About Blackwings:
We all know Blackwings as a tier 1 meta deck. Meaning it is a meta deck placed on a high level. In the March 1st format, Blackwings' power increased since Twilight was basically destroyed by the banlist. Blackwings can be a deck based on not only abusing your opponent with high level attack monsters, but it is a meta deck that does not only rely on Special Summoning. In many Blackwing decks, duelists add Royal Oppression, an anti-meta element. Blackwings by pass Royal Oppression because special summoning a blackwing doesn't help the face that a key card of the deck, Black Whirlwind, can't be activated when the blackwing monster is special summoned. Sirocco can by pass Oppression since his effect says normal summon and not special summon. Blackwing decks are aggro decks that attack your opponent hard. With such high and easy-to-summon beatsticks they are a tough and annoying deck to deal with.
Blackwing Support/Combos:
The main factor that make Blackwings so powerful, is support. Blackwings have support from eachother. The ability to special summon a Blackwing with Shura's effect after it destroys a monster, can clinch the game. Now summon Vayu with Shura's effect, since the effect of the monster Shura summons is negated, you can synchro summon for a Level 5 Synchro monster. Now have a Sirocco in your graveyard and use Vayu's effect to remove Sirocco and Vayu for Blackwing Armed Wing. Thats two 2000+ beatsticks easily. Other key cards, such as Gale who can get over those big guys in a tough situation. And of course, one of the reasons why I think that Blackwings are overpowered is because of Kalut. Kalut is the Honest of the deck. Its easy to search out with Black Whirlwind, and the good thing is, it doesn't need to activate only when you get attacked or are attacking a monster. You can drop Kalut when you are attacking your opponent directly. Now drop a Kalut whilst attacking with Sirocco and thats a 3400 direct hit, to possibly finish off your opponent. Blizzard is an easy way to summon a Level 6 synchro monster. Vayu is also a good card to combo with Icarus Attack, you want Vayu in the grave for his effect. A nice combo that I used to like to use (no room for it anymore) is the Bora and Ojama Trio. Summon the 3 tokens to your opponents field, that is an instant 1000 lifepoint loss to opponent for each token destroyed by Bora, since Bora's effect has piercing damage (damage taken when the monster is in defense).
Cards that help make Blackwings powerful:
Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame
When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 "Blackwing" monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck. That monster's effect(s) is negated.
A key card in Blackwings. I truly think without this card Blackwings shouldn't even be called tier 2 meta. Speeds up the deck and is a high level beatstick. You can search every staple Blackwing except Sirroco while Whirlwind is in play. Giving you access to adding Kaluts, Boras, Gale, and Blizzard. Also being an 1800 ATK beatstick it is hard to destroy. The Shura-Vayu combo that I explained earlier can be an instant level 5 synchro monster. Without Shura Blackwings would be slower with Black Whirlwind and the effect to summon a Blackwing with 1500 or less attack for an extra attack in the battle phase can either win you the game, or get your opponents life points low enough so he can't use cards that require a life point cost.
Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
By sending this card from your hand to the Graveyard during the Damage Step when 1 face-up "Blackwing" monster you control battles, that monster gains 1400 ATK until the End Phase of that turn.
Like I said, this is the Honest of the deck. It is easily searchable with Black Whirlwind, and can defend Blackwings aswell as make them even more aggressive. With Kalut at 3, there is a big chance of also drawing one, rather than adding it to your hand and having your opponent know that you have a Kalut in hand. And when going up against a Blackwing deck, you are usually thinking of your opponent having a Kalut in their hand. And the lowest a Blackwing monsters attack can become after dropping this is 2200 (Vayu). So having your typical Shura out and Kalut in hand, means that you are pretty much safe from any monster with below 3200 attack, which should usually be more than most monsters I know of that are being used today.
Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn
If your opponent controls a monster, and you control no monsters, you can Normal Summon or Set this card without Tributing. Once per turn you can select 1 face-up "Blackwing" monster you control. It gains ATK equal to the total ATK of all face-up "Blackwing" monsters on the field, except itself. Monsters other than the selected monster cannot attack the turn you activate this effect.
Sirocco can search any staple Blackwing when Black Whirlwind is in play, giving you access to every single Blackwing monster in your deck. Sirocco can by pass Royal Oppression as I earlier stated. Its a 2000 attack beatstick that is very easy to summon. It can also be a killer to Blackwings deck if you side this in, which I will talk about later.
Blackwing - Bora the Spear
If you control a "Blackwing" monster other than "Blackwing - Bora the Spear", you can Special Summon this card from your hand. During battle between this attacking card and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent.
Not only can you special summon this card easily, but it also keeps your opponents defenses shaking. Blackwings are aggressive enough even without this card, but the addition of this is just broken in my opinion. Now that your opponent will lose lifepoints by also trying to defend, it just brings the aggressive Blackwing play more.
Black Whirlwind
When a "Blackwing" monster is Normal Summoned to your side of the Field, you can add 1 "Blackwing" monster from your Deck to your hand that has less ATK than that monster.
Definitely the reason behind why Blackwings are what they are today. Adds much speed to the deck through searching for your other Blackwings. Not much to say about Black Whirlwind except if you're not running this in a Blackwing deck then I wouldn't even bother calling it a Blackwing deck.
Icarus Attack
Tribute 1 Winged Beast-Type monster. Destroy 2 cards on the field.
Such a great card in this deck. Total control of field, and if you tribute a Vayu for this card then you have a plus for having Vayu in the grave, ready for an easy synchro summon for Blackwing Armed Wing. Again not much to say about Icarus Attack other than it adds control to Blackwings, which I think is the main concept of them. Black Whirlwind helps you keep hand advantage and Icarus Attack helps you keep field advantage.
Cards that can counter Blackwings!
Trap Hole
Activate only when your opponent Normal Summons or Flip Summons a monster with 1000 or more ATK. Destroy that monster.
Stops Black Whirlwinds with Blackwings right in its tracks. Trap hole interrupts the chain link between Blackwings and Blackwhirlwind and destroys the Blackwing. The only Blackwing that the duelist can summon is Vayu, which isn't very cooperative with Black Whirlwind seeing that you can't search for any Blackwing with Vayu.
Thunder King Rai-oh
Neither player can add cards from their Deck to their hand except by drawing them. You can send this face-up card to the Graveyard to negate the Special Summon of 1 of your opponent monsters, and destroy it.
Since neither player can add cards to their hands instead of drawing them, it stops Black Whirlwind and it is also a 1900 attack beatstick. Making it hard for Some Blackwing monsters to destroy. And if your opponent playing Blackwings goes for Armed Wing or Armor Master, you can tribute this card to negate the special summon of that monster.
Consecrated Light
Neither player can Normal or Special Summon DARK monsters or declare an attack with a DARK monster. This card cannot be destroyed by battle with a DARK monster, and you take no Battle Damage from that battle.
Side this card in, and Blackwings are pretty much dead. Your opponent will only be able to set them for defense and in the mean time you can set up for big plays. Keep in mind though that you shouldn't run any important Dark monsters in your deck if you are planning to side this in, so be careful!
Siding Against Blackwings:
Depending on what deck you are also using, I will always recommend you to side 3 Trap Holes. Trap Holes not only destroy the Blackwing, but they also prevent the chain link between Whirlwind and Blackwings. Keeping in mind that in that situation, its a -1 for your opponent since they just wasted the summoning of a Blackwing monster while Black Whirlwind is in play. If you are running a deck that is not based on Dark monsters at all, it is also wise to play Consecrated Light. This monster is great, especially if used with Lightsworn. Lightsworn has some big plays so if you can stall with Consecrate Light and set up for big Judgment Dragon/Celestia plays it can mean huge trouble for your opponent. Also a good side against Blackwings is Sirocco. Sirocco can take the attack of ALL Blackwings on the field, including your opponents. So lets say your opponent has a Sirocco and a Shura in play. If you summon Sirocco in that situation, it will gain 3600 attack, which will make it 5600 and that could possibly make it game. And for protection so your opponent doesn't lose with that attack, he may drop a Kalut to survive, which is a -1 in hand advantage aswell as he just dropped one Kalut.
Weaknesses of Blackwings:
Like I said in the card descriptions, Blackwings rely on Black Whirlwind for the ability to add Blackwings to your hand, so if you can stop that, Its a big disadvantage for your opponent since he cannot add cards that he will need in his hand. And since Blackwings no draw engine at all, if you can get through the 2 Black Whirlwinds, you are pretty much having your opponent in a tough situation since now the speed of Blackwings will be taken away. Also cards like Trap Stun to stop Icarus Attack is also great for when you are planning for big plays.
How Blackwings Work:
Well if you read to this point of the article then you should know by now. Blackwings rely on Black Whirlwind to search through the deck for other Blackwings. Blackwing is an aggro and control deck. The hand control coming from Black Whirlwind, field control comes from Icarus Attack, and control of the duel can come from Royal Oppression. Bora is an aggro monster that keeps your opponent feeling unsafe about not only his offense, but his defense also. Field control is maintained from keeping Blackwings on the field and Kalut can help you with that.
Sample of a Blackwing Deck:
Monsters (22):
1x Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness
3x Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame
3x Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn
2x Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North
1x Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind
3x Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
3x Blackwing - Bora the Spear
2x Blackwing - Vayu
1x Dark Armed Dragon
Spells (10):
2x Black Whirlwind
1x Allure of Darkness
1x Brain Control
1x Heavy Storm
2x Smashing Ground
1x Mystical Space Typhoon
1x Lightning Vortex
1x Mind Control
Traps (11):
3x Icarus Attack
2x Royal Oppression
1x Torrential Tribute
1x Mirror Force
1x Solemn Judgment
2x Bottomless Trap Hole
1x Trap Dustshoot
This is for the Blackwings present in KCVDS currently! I will not mention the new blackwing additions yet so I dont confuse the KCVDS players only.
We all know Blackwings as a tier 1 meta deck. Meaning it is a meta deck placed on a high level. In the March 1st format, Blackwings' power increased since Twilight was basically destroyed by the banlist. Blackwings can be a deck based on not only abusing your opponent with high level attack monsters, but it is a meta deck that does not only rely on Special Summoning. In many Blackwing decks, duelists add Royal Oppression, an anti-meta element. Blackwings by pass Royal Oppression because special summoning a blackwing doesn't help the face that a key card of the deck, Black Whirlwind, can't be activated when the blackwing monster is special summoned. Sirocco can by pass Oppression since his effect says normal summon and not special summon. Blackwing decks are aggro decks that attack your opponent hard. With such high and easy-to-summon beatsticks they are a tough and annoying deck to deal with.
Blackwing Support/Combos:
The main factor that make Blackwings so powerful, is support. Blackwings have support from eachother. The ability to special summon a Blackwing with Shura's effect after it destroys a monster, can clinch the game. Now summon Vayu with Shura's effect, since the effect of the monster Shura summons is negated, you can synchro summon for a Level 5 Synchro monster. Now have a Sirocco in your graveyard and use Vayu's effect to remove Sirocco and Vayu for Blackwing Armed Wing. Thats two 2000+ beatsticks easily. Other key cards, such as Gale who can get over those big guys in a tough situation. And of course, one of the reasons why I think that Blackwings are overpowered is because of Kalut. Kalut is the Honest of the deck. Its easy to search out with Black Whirlwind, and the good thing is, it doesn't need to activate only when you get attacked or are attacking a monster. You can drop Kalut when you are attacking your opponent directly. Now drop a Kalut whilst attacking with Sirocco and thats a 3400 direct hit, to possibly finish off your opponent. Blizzard is an easy way to summon a Level 6 synchro monster. Vayu is also a good card to combo with Icarus Attack, you want Vayu in the grave for his effect. A nice combo that I used to like to use (no room for it anymore) is the Bora and Ojama Trio. Summon the 3 tokens to your opponents field, that is an instant 1000 lifepoint loss to opponent for each token destroyed by Bora, since Bora's effect has piercing damage (damage taken when the monster is in defense).
Cards that help make Blackwings powerful:
Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame
When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 "Blackwing" monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck. That monster's effect(s) is negated.
A key card in Blackwings. I truly think without this card Blackwings shouldn't even be called tier 2 meta. Speeds up the deck and is a high level beatstick. You can search every staple Blackwing except Sirroco while Whirlwind is in play. Giving you access to adding Kaluts, Boras, Gale, and Blizzard. Also being an 1800 ATK beatstick it is hard to destroy. The Shura-Vayu combo that I explained earlier can be an instant level 5 synchro monster. Without Shura Blackwings would be slower with Black Whirlwind and the effect to summon a Blackwing with 1500 or less attack for an extra attack in the battle phase can either win you the game, or get your opponents life points low enough so he can't use cards that require a life point cost.
Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
By sending this card from your hand to the Graveyard during the Damage Step when 1 face-up "Blackwing" monster you control battles, that monster gains 1400 ATK until the End Phase of that turn.
Like I said, this is the Honest of the deck. It is easily searchable with Black Whirlwind, and can defend Blackwings aswell as make them even more aggressive. With Kalut at 3, there is a big chance of also drawing one, rather than adding it to your hand and having your opponent know that you have a Kalut in hand. And when going up against a Blackwing deck, you are usually thinking of your opponent having a Kalut in their hand. And the lowest a Blackwing monsters attack can become after dropping this is 2200 (Vayu). So having your typical Shura out and Kalut in hand, means that you are pretty much safe from any monster with below 3200 attack, which should usually be more than most monsters I know of that are being used today.
Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn
If your opponent controls a monster, and you control no monsters, you can Normal Summon or Set this card without Tributing. Once per turn you can select 1 face-up "Blackwing" monster you control. It gains ATK equal to the total ATK of all face-up "Blackwing" monsters on the field, except itself. Monsters other than the selected monster cannot attack the turn you activate this effect.
Sirocco can search any staple Blackwing when Black Whirlwind is in play, giving you access to every single Blackwing monster in your deck. Sirocco can by pass Royal Oppression as I earlier stated. Its a 2000 attack beatstick that is very easy to summon. It can also be a killer to Blackwings deck if you side this in, which I will talk about later.
Blackwing - Bora the Spear
If you control a "Blackwing" monster other than "Blackwing - Bora the Spear", you can Special Summon this card from your hand. During battle between this attacking card and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent.
Not only can you special summon this card easily, but it also keeps your opponents defenses shaking. Blackwings are aggressive enough even without this card, but the addition of this is just broken in my opinion. Now that your opponent will lose lifepoints by also trying to defend, it just brings the aggressive Blackwing play more.
Black Whirlwind
When a "Blackwing" monster is Normal Summoned to your side of the Field, you can add 1 "Blackwing" monster from your Deck to your hand that has less ATK than that monster.
Definitely the reason behind why Blackwings are what they are today. Adds much speed to the deck through searching for your other Blackwings. Not much to say about Black Whirlwind except if you're not running this in a Blackwing deck then I wouldn't even bother calling it a Blackwing deck.
Icarus Attack
Tribute 1 Winged Beast-Type monster. Destroy 2 cards on the field.
Such a great card in this deck. Total control of field, and if you tribute a Vayu for this card then you have a plus for having Vayu in the grave, ready for an easy synchro summon for Blackwing Armed Wing. Again not much to say about Icarus Attack other than it adds control to Blackwings, which I think is the main concept of them. Black Whirlwind helps you keep hand advantage and Icarus Attack helps you keep field advantage.
Cards that can counter Blackwings!
Trap Hole
Activate only when your opponent Normal Summons or Flip Summons a monster with 1000 or more ATK. Destroy that monster.
Stops Black Whirlwinds with Blackwings right in its tracks. Trap hole interrupts the chain link between Blackwings and Blackwhirlwind and destroys the Blackwing. The only Blackwing that the duelist can summon is Vayu, which isn't very cooperative with Black Whirlwind seeing that you can't search for any Blackwing with Vayu.
Thunder King Rai-oh
Neither player can add cards from their Deck to their hand except by drawing them. You can send this face-up card to the Graveyard to negate the Special Summon of 1 of your opponent monsters, and destroy it.
Since neither player can add cards to their hands instead of drawing them, it stops Black Whirlwind and it is also a 1900 attack beatstick. Making it hard for Some Blackwing monsters to destroy. And if your opponent playing Blackwings goes for Armed Wing or Armor Master, you can tribute this card to negate the special summon of that monster.
Consecrated Light
Neither player can Normal or Special Summon DARK monsters or declare an attack with a DARK monster. This card cannot be destroyed by battle with a DARK monster, and you take no Battle Damage from that battle.
Side this card in, and Blackwings are pretty much dead. Your opponent will only be able to set them for defense and in the mean time you can set up for big plays. Keep in mind though that you shouldn't run any important Dark monsters in your deck if you are planning to side this in, so be careful!
Siding Against Blackwings:
Depending on what deck you are also using, I will always recommend you to side 3 Trap Holes. Trap Holes not only destroy the Blackwing, but they also prevent the chain link between Whirlwind and Blackwings. Keeping in mind that in that situation, its a -1 for your opponent since they just wasted the summoning of a Blackwing monster while Black Whirlwind is in play. If you are running a deck that is not based on Dark monsters at all, it is also wise to play Consecrated Light. This monster is great, especially if used with Lightsworn. Lightsworn has some big plays so if you can stall with Consecrate Light and set up for big Judgment Dragon/Celestia plays it can mean huge trouble for your opponent. Also a good side against Blackwings is Sirocco. Sirocco can take the attack of ALL Blackwings on the field, including your opponents. So lets say your opponent has a Sirocco and a Shura in play. If you summon Sirocco in that situation, it will gain 3600 attack, which will make it 5600 and that could possibly make it game. And for protection so your opponent doesn't lose with that attack, he may drop a Kalut to survive, which is a -1 in hand advantage aswell as he just dropped one Kalut.
Weaknesses of Blackwings:
Like I said in the card descriptions, Blackwings rely on Black Whirlwind for the ability to add Blackwings to your hand, so if you can stop that, Its a big disadvantage for your opponent since he cannot add cards that he will need in his hand. And since Blackwings no draw engine at all, if you can get through the 2 Black Whirlwinds, you are pretty much having your opponent in a tough situation since now the speed of Blackwings will be taken away. Also cards like Trap Stun to stop Icarus Attack is also great for when you are planning for big plays.
How Blackwings Work:
Well if you read to this point of the article then you should know by now. Blackwings rely on Black Whirlwind to search through the deck for other Blackwings. Blackwing is an aggro and control deck. The hand control coming from Black Whirlwind, field control comes from Icarus Attack, and control of the duel can come from Royal Oppression. Bora is an aggro monster that keeps your opponent feeling unsafe about not only his offense, but his defense also. Field control is maintained from keeping Blackwings on the field and Kalut can help you with that.
Sample of a Blackwing Deck:
Monsters (22):
1x Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness
3x Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame
3x Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn
2x Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North
1x Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind
3x Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow
3x Blackwing - Bora the Spear
2x Blackwing - Vayu
1x Dark Armed Dragon
Spells (10):
2x Black Whirlwind
1x Allure of Darkness
1x Brain Control
1x Heavy Storm
2x Smashing Ground
1x Mystical Space Typhoon
1x Lightning Vortex
1x Mind Control
Traps (11):
3x Icarus Attack
2x Royal Oppression
1x Torrential Tribute
1x Mirror Force
1x Solemn Judgment
2x Bottomless Trap Hole
1x Trap Dustshoot
This is for the Blackwings present in KCVDS currently! I will not mention the new blackwing additions yet so I dont confuse the KCVDS players only.