Last week, we examined the remaining set of three Neo-Spacian monsters Jaden used during his second year at Duel Academy. This week, we examine the new contact Fusions they form with Elemental Hero Neos. We’ll also take a look at the equip card Jaden used to power up his Elemental Hero Neos, Neos Force.

Still Grand

First up is Elemental Hero Grand Neos, a combination of Elemental Hero Neos and Neo-Spacian Grand Mole. You will notice that he retains the same features of the three previous Neos Fusions from Power of the Duelist. You get the Neos Fusions into play by taking the required cards from your side of the field and shuffling them back into your deck. During the end phase, the Neos Fusion returns to your Fusion deck (unless you have Neo Space on the field, of course).

“This card can only be Special Summoned from your Fusion Deck by returning the above cards you control to the Deck. (You do not use "Polymerization".) Once per turn, you can return 1 monster your opponent controls to its owner's hand. This card returns to the Fusion Deck during the End Phase.”

Neo-Spacian Grand Mole needed to attack or defend in order to use its effect, and when it did, it would return to its owner’s hand. Elemental Hero Grand Neos removes the need to attack and causes only your opponent’s monster to return to its owner’s hand. This helps Elemental Hero Grand Neos clear the way for attack, and potentially attack directly itself. When you activate this effect during one of your main phases, you will select one of your opponent’s monsters to be the target for the effect. When it resolves, the targeted monster returns to its owner’s hand.

If you want to really throw off your opponent, try combining the effect of Elemental Hero Grand Neos with that of Creature Swap or Mystic Box. Either method removes a monster from your opponent’s side of the field and replaces it with one of your own. Afterwards, Elemental Hero Grand Neos can target your invading monster and return it to your hand.

Next we have Elemental Hero Glow Neos, the combined form of Elemental Hero Neos and Neo-Spacian Glow Moss. To make things easier, I’m going to remove the “don’t use Polymerization” and “returns to Fusion deck” portions of the card text.

“Once per turn, during your Main Phase 1, you can destroy 1 face-up card your opponent controls. Based on that card’s type, apply the proper effect:

● Monster: This card cannot battle this turn.

● Spell: This card can attack your opponent directly this turn.

● Trap: This card is changed to Defense Position.”

The card’s exact effect is up to you. Each of his effects is dependant upon the type of face-up card you destroy with Glow Neos’s effect. Destroying a monster or a trap card doesn’t work quite as well as destroying a spell card, which allows you to attack directly. If you’re playing against an opponent who likes to use a lot of spell-based stall cards, Elemental Hero Glow Neos will be your contact Fusion of choice.

If you want to use Elemental Hero Glow Neos to destroy your opponent’s face-up trap cards, try combining him with Final Attack Orders. This will put your Glow Neos right back into attack position after his effect forces him into defense position.

Strike Down from Above

Our final Neos Fusion is Elemental Hero Air Neos, the combination of Elemental Hero Neos and Neo-Spacian Air Hummingbird. Once again I am leaving out the “Neos Fusion” portions of the text to keep things simple.

“While your Life Points are lower than your opponent's, this card gains ATK equal to the difference.”

In an odd sort of way, the effect here actually works in contrast with the effect of Neo-Spacian Air Hummingbird. Neo-Spacian Air Hummingbird helps you to easily increase your life points, while Elemental Hero Air Neos works best when your life points are lower. Each card has its own uses, though, and Air Neos may surprise you.

Elemental Hero Air Neos can drop down a serious ATK increase when the duel just hasn’t gone in your favor. He helped Jaden make a comeback and he can do the same for you, especially if you plan things right. By using cards that quickly drop your life points, you can help to end the duel with one final attack.

You can rely on a card like Solemn Judgment to negate your opponent’s cards and also bolster the separation in life points Air Neos will use to grow stronger. When you really want to bring the hurt on in a hurry, you can use Wall of Revealing Light to drop all the way down to a 1000 or less life points and give Air Neos a serious increase in ATK. If you plan things carefully, this sudden divergence in life point totals can give your Air Neos enough ATK to finish the duel in one attack.

Neos Force

Thanks to E - Emergency Call, O - Oversoul, and the cool new normal monster support cards from Strike of Neos, it isn’t hard to summon Elemental Hero Neos whenever you need him. With that in mind, consider our next card: the equip spell card Neos Force.

“Equip only to "Elemental Hero Neos". It gains 800 ATK. When it destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the original ATK of the destroyed monster. During the End Phase, shuffle this card into the Deck.”

Combined with Elemental Hero Neos, this card gives Neos 3300 ATK and a seriously punishing effect reminiscent of Elemental Hero Flame Wingman. The damage even works the same way it did with Flame Wingman. You use the destroyed monster’s original ATK value while it is in the graveyard to determine how much damage is inflicted.

Unfortunately, even with Neo Space in play, the Neos Force equip card will return to your deck. Since you only have one turn to get your damage in, it helps to have a plan for what Elemental Hero Neos will accomplish. If you are attacking an attack-position monster, you can pretty much expect to dish out 3300 points of damage. It’s one-third of your job taken care of.

Until next time, send all comments and questions to Curtis@metagame.com.