Well, there's TONS of good cards in STON, but among them all, this card probably takes the cake as being the best card among them. Now how good is this card, good enough to be splashed for almost ever CC deck right now. (Now, we don't know how long will this "fad" last. I mean, this card isn't Treeborn Frog level)
Anyway, let's review this card that actually got 1x per deck the moment it got released in the US.
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Neo-Spacian Grand Mole
Level 3 / Rock / Earth / Effect
900ATK / 300DEF
If this card attacks or is attacked by an opponent's monster, you can return both monsters to their owner's hand at the start of the Damage Step (Without damage calculations).
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Okay, let's review.
First, it's a LV3. That's good cause it goes under Gravity Bind/LLAB. And being only 900ATK, means goes under Messenger as well. So the only thing that can stop this card from attacking is just usually SoRL or Nightmare Steelcage. Being Earth means it can be searched by Rat. Being a Rock means it can be supported a bit with the whole Earth/Rock theme. (Megarock Dragon for one. or Gigantes) And although it have 900ATK stat, which is poor, usually, this stat means nothing. (And it can be searched by Sangan) Heck, even if this card had 0ATK/0DEF, it's doesn't really matter with it's effect unless your attacking directly. Overall, pretty good LV3 monster stat wise.
Now it's effect. This card have the effect of bouncing any annoying monster as you choose. And after that, it'll bounce itself back as well. This is pretty darn good. I'm honestly not sure if this effect should make it 1x per deck, but it's definately good enough to put 1x in main or sidedeck at least.
Now, what are the uses. Well, for one thing, Rat Control. This card is pretty much god-sent good for a Rat Control. Problem with any recruiter control decks is getting swarm attacked by big fattie monsters or Hydrogeddon. Pyramid Turtle have Kokki/Reaper to solve that prob. Mystic Tomato have Newdoria (Although it doesn't negate Hydrogeddon's effect, since it kicks in after Hydrogeddon already summoned another one) And Apprentice Magician of Old Vindictive. Rats have usually just Nimble Momonga or to make a dire effort of getting Lily (that'll have to pay 2000LP to protect itself) or strange monsters like Gyaku-Gire Panda/Black Stego or some odd-ball that barely belongs in a sidedeck. Getting this one monster out stops all onslaught unless they got something ready to get rid of it immediately. And being only 300DEF means it can go around Smashing usually.
And the bounce effect, bounce anything that you think it's annoying. And it's best to bounce dead cards into hand. (nomi, 2x tribute monsters like SPoN/Horus, or Monarchs/Jinzo with no Treeborn Frog in the graveyard.) And also cards that have "graveyard" effects you can also bounce it off instead of usual card effect destruction. (e.g. Sangan, Treeborn Frog, Card Trooper, Sandmoth, etc.) And the fact that it bounce effect kicks in before damage calculations means it's BEFORE being flipped. So all face-down monsters gets absolutely no effect which includes all flippers, DDWL, etc like MSLV2. And the fact that it bounces to your hand is like Spirit monsters, annoying to get rid of. The only sure way to get rid of Grand Mole is to have a Trap card ready to kill it. I mean, the weakness of MSLV2 is that it got the 900ATK weak stat, meaning it'll die next turn usually, but this one returns to your hand. Your foe can't set anything against this bugger as protection when you got a huge monster on your field to support the Grand Mole bounce effect. Yeah, those Treeborn Frog/Sangan/Reaper/Flip effect monsters that people loves means nothing to Grand Mole. (And cards like Sangan/Frog, you rather bounce it then destroying it and sending it to the graveyard.) Another thing that's worth bouncing are stolen monsters. Monsters you lost cause of Snatch Steal or Creature Swap, you definately wanna ram it into this to get your monster back to your rightful hand.
Now, not all cards are worth bouncing. Some other cards, it's bad to bounce it back to your foe's hand. So this card doesn't solve the prob completely (Since the card is still in your foe's hand, to be used later if possible) or is "best card ever". (One card you never ever want to bounce back to your foe's hand is Breaker, but that's banned so no worry) So use it wisely IMO and know what to bounce. Basically, mix in the use of this card, "the ultimate bouncer" with Exiled Force "The ultimate destroyer" depending on situations.
The best use of this card is obviously Rat Control. And in the new format where 3x Lily and 3x Exiled is legal... Rat Control offically became scary. You can now run 3x Rat, 2x Lily, 3x Exiled, 1x Grand Mole and maybe 3x Nimbles and you got alot of good weenie monsters that can run havoc.
One thing, to use this monsters effect, it MUST be face-up. This monster effect kicks in before damage calculations. Meaning if it was face-down, and does battle, by the time it's flipped face-up, it's doing damage calculations so it missed it's timing. However, summoning it face-up is no prob since it skips battle damage. (And thus I said, it's ATk stat means nothing) This card is like 1 turn wall Treeborn Frog all over again.
Overall, I give this card a
9.5 out of 10
Definately splashable into almost any deck. IMO, it doesn't deserve 1x per deck. But 1x use can definately help out in alot of situations. Sometimes this card can backfire to you but the overall negative situation is very rare as this card provides usually a plus gain in field presence wise. And this card supports the theme of Rat Control and Earth/Rock decks very well. This card need no support, and yet supports others. Very good. This is one card I was considering 10/10... but in the end, I rather not.
Anyway, let's review this card that actually got 1x per deck the moment it got released in the US.
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Neo-Spacian Grand Mole
Level 3 / Rock / Earth / Effect
900ATK / 300DEF
If this card attacks or is attacked by an opponent's monster, you can return both monsters to their owner's hand at the start of the Damage Step (Without damage calculations).
-------
Okay, let's review.
First, it's a LV3. That's good cause it goes under Gravity Bind/LLAB. And being only 900ATK, means goes under Messenger as well. So the only thing that can stop this card from attacking is just usually SoRL or Nightmare Steelcage. Being Earth means it can be searched by Rat. Being a Rock means it can be supported a bit with the whole Earth/Rock theme. (Megarock Dragon for one. or Gigantes) And although it have 900ATK stat, which is poor, usually, this stat means nothing. (And it can be searched by Sangan) Heck, even if this card had 0ATK/0DEF, it's doesn't really matter with it's effect unless your attacking directly. Overall, pretty good LV3 monster stat wise.
Now it's effect. This card have the effect of bouncing any annoying monster as you choose. And after that, it'll bounce itself back as well. This is pretty darn good. I'm honestly not sure if this effect should make it 1x per deck, but it's definately good enough to put 1x in main or sidedeck at least.
Now, what are the uses. Well, for one thing, Rat Control. This card is pretty much god-sent good for a Rat Control. Problem with any recruiter control decks is getting swarm attacked by big fattie monsters or Hydrogeddon. Pyramid Turtle have Kokki/Reaper to solve that prob. Mystic Tomato have Newdoria (Although it doesn't negate Hydrogeddon's effect, since it kicks in after Hydrogeddon already summoned another one) And Apprentice Magician of Old Vindictive. Rats have usually just Nimble Momonga or to make a dire effort of getting Lily (that'll have to pay 2000LP to protect itself) or strange monsters like Gyaku-Gire Panda/Black Stego or some odd-ball that barely belongs in a sidedeck. Getting this one monster out stops all onslaught unless they got something ready to get rid of it immediately. And being only 300DEF means it can go around Smashing usually.
And the bounce effect, bounce anything that you think it's annoying. And it's best to bounce dead cards into hand. (nomi, 2x tribute monsters like SPoN/Horus, or Monarchs/Jinzo with no Treeborn Frog in the graveyard.) And also cards that have "graveyard" effects you can also bounce it off instead of usual card effect destruction. (e.g. Sangan, Treeborn Frog, Card Trooper, Sandmoth, etc.) And the fact that it bounce effect kicks in before damage calculations means it's BEFORE being flipped. So all face-down monsters gets absolutely no effect which includes all flippers, DDWL, etc like MSLV2. And the fact that it bounces to your hand is like Spirit monsters, annoying to get rid of. The only sure way to get rid of Grand Mole is to have a Trap card ready to kill it. I mean, the weakness of MSLV2 is that it got the 900ATK weak stat, meaning it'll die next turn usually, but this one returns to your hand. Your foe can't set anything against this bugger as protection when you got a huge monster on your field to support the Grand Mole bounce effect. Yeah, those Treeborn Frog/Sangan/Reaper/Flip effect monsters that people loves means nothing to Grand Mole. (And cards like Sangan/Frog, you rather bounce it then destroying it and sending it to the graveyard.) Another thing that's worth bouncing are stolen monsters. Monsters you lost cause of Snatch Steal or Creature Swap, you definately wanna ram it into this to get your monster back to your rightful hand.
Now, not all cards are worth bouncing. Some other cards, it's bad to bounce it back to your foe's hand. So this card doesn't solve the prob completely (Since the card is still in your foe's hand, to be used later if possible) or is "best card ever". (One card you never ever want to bounce back to your foe's hand is Breaker, but that's banned so no worry) So use it wisely IMO and know what to bounce. Basically, mix in the use of this card, "the ultimate bouncer" with Exiled Force "The ultimate destroyer" depending on situations.
The best use of this card is obviously Rat Control. And in the new format where 3x Lily and 3x Exiled is legal... Rat Control offically became scary. You can now run 3x Rat, 2x Lily, 3x Exiled, 1x Grand Mole and maybe 3x Nimbles and you got alot of good weenie monsters that can run havoc.
One thing, to use this monsters effect, it MUST be face-up. This monster effect kicks in before damage calculations. Meaning if it was face-down, and does battle, by the time it's flipped face-up, it's doing damage calculations so it missed it's timing. However, summoning it face-up is no prob since it skips battle damage. (And thus I said, it's ATk stat means nothing) This card is like 1 turn wall Treeborn Frog all over again.
Overall, I give this card a
9.5 out of 10
Definately splashable into almost any deck. IMO, it doesn't deserve 1x per deck. But 1x use can definately help out in alot of situations. Sometimes this card can backfire to you but the overall negative situation is very rare as this card provides usually a plus gain in field presence wise. And this card supports the theme of Rat Control and Earth/Rock decks very well. This card need no support, and yet supports others. Very good. This is one card I was considering 10/10... but in the end, I rather not.