Wattgiraffe ———————————————— This card can attack your opponent directly. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent by a direct attack, your opponent cannot activate Spells, Traps, Spell/Trap effects or Monster Cards effect until the End Phase of this turn. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: The Shining Darkness (TSHD-EN025)
The Watt archetype is an interesting build as nearly all their member have very weak stats to confront enemies on their own. To compensate, Watts have effects to go arround which can go from direct attacks to locking down opponent options. They might not pull out massive damage compared to other strategies, but Watts have various ways to go arround their weaknesses and be on the lead.
"Wattgiraffe" is probably the most popular monster of the archetype to the point of being added in other strategies due its high efficiency. "Wattgiraffe" is capable of direct attacking the opponent even if they control monsters, which with its 1200 ATK makes it one of the strongest low Level creatures with this ability. When this monster deals damage by direct attacks the opponent will be unable to use any effects for the rest of the turn, which might not seem much but actually is a valuable ability depending of our field. "Wattgiraffe" is much more powerful than might apparent, become a valuable addition not only for its archetype but also Decks which can work arround its possibilities.
"Wattgiraffe" has respectable support to become available when really needed. In its archetype will mainly be assisted by "Wattcobra", another direct attacker that each time deals damage will look for Watt monsters in our Deck. Since Watts are weak on their own they can be easy targets of opponent attacks, which can be an opportunity to use effects like "Shining Angel" and "Wattdragonfly" to Stall and obtain "Wattgiraffe" at the safest position. As a Thunder-Type "Wattgiraffe" gained furhter options to work inside and outside the archetype, with "Brohunder" adding it to our hand when Normal Summoned or discarding "Thunder Sea Horse" to add up to two copies to our hand. You can also work along "Mahunder" and "Pahunder" using their abilities to obtain extra Normal Summons and thus arrive along "Wattgiraffe". Finally, since there's a chance "Wattgiraffe" is easily defeated, we can easily retrieve it back to our hand from the Graveyard by the mere activation of "Recycling Batteries".
With 1200 ATK "Wattgiraffe" can be effective on its own to chip some respectable damage by its direct attacks, but becomes more useful if we work along other cards. Its ability to shut down most effects for the rest of the turn is a wonderful effect if we wanna keep attacking with other monsters, allowing "Wattgiraffe" hit the opponent and avoid nasty countermeasures against the rest of our monsters attacking. Otherwise, the protective effect it grants allow us to summon bigger monsters during Main Phase 2 without worrying about any disruptive effects dealing with them. Since "Wattgiraffe" and the rest of Watts are weaklings in terms of stats, they can work along cards like "Messenger of Peace" and "Watthopper" to shut down opponent attacks as long as possible while playing safely. Another route is to power up "Wattgiraffe" to deal more damage as well confront stronger enemies, easily achieved by Equip Spells like "Wattcube" and "Mage Power". Otherwise, as soon "Wattgiraffe" is attacked we can respond with "Honest" in our hand for a boost high enough to overcome any enemy.
"Wattgiraffe" is a very solid monster on its own, yet becomes a threat when working with all the options available. Even if its ability to restrict effects has no much use in some circumstances, being a direct attacker with 1200 ATK is sufficient to deal solid damage each turn. But like the rest of Watts "Wattgiraffe" becomes fearsome under setups as improves both offensively and defensively, going from an unavoidable monster in Stall fields to become stronger and harder to defeat in battle. From shutting down effects to assure the rest of our attacks to leading Decks with its direct attacks, "Wattgiraffe" has a lot to offer in all sorts of strategies.
Personal Rating: A
+ Able to direct attack + When deals damage by direct attacks the opponent is unable to use effects for the rest of the turn + Highly supported in various aspects + One of the strongest direct attackers available for its Level
- Shutting down effects isn't effective if is alone - Low stats to stand against other monsters