Sengoku Driver



The Sengoku Driver (戦極（センゴク）ドライバー) is the transformation belt for the Armored Riders. It was invented by Ryoma Sengoku of the Yggdrasill Corporation as the first generation of Yggdrasill's transformation devices, with the Genesis Driver being the second generation.

In theory, an indefinite amount of Sengoku Drivers exist, as there were numerous people (Bujin Gaim, Fifteen, Mars) who received Sengoku Drivers via unconventional means.

Functionality
The Sengoku Driver is usually only in its buckle form. If the user wants to use the belt, all they have to do is place it on their waist and the Folding Band (フォルディングバンド) will automatically wrap around their body, fastening the belt.

To transform, the user opens the lock on the Lockseed, which causes a dimensional opening into the Helheim Forest to materialize above them and an Armor Part that corresponds to the Lockseed used to appear from it. Afterwards, the user attaches the Lockseed onto the belt's Drive Bay (ドライブベイ) and closes the lock to secure it into the Lock On Arm (ロックオンアーム). Finally, the user presses the Cutting Blade (カッティングブレード) knife down, which cuts open the Lockseed itself, causing the Armor Part to fall on top of the user's head and the Driver to announce the Arms granted, along with its corresponding phrase.

Once on the user, the Armor Part materializes the Ride Wear suit and forms the Arms Helmet head piece. Afterwards, the Armor Part disassembles to form the chestplate and pauldrons, with the Arms Weapon appearing in the Rider's hands once the transformation is complete. If the Rider is already in the Helheim Forest, the Armor Part will just materialize above the Rider from energy in the same color as the Arms armor is in. If the wearer of the Sengoku Driver is in danger and has unlocked a Lockseed, the Armor Part will descend quickly to shield the user from harm.

Even though all the Riders use a Sengoku Driver which share the same voice, they each have a unique Rider Indicator (ライダーインジケーター) plate on the wearer's left hand side. Each Rider Indicator is created when the belt is first put on, locking the belt to that particular user and changing the sounds the belt makes when in use. If the Sengoku Driver is damaged to the point that it will no longer function, the Rider Indicator will return to blank. In addition, the Sengoku Drivers only increase a person's physical strength and defenses by a certain amount, meaning that an Armored Rider's strength is also dependent on the person that's utilizing it. For example, Gaim and Baron Banana Arms both vary in statistics despite using the same exact Lockseed and a Sengoku Driver.

Four additional variations on the Sengoku Driver exist, all featuring silver belts rather than the yellow ones of the primary Drivers. The first appears to be a prototype, as it lacks a Cutting Blade or Rider Indicator and thus cannot be used to transform, but can still be used by Yggdrasill Corporation researchers to protect themselves from the hypnotic effects of Helheim fruits and convert them into Lockseeds. This type was in use before the events of the show. The second is a full mass-production version of the primary Sengoku Driver, which are used by the Kurokage Troopers. This version lacks a Rider Indicator and does not lock to a user, but instead can be used to transform by anyone. It is implied to be weaker than the primary Drivers by some amount, as seen when Kouta and Kaito were able to put up a fight against several Kurokage Troopers without transforming. A third, different variation of the mass-production Driver is found on Ryoma Sengoku's desk and is later used by Kamen Rider Knuckle, utilizing a slightly different Ride Wear suit than the Kurokage Troopers (the head/helmet is different). The fourth variant Sengoku Driver is identical in appearance to the mass-production type but with a Rider Indicator, and is claimed to be stronger than the originals. This type is used by Kamen Rider Bravo and Kamen Rider Gridon from episode 17 onward and used by Kamen Rider Gaim Yami in the movie in conjunction with the Genesis Core in place of the Rider Indicator.

As shown, anyone who wears a Sengoku Driver, be it Riders or Yggdrasill Corporation employees, can turn Helheim fruits into Lockseeds just by picking them from their stems. Wearing a Driver and locking a Lockseed in also provides nutrition to a wearer thus allowing them to survive without growing hungry. Aside from that, Sengoku Drivers can protect people from Invess infection, as shown when Kaito didn't take off his belt after being wounded by an Overlord to prevent from turning into an Invess.

The Sengoku Driver can also combine with the Genesis Driver by replacing the former's Rider Indicator with the latter's Genesis Core. If the Rider is transformed when they activate an Energy Lockseed, it causes the normal Lockseed to close and unlock. Then, after the Energy Lockseed is inserted and both Lockseeds are locked in place, the normal Lockseed's Armor Part is sent upwards into the sky, where it merges with the Energy Lookseed's descending Armor Part to become the jinbaori-themed Jimber Armor Part, which then falls onto the Rider as soon as the Cutting Blade is pressed down, allowing them to assume Jimber Arms. If the Rider is not already transformed, they must lock both Lockseeds in place and press the Cutting Blade down, causing both Lockseed's Armor Parts to descend side by side before being drawn together to combine into the Jimber Armor Part and fall onto the user as usual.

When the Cutting Blade is pressed down between one and three times, a Rider can activate a certain ability.
 * Once: The Squash (スカッシュ) function can either power up a Rider's Arms Weapon for a finishing attack or allow the user to initiate a Rider Kick when infused with the fruit-shaped/nut-shaped energy of their Arms.
 * Twice: The Au Lait (オーレ) function gives extra power to the Squash function.
 * Thrice: The Sparking (スパーキング) function can either further enhance a Rider's finishing attack to its full potential or temporarily convert the user's Armor Part into its original fruit/nut form to spin and use as a shield.

History
The Sengoku Drivers were invented by Ryoma Sengoku, a scientist of the Yggdrasill Corporation's R&D Branch. As per the company's plans, the first six would be prototypes distributed to the Beat Riders of Zawame City. This way, whenever a Beat Rider transformed and fought, the Driver would collect data that would be used further by the Corporation's R&D Branch. The data collected from the Sengoku Drivers would eventually culminate in the creation of the Genesis Drivers, as well as the mass-production Sengoku Drivers used by the Kurokage Troopers. Meanwhile, it is revealed there are two hidden prototype Sengoku Driver left beside's Takatora's Sengoku Driver, as seen in the Gaiden series.

Ryoma Sengoku reveals that in 10 years time, the day the Inves take over, Yggdrasill can make one billion Sengoku Drivers, wiping out the other six billion people. Unfortunately, the Over Lords sped it up thanks to Rosyuo and Yggdrasill's self-destruction.

After the death of Ryoma Sengoku, Kaito Kumon took up the means of power by becoming an Over Lord. Using this new found power, he advanced his goal of destroying the world. However many Armored Riders have tried to face him, resulting in defeat and destroyed Sengoku Drivers.

After Helheim was cleared from Zawame City, evil still arose as a new Rider appeared. The surviving Armored Riders are left without Sengoku Drivers or Lockseeds to battle this new threat because of some betrayal reasons by one of their friends who were once evil, save for one final mass-produced Driver, which is soon destroyed, and lastly, Mitsuzane's Sengoku Driver is the only one left. Until during Megahex's invasion, whereas Megahex gained a data through a now Man of the Beginning Kouta, Takatora is the first Rider to regain his power, after Ryugen destroys one of Megahex's Kurokage robots and has some of Kurokage's Driver left behind as Mitsuzane noticed it, and from Kouta's will to produce the Helheim's fruit for Takatora's use to transform again. Takatora notes that new Drivers could be constructed using the blueprints left behind by Ryoma, but the lack of Lockseeds would still leave them useless since Helheim's no longer on Earth anymore. However, since Kouta is considered worthy to be a Man from the Beginning of humanity's hope, the Lockseed can be provided anytime when the Riders need it against any new threats.

Users (chronological order)
Prototype= Mass-Produced= Other=
 * Takatora Kureshima/Armored Rider Zangetsu: A unit that equips the user with a Musou Saber and its holster. Granted to him as the head of Yggdrasill's Research and Development, and was presumably the first Sengoku Driver to be initialized. In its first use, it failed badly, leaving his shoulder scarred; the belt was later upgraded into its current form.
 * A different faceplate is seen when using the Watermelon Lockseed.
 * Later retired its use in favor of his new Genesis Driver; when that Driver was taken from him, he reclaimed his original unit and began using it again. It was subsequently destroyed in battle against Mitsuzane as Zangetsu Shin.
 * Ryoma Sengoku/Armored Rider Duke: A unit with no special attachements; later retired, current fate is unknown. (User deceased as a result of a later battle)
 * Armored Rider Gaim: A unit that equips the user with a Musou Saber, its holster, and a Lock Holder; one of the six prototype Drivers purchased from Lock Dealer Sid.
 * (Kouta Kazuraba): In Kiwami Arms, a second Lock Holder (which Kouta uses for his Energy Lockseeds) replaces the Musou Saber and its holster. One of the six Drivers purchased from Lock Dealer Sid; its original owner was Yuya Sumii, but after entering the Helheim Forest and eating a Helheim fruit, he was turned into the Byakko Inves and dropped the Driver under a tree, where Kouta would later find it and take it for his own use.
 * (Yuya Sumii): A unit that equips the user with a Musou Saber, its holster, and a Lock Holder. Originally owned the belt, but after entering the Helheim Forest and eating a Helheim fruit, he was turned into the Byakko Inves and dropped the Driver under a tree, where Kouta would later find it and take it for his own use.. In Kouta's vision of an alternate timeline, Yuya had successfully used this Driver to become Gaim without entering Helheim, and fought Kouta, who had become the Byakko Inves in his stead. (Deceased)
 * Kaito Kumon/Armored Rider Baron: A unit with no special attachments; one of the six Drivers purchased from Sid. Later began swapping it out for a new Genesis Driver as necessary. Kaito also stole a mass-production driver from Ryoma Sengoku's office during his escape from Yggdrasill Tower, and gave it to Zack, the future Armored Rider Knuckle. It was likely destroyed along with his Lord Baron form by Gaim Kiwami Arms in their final battle. (Deceased)
 * In the Movie War Full Throttle, Megahex ZZZ creates a replica of Kaito Kumon, along with the Sengoku Driver, to transform into Kamen Rider Baron. But he quickly attacks Megahex ZZZ instead of other Riders and proceeds to attack the mechanical versions of Inves and Roidmudes. The fate of this replica of Baron's Sengoku Driver is unknown after Megahex' destruction that causes his clones, minions and even Kamen Rider Baron to be neutralized.
 * Mitsuzane Kureshima/Armored Rider Ryugen: A unit with no special attachments; one of the six Drivers "purchased" from Sid, with Mitsuzane using his dark personality to impress/convince Sid into "accidentally leaving behind" a Driver. He later retired it in favor of his brother's Genesis Driver, but returned to using his original Driver after acquiring the Yometsuheguri Lockseed, its use altering the design of his Rider Indicator temporarily until the Yomotsuheguri Lockseed was destroyed.
 * Hideyasu Jonouchi/Armored Rider Gridon: A unit with no special attachments; one of the six Drivers purchased from Sid. Later retired its use in favor of a mass-production unit.
 * Ryoji Hase/Armored Rider Kurokage: A unit with no special attachments; one of the six Drivers purchased from Sid. It was later destroyed in battle with Zangetsu. (User deceased as a result of a later battle.)
 * Oren Pierre Alfonzo/Armored Rider Bravo: A unit with no special attachments; one of the six Drivers purchased from Sid. Its original owner was Sonomura of Team Red Hot, but Oren confiscated it from him, both for causing a disturbance in his pastry shop and because Oren felt Sonamura was not worthy of having it. Later retired its use in favor of a mass-production unit.
 * Touka Akatsuki/Armored Rider Idunn: A unit with no special attachments. It was given to Touka Akatsuki, along with Ringo Lockseed, to transform into Kamen Rider Idunn as a part of lethal experiments conducted by Amagi Kureshima in Zawame Child Care Facility. After its user is killed by Kamen Rider Duke, the fate of this Sengoku Driver is unknown. (Deceased)
 * Yggdrasill Corporation Research Members: Harvesting Driver units with no Cutting Blade or special attachments; used by employees of Yggdrasill to safely harvest Lockseeds. (Status unknown following outlawing of Yggdrasill as a terrorist organization by world governments)
 * Kurokage Troopers: Units with no special attachments; used by employees of Yggdrasill to function as their foot soldiers. Decommissioned and disposed of following the end of the Helheim threat, save for one that was used by Jonouchi and destroyed in battle.
 * Mecha Kurokages: Two recreations of the Kurokage Troopers complete with Sengoku Driver, created by Megahex. One Driver is recovered by Mitsuzane, who gave it to Takatora. The fate of the second is unknown. These appear to be the same variation as Gridon and Bravo's second Drivers rather than the weaker mass-produced Drivers used by the original Kurokage Troopers. (Users destroyed)
 * Zack/Armored Rider Knuckle:
 * A unit with no special attachments; stolen from Ryoma Sengoku's office in Yggdrasill Tower by Kaito, who gave it to Zack after stepping down as Team Baron's leader. It was later destroyed in battle with Baron.
 * Later given a replacement by Mitsuzane Kureshima, along with a Genesis Core, a new Kurumi Lockseed and a Marron Energy Lockseed. The source of the Lockseeds is unknown.
 * Hideyasu Jonouchi/Armored Rider Gridon/Armored Rider Kurokage II:
 * (Armored Rider Gridon): A new unit with Gridon's original Rider Indicator (most likely to identify the Ride Wear suit); given to him after becoming an employee of Yggdrasill. It was later destroyed in battle by Knuckle and Marika.
 * (Armored Rider Kurokage II): Later obtains a standard Mass-produced driver from Takatora and utilizes the Matsubokkuri Lockseed to become Kurokage, only for it to be destroyed by Jam.
 * Oren Pierre Alfonzo/Armored Rider Bravo: A new unit with Bravo's original Rider Indicator (most likely to identify the Ride Wear suit); given to him after becoming an employee of Yggdrasill. It was later destroyed in battle by Lord Baron.
 * Takatora Kureshima/Armored Rider Zangetsu:
 * Harvesting Driver unit with no Cutting Blade or special attachments; given to him by Rosyuo after he lost his Genesis Driver and was trapped in the Helheim Forest. It is later abandoned after he regains his prototype Sengoku Driver, which is later destroyed in battle by Mitsuzane as Zangetsu Shin.
 * Mitsuzane later defeated a Mecha Kurokage and confiscated its Driver, which he gave to Takatora. Takatora subsequently picked up one of the Helheim's Fruits from Kouta's remaining Over Lord powers, which changed into a Melon Lockseed and altered the blank Rider Indicator to match his original.
 * Kugai Kudo/Armored Rider Savior: Aesthetically identical to the yellow-belted prototype (without a unique Rider Indicator) but with a Genesis Core in place of Rider Indicator faceplate. How Savior was able to obtain it is currently unknown.
 * Bujin Rider Gaim: Aesthetically identical to the yellow-belted prototype models (including a unique Rider Indicator), this unit equips the user with a Musou Saber and its holster; how he got it is unknown. Destroyed along with Bujin Gaim himself. (Deceased)
 * Ren Aoi/Armored Rider Fifteen: Aesthetically identical to the silver-belted mass production models, but with a unique Rider Indicator and belt formation (it appears to be made out of bone at first, then solidifies into a standard silver belt); obtained prior to joining the Badan Empire and recently being brainwashed by them after his son's apparent death and temporary revival. Destroyed by Gaim 1 Arms, freeing him from Badan's brainwashing.
 * Kougane/Armored Rider Mars/Armored Rider Jam: Aesthetically identical to the yellow-belted prototype models (including a unique Rider Indicator for each of his two Rider forms) (Deceased)
 * (Armored Rider Mars): Has no special attachments; appeared on him when he was awoken in the Soccer World by the alternate Ryoma Sengoku. Presumably stolen from Ryoma's lab. Destroyed by Gaim and Kamuro.
 * (Armored Rider Jam): Armed with a Musou Saber (but no Musou Saber Holster); obtained by unknown means. Destroyed by Ryugen and Gaim.
 * Kouta Kazuraba/Armored Rider Gaim Yami: Transformed version of his original Sengoku Driver, altering its yellow belt into silver like those of the mass production models, along with black recolored Lockseeds. It is equipped with a Genesis Core and a Lock Holder. This unit was reverted back to the original yellow belt, along with the Lockseed's original colors, when he was freed from Kougane's control.
 * Lapis/Armored Rider Kamuro: Aesthetically identical to the yellow-belted prototype models (including a unique Rider Indicator) but with no special attachments; presumably taken from Ryoma's lab or created via his bracelet, and uses it in conjunction with the Silver Ringo Lockseed given to him by DJ Sagara for a short time to fight Mars. (User MIA)
 * Shura/Armored Rider Black Baron: Aesthetically identical to the yellow-belted prototype models (including a unique Rider Indicator) but with no special attachments. How Black Baron was able to obtain it is currently unknown.
 * Maja/Armored Rider Gaim Yami/Armored Rider Maja:
 * (Armored Rider Gaim Yami): Aesthetically identical to the silver-belted mass production models, along with black recolored Lockseeds. It is equipped with a Genesis Core and a Lock Holder
 * (Armored Rider Maja): Aesthetically identical to the yellow-belted prototype models (including a unique Rider Indicator), but with no special attachments.

Behind the Scenes
Portrayal= The voice of the Sengoku Driver, as well as the Musou Saber and the Lockseeds, is provided by Seiji Hiratoko (平床 政治). Notes=
 * In an interview with Hyper Hobby, Kamen Rider Gaim producer Naomi Takebe spoke of how she liked that the Riders were all using the same belt, reminding her of Kamen Rider Ryuki, where the Riders all used the V-Buckle belt to transform. Design-wise, she said how she liked the plate on the side that shows the Rider's face. However, the Riders' Ride Wear transformation sequences are almost similar to the Riders from Kamen Rider Den-O.
 * The sight of the opened Orange Lockseed, bearing an image of orange slices, while inserted into the Sengoku Driver, creates a homage to the Double Riders' Typhoon, resembling the fan of the original belt.
 * The "Sengoku" (戦極) in Sengoku Driver is one kanji away from being "Sengoku" (戦国). In this case, the kanji "Koku" (国), meaning "country" or "state", is replaced with "Kyoku" (極), meaning "extreme". This, however, is due to the fact that the Driver was directly named after its creator.
 * Depending on the Rider Indicator, the Sengoku Driver emits a different style of standby music every time a Lockseed is attached onto the Drive Bay and the lock is secured into the Lock On Arm. It also either announces a different word or emits the sound of a guitar riff every time the Cutting Blade is pressed down. The only exceptions to this are Mars, Kamuro, and Jam.
 * Gaim, Zangetsu, & Kurokage (Troopers): Japanese horagai music and the word "Soiya" (ソイヤ).
 * Baron, Gridon, Duke, & Idunn: European trumpet music and the words "Come On" (カモン).
 * Ryugen (Yomi): Chinese erhu & gong music and the word "Hai" (ハイー).
 * Bravo, Knuckle, Bujin Gaim, & Fifteen: American rock & roll music and a guitar riff.
 * The Sengoku Driver is similar to the Transforming Gaia Dinosaur Fang Memory, as both require a lever-like attachment to be pushed down between one and three times to access a weapon or ability.
 * Each of the Sengoku Driver's functions are named after a type of beverage.
 * Squash: Concentrated syrup.
 * Au Lait: Coffee with milk.
 * Sparking: Carbonated water.
 * The Sengoku Driver is similiar to the from , as it is named after  creator.
 * Kamen Rider Knuckle was originally planned to have his own Rider Indicator. This was scrapped because the Ride Wear suit used in the production of Kamen Rider Gaim is a Kurokage suit.
 * Gridon and Kurokage's Rider Indicators, when compared to the rest of the Armored Riders, are rather plain-looking. The reason for this is unknown, though due to some of the differences between them and the other Armored Riders, this may be an indication:
 * Their default forms are based on nuts instead of fruits (Gridon's Donguri Arms is based on an acorn, while Kurokage's Matsubokkuri Arms is based on a pinecone).
 * Their primary transformation Lockseeds are not A-Classed (Gridon's Donguri Lockseed is Class B, while Kurokage's Matsubokkuri Lockseed is Class C). This theory has some credence, as Kurokage's Indicator literally has nothing but his face on it, while Gridon's has a patch of brown.
 * The Drivers in Kamen Rider Gaim are similar to the Memory Drivers from Kamen Rider W, as they both have several generations of models. They are also similar in that they are meant to filter a raw power that would otherwise make an individual go insane.
 * The Sengoku Driver is the first main Rider Belt since Kamen Rider Kiva that does not contain the name of its series' protagonist Kamen Rider.
 * Out of the three alternate variations of Gaim, Ryugen, and Zangetsu's Rider Indicators, (Bujin Gaim, Ryugen Yomi, and Zangetsu Watermelon Arms), Gaim is the only one whose alternate Rider Indicator does not belong to himself, but rather to another Rider.