Block Spider ———————————————— Your opponent cannot target Insect-Type monsters for attacks, except this one. If this card is Special Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 "Block Spider" from your Deck. You can only use this effect of "Block Spider" once per turn. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: The New Challengers (NECH-EN003)
Redirecting attacks is an effective way to protect our weakest or most valuable monsters on the field. Overall taking control of which monsters the opponent must attack, these abilities can go from stalling their Battle Phases to threatening them to attack a powerful monster. In some particular cases is even possible to completely shut down their attacks, as the combination of two effects will cause a loop where the opponent will be unable to attack until they are taken down. From delaying the defeat of our best monsters to creating a stalling setup, this kind of abilities become quite valuable under the proper management.
"Block Spider" is a weakling that works arround two effects with several possibilities individually as well together. While on the field, the opponent cannot attack any Insect monsters except for "Block Spider", a very riskful ability due its lack of stats but might save some key monsters in the process. But "Block Spider" will show its true colors if Special Summoned, as in return we'll be able to bring out another copy from the Deck (This effect only happens once per turn, so the third copy won't be summoned as well). This last effect is what makes "Block Spider" more efficient than might look, as thanks to its lack of stats obtain an array of supporting cards to either create a lockdown with its copies or simply become abusable materials as the Duel progresses.
With no stats and a Level of one, "Block Spider" obtains plenty of opportunities to not only be on the field immediately but also trigger its ability to summon an additional copy. Right from the start of a Duel we can begin by activating "One for One" to summon two copies of "Block Spider" as a result, to later be able to follow with "Mimiclay" so we can dig out the last copy as well. A slower option but with a similar outcome is "Wold in Sheep's Clothing", responding against battle damage by summoning two copies of "Block Spider" and end with the third one by their effects. With an ability to redirect attacks we can try bringing "Block Spider" after the defeat of "Howling Insect", summoning it from inside our Deck during battle and make an impact in the middle of the Battle Phase. When comes to late game "Block Spider" is far from being unsupported, with revival effects such as "Graceful Revival" and "Limit Reverse" constantly bringing it back to the game while affecting Battle Phases and/or summoning another copy in the process, or working along monsters such as "Kinka-Byo" and "Junk Synchron" as materials for all kinds of goals.
The ability to take attacks and protect other Insects can save valuable monsters from powerful enemies, but due its lack of stats "Block Spider" will be easily defeated and we'll receive severe damage in return. That's where its second effects enters into action, as the pressence of two copies of "Block Spider" will create a loop in which the opponent will be unable to attack any Insects whatsoever. With the many opportunities to Special Summon "Block Spider" from early to late game this is not a challenge to achieve, and soon enough the opponent will be forced to spend effects to get rid of atleast one "Block Spider" which we can easily protect with cards such as "Safe Zone" or "Forbidden Lance". But "Block Spider" is not all about shutting down Battle Phase or taking a hit for other Insects, as with thousands of opportunities to be summoned it can become a valuable material on its own or with its own copies. The mere arrival of "Block Spider" with a second copy will let us quickly prepare Tribute Summons, Xyz Summons, and Link Summons together, and with other monsters we can setup bigger summons or Synchro Summons with ease.
Clearly "Block Spider" is not a monster to work on its own, and not just because its in-battle effect requires it. Don't be fooled by its very vulnerable position on the field, as "Block Spider" has all the opportunities right from the first turn of a Duel to gather along a second copy and provide is real purpose. From locking down the opponent's Battle Phase with another copy of itself, working arround all kinds of setups as material, and all the options for its Special Summon from early to late game makes "Block Spider" more valuable than might apparent. The true problem comes from similar effects where requires to play arround several copies, as due "Block Spider" only summons from inside our Deck either we might end drawing them as the Duel progresses or leave the last copy behind with no much use of its second effect. "Block Spider" has some obvious risks and dangers specially if on its own, but has all the possibilities to unleash all its potential as the Duel begins.
Personal Rating: B+
+ The opponent is unable to attack Insects except for this card + Summons a copy of itself when Special Summoned + Locks down the opponent's Battle Phase if two or more copies are present + Greatly supported from early to late game
- Complete lack of stats makes it easy to take down in battle and/or receive severe damage - Relies on other cards as well its own copies - We might end drawing its copies before are summoned by its effect
