Stats                : Chainsaw Insect is a Level 4 Monster, so you can just drop it into play as your Normal Summon.  Yes, I need to mention this, since there are quite a few effect Monsters whose effects prevent them from being as easy or as hard to Summon as their Level would otherwise indicate.  It is an Earth/Insect (huge surprise, I am sure).  Both Attribute and Type have support, and there are enough of this combination one could build an entire deck around the overlapping support (though it would merely be functional, as opposed to good).

 

Now we see the ATK score: 2400!  It has the absolute worse DEF score imaginable, though: 0, but that’s not a huge disadvantage.  This card is looking quite interesting, but it has an effect, so we must examine that to see if it renders the card good, bad, or broken.

 

Effect(s)            : When this Monster battles another in, the opponent draws a card.  This is a pretty serious drawback, as it means that if it destroys an opponent’s Monster in battle, it offsets some of the Advantage lost by the opponent.  In terms of card quantity, it breaks even exactly if you kill a single card Monster (like a Normal Summoned beatstick).  If it is a Tribute Monster or has some other Summoning cost, then you can actually come out ahead with Chainsaw Insect.  With precious few exceptions, a Monster on your field is worth two in your hand.  Well, not exactly, but it sounds catchy. ;)  The main problem will be the opponent finding a way to kill your Chainsaw Insect in battle, since they would get to draw a card then as well.  Of course, that will probably require they force a position change.

 

Uses and

Combinations  : Some say this is the new shock trooper for Insect decks.  Thing is, Insects already have the classic 1700, 1800, and 1900 Level 4 Beatsticks (the two bigger ones being Earth as well).  They also have Jirai Gumo, a 2200 ATK Level 4 whose effect may cost you half your LP, or it may not, for attacking, but was always good as an offensive wall.  Arsenal Bug wasn’t half bad: you could use Level Limit-Area B and Gravity Bind to protect it and maybe Swarm of Locusts/Swarm of Scarabs.

 

Branching out, Earth decks already have Goblin Attack Force and Goblin Elite Attack Force.

 

So where do you use it?

 

Skill Drain decks: then it’s just a “vanilla” 2400 ATK Level 4.  Yes, in such a deck, the 100 ATK bonus matters.  So it proudly joins the ranks of Goblin Attack Force, Goblin Elite Attack Force, Indomitable Fighter Lei Lei… with Chainsaw Insect, that’s four Earth Monsters with a minimum of 2300 ATK.  So you could run an Earth-themed Skill Drain deck if you wished now.

 

Don’t get me wrong.  If you are regularly being “out-muscled” and 2400 ATK will do it where 2300 ATK wouldn’t, this is a great option.  And remember, direct attacks don’t give them a draw.

 

Ratings

 

Traditional       : 1/5 – Unfortunately, unless the metagame for Traditional has drastically changed, you do not want to be giving your opponent the chance of extra draw.  Sure, it’s probably easier to score a direct attack, but if they do get to draw… think of the sick cards they could be drawing here.

 

Advanced        : 3.5/5 – A composite score: it’s probably now a staple for a Skill Drain deck, and it can be handy in most decks other than control.  Side it out if they run Exodia.

 

Limited                        : 3/5 – If they didn’t get anything particularly good, congrats, even if you don’t kill them with this you’ll probably run them out of cards.  If they did, then you are probably allowing them to build a combo that would be nearly impossible without your help.  So it gets this score because it’s pretty much all about what your opponent drew.

 

Summary

It’s good to see that even if I am wrong and this card is at least more playable than the last two Level 4, 2400 ATK Monsters and shouldn’t be anywhere near as broken as the “negligible” drawbacks found on Berserk Gorilla, Goblin Attack Force, etc.

 

-Otaku