Number 28: Titanic Moth ———————————————— 2 Level 7 monsters If you control no other monsters, this card can attack directly, but when it does so using this effect, the battle damage inflicted to your opponent is halved. When this card inflicts battle damage to your opponent: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; inflict 500 damage to your opponent for each card in their hand. ———————————————— Can Be Found In: Duelist Saga (DUSA-EN013)
Direct attacks are the main method to defeat opponents with, and given how quick we can summon monsters with high stats is quite possible to finish Duels in a pair of turns. But while for that goal we usually rely on attacks and removal effects to clear a path towards the opponent, some options skips all those steps and let us attack directly as we skip most of the opponent's monsters and defenses. In most cases cards that let us take this approach might not provide a high damage input unless aiming for an OTK by using several resources, but if is not a cheap way to win games when the opponent has low Life Points it can be combined with other damaging sources to deal constant damage.
"Number 28: Titanic Moth" is a monster that might steal games if the opponent leaves their guard down against its abilities. If "Titanic Moth" is our only monster on the field it will be able to direct attack, but by doing so with this effect the damage caused will be halved. But "Titanic Moth" carries a second ability no matter how deals damage with its damage, as at cost of one of its Xyz Materials we can deal 500 damage for each card on the opponent's hand. Therefore, while the direct attacks of "Titanic Moth" can become a solid option in late game, the burn damage caused by its second effect can cause considerably damage to the point that compensates the drawback of its former ability.
While Rank 7 monsters aren't that frequent nowadays, that doesn't mean that is difficult to summon "Titanic Moth" when needed. Some archetypes are able to gather the needed materials with ease right from the first turns, usually based on classic and famous monsters like Red-Eyes and Harpie having all the tools necessary to Xyz Summon by little to no effort. Other buils like Gagaga and Mecha Phantom Beast can manipulate the Levels of their monsters to summon "Titanic Moth", while others will have few yet highly reliable cards like "Toon Dark Magician" to quickly setup the needed materials. Like many Xyz Monsters "Titanic Moth" works best with materials, but don't hesitate to revive it in late game if its direct attack can still provide great results.
"Titanic Moth" will take any chances it obtains to attack and deal assured damage in one way or another. Although its effect might cause halved damage by its attacks, its burn damage easily compensates it if the opponent keeps a heavy hand during the Duel. Otherwise "Titanic Moth" can still trigger its second ability when battling other monsters (If deals damage) and/or declaring direct attacks outside of its effect, having all sorts of scenarios to deal big damage in one way or another. Obviously the damage caused by its second effect will vary from one opponent or another, but against the average player will deal an estimate of 1500 to 2000. If we apply drawing effects the opponent might depend on like "Maxx "C"" or "Pot of Desires", "Titanic Moth" can cause big damage against most Decks out there. Otherwise its direct attacks alone can still cause powerful results by using its effect or by common means, making "Titanic Moth" a dangerous offense even without any materials to use.
With assured damage by one way or another and reliable methods for a quick Xyz Summon, "Number 28: Titanic Moth" is a solid choice no matter if we invest on burn damage or depend on it in late game to finish off the opponent with one of its abilities. "Titanic Moth" is an interesting monster as is easy to ignore its flaws, as halved damage won't be much of a problem thanks to its second effect compensating the loss and/or able to steal games when players' Life Points are at their lowest. If anything, while the damage dealt by its second effect is more or less stable against most opponents, players that likes to spend most or their entire hand as soon as possible (Specially Decks like Infernity) will barely be affected by this ability. But even under those situations or not, "Titanic Moth" has all the chances to deal solid damage by one of different causes and timings.
Personal Rating: A-
+ Able to direct attack if is the only monster on our field + If deals damage in battle it will deal damage for each card on the opponent's hand + Easy to summon
- If attacks directly using its effect the damage caused will be halved - Damage input depends of the opponent's hand
