Blackwings have recently gotten a boost with Duelist Pack 11: Crow, and we saw a number of Blackwing Decks do well this weekend. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Vayu Turbo Deck make a big showing in a Championship-level tournament, but thanks to the release of new Blackwing cards, some Duelists are banking on the once-popular strategy here this weekend. Victor Santana is one of them.

Since we haven’t seen a Vayu Turbo Deck in our recent tournament coverage, here’s a crash course. This Deck is all about loading the Graveyard with Armageddon Knight, Dark Grepher, and Foolish Burial. That means Necro Gardna can be played to block a key attack, while Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor and Plaguespreader Zombie both create opportunities to Summon powerful Synchro Monsters. Vayu’s controller can banish it and Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn from the Graveyard to Special Summon Blackwing Armed Wing. Once Armed Wing hits the Graveyard, you can banish it and another Vayu for Blackwing Armor Master. Combo Armor Master and another Vayu, and you can bring out Blackwing – Silverwind the Ascendant. The Deck normally wins by putting together a big push with multiple Synchro monsters in a single turn, loading the Graveyard, banishing Vayus and Blackwings, and returning the banished monsters to the Graveyard with Burial from a Different Dimension so they can be reused. It’s a strategy that won YCS Orlando in 2009, but Santana’s playing several new cards here today to bring it to a higher level. Here’s what his Deck looks like:

Monsters:
1 Blackwing – Zephyros the Elite
1 Blackwing – Boreas the Sharp
3 Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn
3 Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor
1 Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind
2 Dark Grepher
3 Armageddon Knight
1 Dark Armed Dragon
1 Plaguespreader Zombie
1 Necro Gardna
2 Card Trooper

Spells:
1 Allure of Darkness
1 Upstart Goblin
1 Dark Hole
2 Mystical Space Typhoon
1 Monster Reborn
1 Foolish Burial
1 Burial from a Different Dimension
1 Reinforcement of the Army
1 Giant Trunade
1 Book of Moon

Traps:
1 Mirror Force
1 Deck Devastation Virus
1 Solemn Judgment
1 Royal Oppression
2 Icarus Attack
1 Return from the Different Dimension
2 Gozen Match
1 Torrential Tribute

“I’ve made my own changes to the classic Vayu Turbo strategy,” explained Santana. The first is the addition of Blackwing – Zephyros the Elite, which gives Santana a tremendous number of big plays that Vayu Turbo didn’t have before. Some of them help to shore up the weak early game that’s plagued the Vayu strategy since its creation: “For example, when you open with Icarus Attack but nothing to Tribute for it, you can use Dark Grepher or Armageddon Knight to send Zephyros to the Graveyard.” From there, Santana can bounce Grepher or Armageddon Knight back to his hand to reuse its effect next turn; Special Summon Zephyros; and Set Icarus Attack, knowing he can Tribute Zephyros to activate it. Easier Icarus plays are a big deal, because this Deck is all about softening up the opponent up for one big assault. Since Icarus Attack can destroy any 2 cards on the field, it’s a great way to accomplish that.

“Boreas is really good,” said Santana. “This is the card that everybody is going to start playing in Blackwings and Vayu Turbo, because it gives you the option to take out every single monster in the game.” The effect of Blackwing – Boreas the Sharp activates in the Graveyard, so it can’t be stopped by Stardust Dragon. “You can use any Blackwing monster with Boreas, even little ones like Vayu.” Boreas takes advantage of cards this Deck already plays: Santana can send it to the Graveyard with Armageddon Knight and Grepher, and he can reuse it with Burial from a Different Dimension. It works really nicely with Vayu, too: as a Level 5, it can take Sirocco’s place in a Vayu combo for the Special Summon of Blackwing Armed Wing. Santana can even discard it to Special Summon Grepher with Grepher’s ability.

Over the past several months, Vayu Turbo Decks have had a tough time fighting their way into the spotlight. But with more access to destruction effects, plus the combo power of Blackwing – Zephyros the Elite, the strategy’s definitely gotten a big boost.