Caius the Shadow Monarch?

Question

I've been experimenting with Caius ( Yu-gi-oh ), and I have two questions regarding the card:

1 ) what's his effect's speed?

( that is, if you summon Caius, can your opponent activate "Torrential Tribute" before you have a chance to destroy the facedown "Torrential Tribute" ? )

2 ) does he HAVE to activate the effect

( meaning, if the field is empty, does Caius need to target himself, or can he choose to destroy nothing? )

[ thanks ]

Answer 1

Yes he will be destroyed

and yes his effect has to activate even if he is the only one out

Answer 2

1 yes

2 no he has to destroy himself,his effect will always activate if you tributed for him

Answer 3

1. Both Cauis and Torrential Tribute are Spell Speed 1 cards. If you choose to remove the face-down, T. T. can be activated in response to the effect (chain), thus destroying all monsters on the field.

2. It's effect MUST be activated. The card doesn't say "you can"  So if the field is empty, he must choose himself. (at least he inflicts 1000 damage) The only time his affect does not activate is if you summon it another way besides Tributing a monster.

This is the same for most Monarchs, but take a look at Mobius.

Answer 4

1. It is stated that a card does not need to be on the field for it's effect unless that card has a continuous effect (Like Gravity Bind or Little Chimera). So Torrential Tribute may be gone on the field, but its effect is still active.

2. Because Caius's effect does NOT say "You may" before it, it is not optional, so Caius would have to kill himself. That is not completely bad though, since Caius's effect would deal 1000 damage.