My first Card Article...this time, we together will look at another sub-type: Insect.

You will ask..."What the hell...Insect? Is it even possible?" Yes, Insect Deck is possible now, especially after a BIG boost at Invader of the Dark (307) booster, which was already release in English game in Invasion of Chaos (IOC) just now.

The Insect army is kind of huge...so we will start on some famous one, then to some older version of Insect Deck, and at last the new 307 boost.

First, we will start with the very famous Insect Queen, one of the strongest card of Insector Haga in Anime/Comic.

Insect Queen
Earth/Insect/7/2200/2400
In order for this card to attack, you must sacifice one monster other than this one on your field. This card attack strength is increase by 200 for every other Insect sub-type monster on the field. At the end of a turn in which this Monster destroys an opponent Monster, put an [Insect Monster Token] (Attack Mode/Insect/Earth/1/100/100) onto your Field.

Well, this card is the first real Insect in this game. This card was release very early in GB3 game promo, and reprint at DL4 as Ultimate Rare (and an error version of only gold-lettering). All I could say about this card is, I don't get why people want this so much (especially English players), this card really...sucks big time (and this card is probably why people confuse that Insect Deck sucks!).

The stats of this card is poor. As an two-tribute, it only have 2200 attack...that's kind of "high". Although it power up with every Insect Monster on the field (both player), the highest is still 4000, which is impossible (normally it's 2600). The first effect make this card worse. You must sacifice one monster on the field (like Panther Warrior effect) to attack. Now, you must sacifice some Insect, lower this card attack power.

The worst thing of this card is the last effect, which summon a token in ATTACK mode...I was like "What the hell...100 Attack in attack mode, is that crazy?" Yes, it could help you to overcome this card first effect, but how many times your opponent would not destroy that token and deal a big damage to you?

We will look at another "big" monster of Insector Haga...the Moth!

Ultimate Evolved Great Moth
Earth/Insect/8/3500/3000
Sacrifice a [Hatchling Moth] that has had an [Evolutionary Cocoon] attached to it for at least 6 turns in order to summon this Monster. (Thanks Edo for the effect.)

This card is first release in G2 Promo, and reprint as Ultimate Rare in Duelist Legacy 5.

Well...like Insect Queen, this card sucks big time also. WHY? You need completely SIX TURN to summon this card...and guess what? Before that, and no matter how hard you try to combo to protect the Hatchling Moth - like Insect Barrier + DNA Surgery or Waboku, etc.(which the strength sucks big time), it is destroy. BUT, if you're that lucky to pull it off...oh well, all I could say is your opponent lost (well, 3500 attack is not a joke!).

We will now look at some Series 2 Insect, and we will start off with the infamous Parasite from Curse of Anubis (CA).

Parasite
Earth/Insect/2/500/300
FILP: Shuffle this card into your opponent's deck face-up. When your opponent draws this card, your opponent must special summon this card to the Field in face-up defense mode. All of opponent's face-up monsters on the field become Insect Sub-
Type monsters, and do 1000 damage to your opponent.

This card is Ultra Rare/Parallel Rare (first Parallel, I think) in CA, and drop to Rare in Duelist Legacy 1. This card, the old Insect "infection" combo, really, is not that good in now a days. First of all, you must draw this card. Then, you must make this card not being destroy before being filp. Then, you shuffle it to your opponent deck, which your opponent always can "cheat" to make this card not the top card in his/her deck. Once successful, it do NOTHING but "infect" the face-up monster on the field, not deck, not anything else. The process is too long and complicated. Although [Jade Whitsle] could help bring this card out to opponent's field faster, it just not worth it compare to the following card, also from Curse of Anubis set.

DNA Surgery
Trap - Continuous
Choose a Sub-Type. While this card is face-up on the Field, all face-up monsters on the Field become the chosen Sub-Type.

Well, this card is better. Although this card have a disadvantage of being a Trap, this card, at least, is faster than any card I mention earlier. You could save up the trouble for pulling off Parasite, plus, this card is Continuous, so unlike Parasite, once the monster on opponent's field is gone, and your opponent summon some other monster, that monster would be Insect sub-type also (Parasite don't). This card, all I would say, is a must in Insect Deck, since the whole purpose of Insect Deck is: "Infected" then Swarm. Also, with the help of [Shrine of Pharaoh], being a Trap card is not a big deal.

Then, we would look at another Insect helping, this time, Magic Card, from Thousand Eye Bible (and reprint at DL3).

Insect Barrier
Magic - Continuous
Your opponent's Insect Sub-Type Monsters cannot attack.

Well, why this card, you would ask. The reason is, this card, as shown be "useful" in the anime/comic duel of Jounuochi v. Haga, could be really annoying staller. Since the purpose of Insect deck is changing all opponent's monster to Insect sub-type, this card could help you have field advantage once again (with Insect Deck...) Nothing else to add, this card, all I could say, must be combo right or it will be very very bad top-decking card!

The next one, probably everyone will know what's the effect...oh well - Needle Worm (No, no one needs the effect, right?)

Needle Worm
Earth/Insect/2/450/600
FILP: Put the top 5 cards of opponent's deck to his/her Cemetery.

You may ask, why choosing this card? Well, as a complete analysis of different Insect, you may find some interesting one, like this one. This card is not about Swarming, but have discarding effect, and just happen to be Insect sub-type. This card is still in some Deck-Destruction Deck, as 5 cards is really a big OUCH!

The next three cards will all be from Pharaohic Guardian (PH). We will start off with Arsenal Bug.

Arsenal Bug
Earth/Insect/3/2000/2000
If you don't have any other Insect Sub-Type Monsters on your Field, this Monster's attack and defense strengths become 1000.

Well, this card could make you understand why using Insect Swarming strategy. Without any Insect, this card, really, sucks...But the lack of "beatstick" in Insect Deck make this monster still useful. The stats of this card is not bad...being both 2000 attack and defense. But too bad, if this is only Insect, oh well, the attack and defense drop. This card could be powerful if combine right (like sacrificing Pinchhitting Grasshopper to summon Insect Princess, then use Grasshopper effect to summon this card from hand). Otherwise, run 1-2 in your Insect deck, sometimes it needed.

The next two would be counterpart monster, and they both use the filpping back face down mechanic of Pharaohic Guardian: Corps of Scarab and Army of Locast.

Here're both card's effect text:
Corps of Scarab
Dark/Insect/3/500/1000
Once per turn, this card can change to face-down defense mode. When this card is Reverse Summoned, destroy 1 Monster on youropponent's Field.

Army of Locast
Dark/Insect/3/1000/500
Once per turn, this card can change to face-down defense mode. When this card is Reverse Summoned, destroy 1 Magic or Trap card on your opponent's Field.

Well, All I could say is, both monster, if use right, could be very disturbative. Like Sugroku (Grandpa) quote in English anime, "Insects are Tricky"...yes, they're, just look at this two, it would be devaste your opponent field bad. After disturbance? Send some "big" monster and finish your opponent off, easy, right? Also, BOTH were DDVD compatitable, so, you may run them in Insect Control deck...hehehe.

At last, we would enter the new era of Insect, 3 Insect sub-type cards and 2 Insect releated Magic Card are introduce in 307 Invader of the Dark. Also, there's 2-3 Plant sub-type monsters that also help Insect, but I'm not going to discuss it, since this article mainly focus on Insect combos.

First, the all new "better" tribute monster of Insect sub-type: Insect Princess.

Insect Princess
Air/Insect/6/1900/1200
When this card is face-up on the Field, all face-up Insect Sub-Type Monsters on your opponents Field change to attack mode. Whenever this card destroys an Insect Sub-Type Monster as a result of Battle, increase this card's attack strength by 500.

Well, as I review this card in my Card of the Week, I point out the combo of DNA Surgery + Mischievous Trio (Ojama Trio) + Insect Princess and explain how it work. Except that killing combo which I use, this card can also be combine with DNA Surgery alone and kill some opponent's weak monster, the attack of this card boost. So, it is worth the one-tribute. Remember, Insect is not easy to use, think twice before you ever make a move!

Then, we would look at the best Insect helper ever created, Pinchhitting Grasshopper.

Pinchhitting Grasshopper
Earth/Insect/4/1000/1200
When this card is put in the Graveyard from your Field, you can Special Summon 1 Insect Sub-Type Monster from your hand.

Well, you could just look at the effect, and it's self-explainatory why this card help Insect a lot. This card help fast summoning of high tribute Insects such as the Queen and Princess. Also, this card have the advantage of being like [Sangan] or [Witch] effect, it don't have to die in battle, you can use this as sacificing bait, your opponent can use Dark Hole on this, no matter what, except your opponent remove this card from game, the effect would be activate. Although the card have to be summon from hand, this card effect already make your opponent cry because he got "swarm" by Insect army!

The next card, more interesting monster from 307, is Skull Face Ladybug.

Skull-Face Ladybug
Earth/Insect/4/500/1500
When this card is put in the Graveyard, you gain 1000 Life Points.

This card, like Grasshopper, was also like [Sangan] and [Witch], no matter how it die, as long as it is to Graveyard (CAN be from Hand), you gain lifepoints. Why you need lifepoint, you may ask? If you cannot pull the Insect combo successfully, you always need some kind of Lifepint resurrection to safe you from losing very fast. Also, when this card is combo with [Big Bang Girl], you gain 1000, your opponent lost 500. Hurt?

The last card (finally...woooo...) is Jade Whitsle

Jade Whistle
Magic - Normal
Your opponent chooses 1 Insect Sub-Type Monster in his or her deck, shuffles his or her deck, then puts that card on top of his or her deck.

Well, you may ask "what's the purpose of this card?". The only purpose, I would say, is combine this card with [Parasite]. Remember one thing, most people don't even run ONE Insect monster in their deck, so, faster Parasite combo. That's all for this card, limit use like this.

At last, in conclusion, all I would say is as you read down, you would see the evolve of Insect and different combos involve in it. Remember, building and using an Insect deck is pretty hard and the thinking could be complicated. But one thing you don't need to worry, Insect deck is not like before, which lost in first few turns, it can now endured way way way longer and actually win.