DARK
Number 34: Terror-Byte
ATK:
0
DEF:
2900
View:
3386
3 Level 3 monsters Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target 1 Level 4 or lower Attack Position monster your opponent controls; gain control of it until the End Phase.
Number 34: Terror-Byte — Power Evaluation
Final Score: 57 ± 6 · Confidence: Medium
- Intrinsic: 58 · Deck: 56 · Meta: provisional
- Primary role: Board breaker · Secondary: Material body, Control
Why it scores here
Number 34: Terror-Byte scores as a niche control/disruption piece with solid accessibility across 26 distinct archetypes but limited resource generation. The card's main strength lies in its consistent presence as a 1-of tech in control-focused decks (appearing alongside Solemn Judgment in 41% of its homes), where its temporary monster theft can disrupt opponent board states; however, the effect generates no card advantage and is highly situational, requiring the opponent to have Level 4 or lower monsters in Attack Position. Its 2,900 DEF and multi-turn potential provide resilience, but the 0 ATK severely limits utility as combat material or alternative conversion. The moderate score reflects a specialized utility card that enhances specific strategies without driving combo lines or resource advantage.
Axis scores
| Axis | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | 65 | Appears in 44 recent decks across 26 distinct archetypes despite requiring 3 Level 3 materials, demonstrating genuine accessibility across multiple strategies. (observed) |
| Combo & Conversion | 25 | Zero recorded combo appearances and text showing no board-building function confirm it operates purely as control/disruption, not a combo generator. (verified) |
| Resource Economy | 45 | Costs 1 Xyz Material with no card draw or search, temporarily gaining opponent monster control only until End Phase, yielding net-zero resource advantage. (verified) |
| Effect & Interaction | 55 | Temporarily steals Level 4 or lower Attack Position monsters, providing soft situational disruption limited by target conditions and the End Phase expiration. (verified) |
| Material Utility | 60 | Serves as a DARK Machine Rank 3 body with 2,900 DEF usable for Xyz rank-ups; 0 ATK severely restricts offensive material value and synergy routes. (inferred) |
| Resilience & Flexibility | 50 | 2,900 DEF provides defensive durability and once-per-turn effect enables multi-turn usage if materials persist, but effectiveness depends on opponent having qualifying targets. (verified) |
| Deck-Building Efficiency | 65 | Runs cleanly as 1-of tech across multiple structures with no severe garnet or redundancy issues, fitting readily despite requiring 3 Level 3 summoning materials. (observed) |
Calculation
Weight profile: Board breaker primary role weights. Intrinsic ≈ 58, Deck ≈ 56, Meta = provisional. Modifiers: none. Final formula: 0.40*Intrinsic + 0.60*Deck
Strengths
- Accessible across 26 distinct archetypes with stable 1-of inclusion
- Strong fit in control-trap strategies paired with Solemn Judgment and disruption staples
- Solid 2,900 DEF body with multi-turn effect potential
- Can serve as Xyz material for higher-rank plays and rank-up synergies
Weaknesses
- Effect generates zero card advantage and is entirely temporary
- Highly situational disruption requiring opponent to control qualifying targets
- 0 ATK eliminates combat utility and alternative conversion paths
- No combo generation or deck synergy beyond tech inclusion
- Effect expires at End Phase, limiting utility across turns
Counters / choke points
- Face-down Defense Position monsters avoid the theft effect
- Level 5 and higher monsters cannot be targeted
- Effect negation and chain-blocking stop the theft
- Removal of the Xyz from field before material detachment
Best use
Disruption tech in control-focused decks. Decks: Labrynth, Runick, Control strategies. Suggested copies: 1.
Evidence & gaps
- Verified: Requires 3 Level 3 monsters for Xyz summon (Xyz rule); Once-per-turn: detach 1 Xyz Material to target 1 Level 4 or lower Attack Position monster; gain control until End Phase (card text); 0 ATK / 2,900 DEF prevents combat-focused utility; Appears in 44 recent decks with 1.02 average copies (mostly 1-ofs); Zero recorded combo database appearances
- Observed: Present in 26 distinct archetypes; top two are Labrynth (11.4%) and Runick (11.4%); Solemn Judgment co-appears in 40.9% of Terror-Byte decks, indicating control-focused use; Distributed across multiple gameplay types: 45.5% type 4, 31.8% type 7; Included primarily as 1-of tech rather than archetype enabler
- Inferred: Primary function is disruptive board control via temporary monster theft; Effect generates no card advantage or resource multiplication; Effectiveness depends on specific opponent board state (requires Level 4 or lower in Attack Position); Can provide Xyz material for rank-up or other Xyz combinations; Defensive stat distribution prioritizes survival over offense
- Data gaps: No combo entries (0 appearances) — combo conversion is text-only inference No guide coverage — human strategic context unavailable No StatisticsCard data — cannot verify long-term inclusion across larger sample No per-format banlist restrictions — assumed 3 copies (unlimited) across all formats No regional or dated metagame data — format-specific strength unknown No DuelLinks-specific evidence despite format listing