Drill Warrior (ABPF-EN041)

Card:  ABPF-EN041
Card Name:  Drill Warrior
Attribute:  Earth
Level/Rank:  6
Type:  Warrior/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2400
DEF:  2000

Card Text:
"Drill Synchron" + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, during your Main Phase, you can halve this card's ATK (permanently).  If you do, it can attack your opponent directly this turn.  Once per turn, during your Main Phase, you can discard 1 card and remove this card from play.  During your next Standby Phase, Special Summon this card, if removed by this effect.  Then, add 1 Monster Card from your Graveyard to your hand.

Personal Comment:

Drill Warrior is a very tricky card to play and needs a strategy in place to be successful.  So the following comment will be slightly hard to follow if you are new to dueling.

The requirement of "Drill Synchron" to Synchro Summon this card makes it a little difficult to bring into play but adding "Quickdraw Synchron" will definitely speed this up.  Once on the field, the first part of Drill Warrior's effect is pretty self explanatory.  Halve the ATK of this card (it becomes 1200 ATK permanently) and attack your opponent directly.  In most situation, I recommend activating this effect right away (Main Phase 1) and taking full advantage of it.  Now that he's weakened (1200 ATK and 2000 DEF) it is more important to utilize his second effect than keeping him on the field.  So during your Main Phase 2, send 1 card in your hand to the Graveyard to remove Drill Warrior from play (note: the card you sent to the Graveyard can be one of the cards you bring back to your hand and is not considered a cost).  The success of the second part of Drill Warrior's effect will depend on what monsters you have in the Graveyard and what the current situation dictates.  You need to think carefully about what monster(s) your opponent has on the field or what monster you want to put in play.  During your next Standby Phase, you can now Special Summon Drill Warrior back to the field and return a monster from the Graveyard to your hand (adding the card to your hand is a trigger effect that is part of the Special Summon).  Because he was removed from play, Drill Warrior's stats reset and he comes back with 2400 ATK and 2000 DEF.  This means you can start the whole process all over...halve his ATK and attack your opponent directly again.  If used properly, Drill Warrior can eat away an opponent's life points and strengthen your hand at the same time.  A very fun and challenging card.

Here's what I just talked about simplified:

- Your Turn
- Draw Phase
- Standby Phase
- Main Phase 1 (Synchro Summon Drill Warrior, halve his ATK, attack opponent directly)
- Battle Phase
- Main Phase 2 (Send 1 card from hand to the Graveyard, remove Drill Warrior)
- End Phase

- Opponent's Turn

- Your turn
- Draw Phase
- Standby Phase (Bring back Drill Warrior with full stats, return card from Graveyard to hand)
- Main Phase 1 (Halve Drill Warrior's ATK, attack opponent directly)
- Battle Phase
- Main Phase 2 (Send 1 card from hand to the Graveyard, remove Drill Warrior)
- End Phase

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 7/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7/10

T.G. Hyper Librarian (JUMP-EN051)

Card:  JUMP-EN051
Card Name:  T.G. Hyper Librarian
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  5
Type:  Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2400
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
While this card is face-up on the field, each time a Synchro Monster(s) is Synchro Summoned, draw 1 card for each.

Personal Comment:
This is one of the best (if not the best) support card for any Synchro deck...PERIOD.  I'm using the term "support" very loosely because he can stand on his own in most head-to-head battles.  The 2400 ATK is very nice for a level 5 monster but it's the "simple" effect that is devastating (don't let the simplicity of this card's effect fool you though).  T.G. Hyper Librarian has changed the landscape of dueling across all formats the moment he was released.  The ability to be +1 for every monster that is Synchro Summoned has made it possible to bring out some of the most dangerous Synchro Monsters quickly and consistently.  Not only do you gain a +1 card advantage when you Synchro Summon a monster, but also when your opponent Synchro Summons a monster.  This makes it a priority for your opponent to try and remove this card before they do any Synchro Summoning of their own.  In addition, T.G. Hyper Librarian isn't relegated to the "T.G." archetype.  He can be splashed into any Synchro Deck out there and flourish just the same.  To say this card should be used in a Synchro deck is an understatement...it should be mandatory.  Unfortunately, T.G. Hyper Librarian is quite expensive right now because he is sought after by every duelist and collector.  Hopefully they will release another card version soon so everybody can afford it.  An absolutely fantastic card.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 9/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Black Rose Dragon (CSOC-EN039)

Card:  CSOC-EN039
Card Name:  Black Rose Dragon
Attribute:  Fire
Level/Rank:  7
Type:  Dragon/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2400
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can destroy all cards on the field.  Once per turn, you can remove from play 1 Plant-Type monster from your Graveyard to change 1 monster your opponent controls to face-up Attack Position, and reduce its ATK to 0 until the End Phase.

Personal Comment:
Due to the non-restriction on the Synchro Summoning requirement (no specification of a plant monster), it isn't mandatory that you play Black Rose Dragon in a plant deck.  The ability to easily bring this dragon out and utilize the first part of the card's effect is a game changer when you are being overwhelmed by your opponent.  Once Synchro Summoned you get to clear the entire field of all cards.  But there's a catch.  If you decide to activate this effect Black Rose Dragon is also destroyed in the process (notice how the card text says "destroy all cards on the field").  That one downside shouldn't take away from how important this effect is when a duel isn't going in your favor.  While it isn't imperative to run Black Rose Dragon in a plant deck exclusively, having some plant monsters in the Graveyard to activate the second part of the effect would be a huge added bonus.  Simply put, some of the most powerful monsters in the game don't stand a change once they are switched to attack position and their ATK is reduced to 0.  So where does the full force of the 2400 attack go once you destroy their monster?  Yep, directly against your opponent's life points.  Easy to summon, capable of being played in most decks, game changing first effect, game changing second effect...what else do you expect from one of the best Synchro Monster card available?

Just to clarify.  It isn't madatory to use Black Rose Dragon in a plant deck...but it is mandatory to have Black Rose Dragon in any plant deck.  Understand the difference and you will understand how powerful this card can be.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8/10

Loki, Lord Of The Aesir (STOR-EN039)

Card:  STOR-EN039
Card Name:  Loki, Lord Of The Aesir
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  3300
DEF:  3000

Card Text:
1 "Nordic Alfar" Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card during your Battle Phase, you can negate its activation and destroy it.  During the End Phase, if this face-up card on the field was destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to the Graveyard this turn, you can remove from play 1 "Nordic Alfar" Tuner monster from your Graveyard to Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.  When it is Special Summoned by this effect, you can select 1 Trap Card in your Graveyard, and add it to your hand.

Personal Comment:
Here's the specific order for the three Nordic God cards in terms of dueling capabilities...Odin, Loki, then Thor.  Like the other two, Loki is a great card.  But if you're going to build a deck around one card you should go with Odin.  Loki's ability to destroy a Spell/Trap card once per turn is fantastic.  The 3300 ATK and 3000 DEF will stand up against most monsters.  But he still falls short of power compared to Odin (which also has an impressive card effect that negates Spell/Trap cards).

So here's the quick recap for the three Nordic God cards I've written about...
- Odin is the most powerful and should be the card you build a deck around
- Loki should be used only if you don't have Odin
- Thor is a great card but there are a lot better cards you can build a deck around***
- Get all three cards...they're a great addition to any collection and the artwork is the best there is.

***Refer to my updated comment section on Thor, Lord Of The Aesir.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10 (the ultimate rarity version doesn't do it justice)
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Thor, Lord Of The Aesir (STOR-EN038)

Card:  STOR-EN038
Card Name:  Thor, Lord Of The Aesir
Attribute:  Earth
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Beast-Warrior/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  3500
DEF:  2800

Card Text:
1 "Nordic Beast" Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, you can negate the effects of all face-up monsters your opponent controls, until the End Phase.  During the End Phase, if this face-up card on the field was destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to the Graveyard this turn, you can remove from play 1 "Nordic Beast" Tuner monster from your Graveyard to Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.  When it is Special Summoned by this effect, inflict 800 damage to your opponent.

Personal Comment:
I'm still on the fence with this card.  Thor has some great stats with 3500 ATK and 2800 DEF but it will take a lot of work to bring him into play.  On top of that, once in play your opponent can easily get rid of him with various Spell/Trap cards.  For dueling purposes, there are plenty of other monsters with comparable stats and more staying power than Thor (Odin or Loki are simply better).  But as a collector, this is one of my favorite card.  The artwork is superb.  If you're going to spend money on a card you don't want to feel ripped off due to a lack of effort in the art (I refuse to buy The Wicked Avatar for this reason).  This card is worth the money.  Plus, it's one of the three Nordic God cards which makes it a pivotal part of any collection.

Update - 10/28/2011
I've heard a lot of disagreement with my assessment of Thor as a dueling card.  Apparently there are many duelist who have been very successful using this card and others who have been beaten by an opponent who uses this card.  So I need to clarify.  I think Thor is a very powerful card (my Personal Power Rating has him at 8/10).  The 3500 ATK and 2800 DEF is nothing to laugh at.  Those stats will hold up against most monsters and if you get him on the playing field there's a very good chance you will win your duel.  Having said that, why build a deck around Thor when you can build it around Odin instead?  Odin brings with him 4000 ATK and 3500 DEF with an effect that negates Spell/Trap cards.  Odin is simply the most powerful of the three Nordic Gods.  So the question is this...if you had a "winner takes all" match with the choice to build a deck around Odin, Loki, or Thor...which one would you choose?

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8/10

Odin, Father Of The Aesir (STOR-EN040)

Card:  STOR-EN040
Card Name:  Odin, Father Of The Aesir
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  10
Type:  Fairy/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  4000
DEF:  3500

Card Text:
1 "Nordic Ascendant" Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn, during your Main Phase, you can activate this effect to have this card become unaffected by the effects of Spell/Trap Cards until the End Phase.  During the End Phase, if this face-up card on the field was destroyed by your opponent's card (either by battle or by card effect) and sent to the Graveyard this turn, you can remove from play 1 "Nordic Ascendant" Tuner monster from your Graveyard to Special Summon this card from the Graveyard.  When it is Special Summoned by this effect, you can draw 1 card.

Personal Comment:
Of the three Nordic God cards (Odin, Loki, and Thor) Odin is the most powerful.  Not only does he have the best stats with 4000 ATK and 3500 DEF but his card effect makes him almost unstoppable when he hits the playing field.  So once he is summoned there's really nothing to stop you from attacking.  Most monsters won't be able to stop the 4000 ATK (if they can then you have a very big problem).  The only viable option your opponent has against Odin is to remove him from play with a monster's card effect.  Even if that happens he can still be Special Summoned by removing a "Nordic Ascendant" Tuner from the Graveyard.  Like most cards with this much power, Odin is a very difficult card to Synchro Summon and will take time to gather the needed materials.  However, if you are able to bring him out you can expect a quick and decisive victory.  One of the best cards available.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10
Power - 10/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8.5/10

Trishula, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier (HA04-EN060)

Card:  HA04-EN060
Card Name:  Trishula, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier
Attribute:  Water
Level/Rank:  9
Type:  Dragon/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2700
DEF:  2000

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can activate this effect to remove from play up to one card each from your opponent's hand, field and Graveyard.  (The card in the hand is chosen at random.)

Personal Comment:
Trishula, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier is a top tier card and the financial cost to own her reflects it (currently going for about $50).  Her effect is absolutely devastating to an opponent.  When she hits the playing field you automatically gain an advantage by removing the most powerful monster your opponent controls.  On top of that you get to remove from play a card in their Graveyard (which you also get to specifically choose) and one random card from their hand.  Any strategy or momentum that they had is completely gone.  With such a great effect it is necessary to build a deck specifically around her to take full advantage of it.  While the summoning requirement is rather difficult, it definitely isn't impossible.  The effort to bring her into play is will be well worth it.  With the ability to turn a duel around or to end it the moment she is summoned, Trishula is one of the best dueling card available.  A near perfect card.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 7/10
Collectable - 10/10
Overall Score - 8.75/10

Gungnir, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier (HA03-EN030)

Card:  HA03-EN030
Card Name:  Gungnir, Dragon Of The Ice Barrier
Attribute:  Water
Level/Rank:  7
Type:  Dragon/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  1700

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner WATER monsters
Once per turn, you can discard up to 2 cards to the Graveyard to select the same number of cards your opponent controls.  Destroy the selected cards.

Personal Comment:
Gungnir is a great "Ice Barrier" card but still comes up short when compared to Trishula or Brionac due to one simple requirement.  In order to Synchro Summon this card easily your deck has to be built around WATER monsters (there aren't many great WATER monsters to choose from).  Otherwise, getting Gungnir onto the playing field can be a real chore if you only have a few WATER monsters in your deck.  However, once in play, this card's effect is one of the best in the game.  The ability to destroy 2 of your opponent's card (by discarding 2 of your own cards) per turn is a game changer.  Let me emphasize "PER TURN".  If your opponent isn't able to remove Gungnir from play quickly it will only get worse for them as the duel goes on.  So if you are looking to test your dueling skills, try building a WATER deck around this card.  If you're successful it will be a deck that can compete against some of the best.  But it isn't for the novice.

In addition to the "Ice Barrier" support cards, here are some WATER cards to consider:
Blizzard Dragon (Lv 4, 1800 ATK, 1000 DEF)
Dragon Ice (Lv 5, 1800 ATK, 2200 DEF)
Hydrogeddon (Lv 4, 1600 ATK, 1000 DEF)

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 7/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7/10

Chaos Goddess (TSHD-EN044)

Card:  TSHD-EN044
Card Name:  Chaos Goddess
Attribute:  Light
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Fairy/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
1 LIGHT Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner DARK monsters
Once per turn, you can send 1 LIGHT monster from your hand to the Graveyard to select 1 Level 5 or higher DARK monster in your Graveyard.  Special Summon that monster.  It cannot be used as a Synchro Material Monster.

Personal Comment:
Choas Goddess is a very difficult card to play.  The requirement to Summon her is more difficult than it should be for a card of her level.  However, if you are able to get her onto the playing field, the ability to bring forth a Dark monster of Level 5 or higher is a game changer.  I can't emphasize enough how great an effect this is.  Now that 'Black Luster Solder - Envoy Of The Beginning' is no longer forbidden, Chaos Goddess has become more popular since both cards utilize LIGHT/DARK combination decks.  In addition, the artwork is as good as it gets.  An absolutely gorgeous card.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7.75/10

T.G. Halberd Cannon (EXVC-EN043)

Card:  EXVC-EN043
Card Name:  T.G. Halberd Cannon
Attribute:  Earth
Level/Rank:  12
Type:  Machine/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  4000
DEF:  4000

Card Text:
1 Tuner Synchro Monster + 2 or more non-Tuner Synchro Monsters
This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Synchro Summon.  Once per turn, while this card is face-up on the field, you can negate the Summon of a monster and destroy it.  When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, you can select 1 "T.G." monster in your Graveyard, and Special Summon it.

Personal Comment:
This card is on the top tier of all stats (level 12, ATK 4000, DEF 4000) so getting him on the playing field is a little difficult (having a card like T.G. Hyper Librarian in your deck will help significantly).  However, if you succeed there is a very good chance he could end a duel in your favor.  The ability to negate the Summon of an opponent's monster and destroy it is absolutely devastating.  This prevents them from bringing out an Effect Monster that could counter T.G. Halberd Cannon's brute power.  But the down side is that there are plenty of Spell and Trap cards that have the ability to remove him from play.  So all that hard work to bring him into play can easily be negated if your opponent has the proper cards to deal with him (but that is true for any monster card).  Ideally you want to be using a "T.G." deck to utilize his second effect but it isn't necessary.  Because of T.G. Halberd Cannon's powerful stats any Synchro deck that has the ability to bring him out should include him.  Having said that, this card isn't for everybody (unless you like a challenge).  Great stats, great effects, great card...just a little difficult to play for the novice duelist.

Rulings For This Card:
- The effect that negates the summoning of a monster and destroys it does not target.
- The effect can be activated during either player's turn, except the Damage Step.
- You can negate summons that happen during the resolution of a card or effect (such as Monster Reborn).

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 9/10
Easy To Play - 6/10
Collectable - 7/10
Overall Score - 7.5/10

Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En (STOR-EN041)

Card:  STOR-EN041
Card Name:  Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  5
Type:  Warrior/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  1400

Card Text:
1 Warrior-Type Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner "Six Samurai" monsters
Once per turn, when your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card, you can negate its activation and destroy it.  If this face-up card on the field would be destroyed, you can destroy another face-up "Six Samurai" monster you control instead.

Personal Comment:
Six Samurai decks have been winning dueling tournaments nation wide the moment they were released.  Their victories are based on their ability to swarm the field.  With Shi En in play, he can negate any Spell and Trap card, making it nearly impossible to clear the  field of "Six Samurai" monsters.  In addition to that, the second part of his effect makes it extremely difficult to destroy Shi En.  As long as you have anther "Six Samurai" monster on the field it can be destroyed instead to prevent Shi En from taking the punishment.  The only downside to this card is that it has to be played in a "Six Samurai" deck.  But that's not much of a hinderance since this is one of the top dueling decks available.  This card takes the Six Samurai deck from "great" to "nearly undefeatable".

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 10/10
Power - 7/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Stardust Dragon (CT05-EN001)

Card:  CT05-EN001
Card Name:  Stardust Dragon
Attribute:  Wind
Level/Rank:  8
Type:  Dragon/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2500
DEF:  2000

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
You can Tribute this card to negate the activation of a Spell Card, Trap Card, or Effect Monster's effect that destroys a card(s) on the field, and destroy that card.  If you negate an effect this way, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard during the End Phase.

Personal Comment:
Stardust Dragon is not the most powerful card out there (although the 2500 ATK is pretty hefty) but it is definitely one of the most useful.  On top of that it is also one of the easiest Level 8 monster to get on the playing field during a duel.  Widely reguarded as the best overall Synchro Monster card, Stardust Dragon is a staple in nearly every Synchro dueling deck.  What makes Stardust Dragon so special is that it has the ability to negate, destroy, and revive.  Outside the top tier cards, there are very few monsters that can do battle with this monster successfully.  But just in case a battle becomes about who has more ATK, there's a Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode card that boasts 3000 ATK and 2500 DEF.  Stardust Dragon is everything you could want in a dueling card...easy to summon, great effect, hard to remove from play, and the stats to back it up.  Expect to see him on every Top 10 Synchro Monster list (if he isn't then the person who made the list doesn't know what they are talking about:-).

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 9/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 8/10
Overall Score - 8.25/10

Dark Strike Fighter (CRMS-EN040)

Card:  CRMS-EN040
Card Name:  Dark Strike Fighter
Attribute:  Dark
Level/Rank:  7
Type:  Machine/Synchro/Effect
ATK:  2600
DEF:  1800

Card Text:
1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
You can Tribute 1 monster to inflict damage to your opponent equal to its Level x 200.

Personal Comment:
One of the most powerful Synchro card available.  It's a shame (or not) that it will never get off the banned list.  Just by tributing Dark Strike Fighter you can get a 4000 hit to your opponent's life point...(ATK 2600) + (Level 7*200) = 2600 + 1400 = 4000.  If you have two Dark Strike Fighter in play the duel is all but done.  Although it's one of my favorite cards, I'm happy that they put him on the banned list.  A card this powerful with the ability to end a duel (even if you are significantly losing) takes away from the strategies and skills that are needed to win.

Rulings For This Card:
- Damage is based on the monster's level while it was on the field, not it's level in the Graveyard or removed zone.
- If you tribute a face-down monster, compute the damage based on the monster's original level printed on the card.
- Tributing a monster is a cost.

Personal Rating:
Artwork - 8/10
Power - 8/10
Easy To Play - 8/10
Collectable - 6/10
Overall Score - 7.5/10