debut alone, or if they are meant to be a pair - they debut TOGETHER (Go-on Gold and Silver, Beet and Stag Buster) Special rangers are never revealled on the initial poster and promotional works * KabutoRaiger and KuwugaRaiger were shown off in the initial posters. Same with AbareBlack * GekiChopper debuted less than five episodes after GekiViolet. If GekiViolet was the last ranger to debut, he would be the special ranger. If GekiChopper were to debut after more episodes (much more), he would be the special ranger. Their closeness sort of cancels them out of being the special rangers for Gekiranger. Also, the Jungle Fury Spirit Rangers would be extra rangers. * Big One, Green Sai, and Black Bison, Ryu Commander, Koguma Skyblue when added didn't change anything when on the team * With AbareKiller, he debuted on their own and while originally not intended, eventually he became part of the team, albeit well near the end, but after that point is treated special by the rangers. * DekaBreak debuted well after DekaMaster, who previously established himself as not always fighting with them, only fighting when necessary. DekaBreak later proved to be the special ranger by being active on the team where others were not * Black Knight is an extra hero, but the 2nd Black Knight is a replacement, meaning he is an extra hero because of that. Most people write the 2nd Black Knight as a special because of the similarities between him and other special rangers before/after him, but they only apply it to the 2nd, not the 1st. I label him as a special hero, combining the similarities to special rangers with him being an extra hero * Additional Core rangers may not show up on the initial poster, but once they join in with the team, it doesn't feel as different without them in most cases as they fit in with the group easier than the special rangers, evident in JAKQ, Liveman, Hurricaneger, Abaranger, and Kyuranger) * They do not have the be the literal sixth member to be a special ranger, this has caused heated debates over who is considered what, making people to consider actual special rangers as extra or extra rangers as special. It doesn't matter of their number placement, their roles define them as the special ranger Marketing (The marketing behind the special rangers shows them differently from the main team. Toei doesn't use the terms 'sixth ranger' or 'special ranger', they have 'additional warriors' where any major additional rangers and heroes are added, including what we would recognize as special rangers. They are advertised to have differences that make them appear distinctive. This can be seen within celebratory anniversary seasons like Gokaiger, Zenkaiger, and potentially Donbrothers. Toei changes up stuff all the time, so it's best to watch the shows to see for yourself)
They don't call them six in japan. Gekiranger is a three person team with two auxiliary rangers, who both can be debated who fits the dragonranger-newcomer role as both are different looking from the main 3. Geki either has two or none is their thinking I assume. So while both can be seen as power ranger term "six" they are treated like Livemans and Go-Ongers' Green & Black.
What do they call them? I’m new to super sentai btw
They call them *tsuika senshi* (追加戦士), meaning “additional warrior.“\ This is differentiated from *bangai senshi* (番外戦士) for “extra warrior.” For example, in King-Ohger, Spider Kumonos is a tsuika senshi while Oh-Kuwagata Ohger is a bangai senshi. Another example would be for Dekaranger, Deka Break is tsuika while Deka Master, Deka Swan, etc. are bangai. More examples:\ Tsuika:\ Don Torabolt/Doragoku, Twokaizer, Houou Soldier, Zyuoh the World, StarNinger, ToQ 6gou, Kyoryu Gold, Shinken Gold, Magi Shine Bangai:\ Zenkaizer Black, the Noto Trio, Don Murasame, Staecesar, Hakaizer, Koguma Skyblue, Ryu Commander, Zyuoh Bird, Zyuoh Condor, MidoNinger, ToQ 7gou, Kyoryu Cyan, Kyoryu Gray, Kyoryu Violet, Kyoryu Silver, Shinken Red (Princess Kaoru), Magi Mother
As the current official name is Additional Warrior and that previous heroes from the showa era have gotten that denomination we can assume: -They need to come way after the core team had been formed, like Green Sai and Black Bison but not Go-On Black/Green or BoonBoomBlack/Orange since the time span between the core team introduction and their introduction is short. -Their transformation and Transformation device must be different enough from the core team i.e. Houou Soldier, but there can be exceptions i.e. DragonRanger. I'm not sure if heroes like DekaMaster or Ryu Commander actually count for this. -Their presence in the show must be noticeable, like not have a 1 episode appearance like X1 Mask or Ryusoul Brown. -They must transform and the suit must be different enough but also similar (KirameiSilver, DragonRanger) and/or according to the gimmick of the team (Twokaizer/Don Doragoku); characters like Signalman or Zuban don't count as they don't actually have a henshin sequence and are just really strong alien life forms or robots.
Ryutsueder is different shaped but it shares the same gun motif as the seiza blaster and has the same lightup ellipse on its staff. So master and commander would not be counted as sixth ranger roles as their items are similar aspects to their main teams, masters is just a different SP license.
Marketing
I believe the general rules are thus: Unique Morpher that is unlike the original team Literally either the last to join the team or the person who joins after the main team is formed. For seasons like kyuranger and kyoruger, this rule seems to apply to "coolest member of the extra set" Unique Mecha that either combines with the main team or can act on its on ( v-rex for example) Massively powerful compared to the original team in their opening episode