The Blackwing archetype has managed to get some more support with the release of the Blackwing's Pride Strucutre Deck in Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, allowing the Deck to go back to its roots and play as a full-fledged Synchro Deck! Check out the core deck list, key combos, and general strategy here!

Blackwing Deck List

Main Deck: 40 cards
x3	x3	x3	x3	x3
x3	x3	x2	x1	x3
x3	x2	x2	x1	x1
x3	x3	x1
Extra Deck: 15 cards
x3	x2	x2	x1	x1
x1	x1	x1	x1	x1

Blackwing Breakdown

Blackwing Deck Guide: How to Play

Playstyle and Win Condition

Blackwing Decks are known for their affinity with Synchro Monsters--in fact, when Synchro Summons were first introduced into Yu-Gi-Oh! in the TCG a long time ago, they were one of the first and strongest archetypes that took advantage of the Special Summon method.

The archetype recently managed to get some new support as of writing with the release of the Blackwing's Pride Structure Deck, adding more support and firepower to the Deck. This version of the Blackwing Deck focuses back to its roots, Synchro Summoning multiple times to make a board as strong as possible.

Main Deck Monsters

These four new Blackwing monsters are enough to bring back the Deck to its Synchro Summoning days, so much so that playing three copies of each card is very much encouraged. This version of the Deck revolves around these cards, so make sure to have any of them on hand at any given time.

Vata the Emblem of Wandering can be Special Summoned from the hand if you have another "Blackwing" monster already on the field. It also becomes a one-card combo, being able to tribute itself and send non-Tuner "Blackwing" monsters from the Deck to the GY to Special Summon a Black-Winged Dragon.

Shamal the Sandstorm can be sent from the field or hand to the GY to search out and place a Black Feather Whirlwind, or it can banish itself from the GY to recycle a "Blackwing" monster in there. Sudri the Phantom Glimmer searches out a "Blackwing" that mentions Black-Winged Dragon from the Deck except itself, and can tribute a monster to summon a Phantom Glimmer Token, which is also a Tuner.

Chinook the Snow Blast is the Blackwing's slower version of a hand trap, as discarding it or sending it from the field to the GY can negate an opponent's monster's effects, and reduce their ATK.

In other versions of the Blackwing Deck, Simoon the Poison Wind would usually be at one copy, but this Synchro Deck version encourages three copies due to its Tribute-less Normal Summon effect. Take note, however, that you're locked out of non-DARK monsters in the Extra Deck for the rest of the turn.

You can make a case for running one copy of Zephyros the Elite because of its once-per-Duel effect of Special Summoning itself from the GY, by returning a face-up card from your frield to the hand, but two copies should be fine if you need fodder to use for discarding, tributing or using as a cost for other effects.

Sharnga the Waning Moon can be Special Summoned from the hand if you have a monster with 2000 ATK or more. It also has a once-per-Duel effect that destroys a card on the field if you control a "Blackwing" Synchro Monster.

As standard to all Decks until either card gets hit into the banlist, make sure to run three copies each of Maxx "C" and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Having resources at hand is crucial for the Deck, and it doesn't hurt to pressure the opponent to punish them for Special Summoning and searching cards.

Spell and Trap Cards

Two Continuous Spell Cards define the Blackwing Deck so much, that three copies each are basically mandatory. The best part is that it is encouraged to play mutiple copies on the field, either to activate effects simultaneously, or to be used as fodder to return to the hand.

Black Whirlwind lets you search a "Blackwing" monster whenever you Normal Summon a "Blackwing" monster, but it has to be lower than the ATK of the monster you Normal Summoned. It has no hard once-per-turn clause whatsoever, so if you so happen to control 3 copies on the field, you get to search up to 3 "Blackwing" monsters for free.

Black Feather Whirlwind is a newer addition that gives advantage whenever you Special Sumon a DARK Synchro Monster, Special Summoning a banished "Blackwing" monster or a "Black-Winged Dragon". It also provides protection from battle destruction and card destuction effects once per turn--provided you happen to have Black Feather Counters on the field.

The rest of the Spell Cards in the Deck are meant to support and protect the Deck and its resources. Small World and Pot of Prosperity are cards that give the Deck ways to access the cards that are needed, depending on the situation and state of the field.

Meanwhile, Called by the Grave and Crossout Designator are counters agianst hand traps, especially Maxx "C" which would definitely love to activate its effect in the middle of a Blackwing summon combo.

Extra Deck Monsters

For Level 6 Synchro Monsters, the key monster is Boreastorm the Wicked Wind--a Tuner Synchro monster. As soon as this monster is Synchro Summoned, you can send a "Blackwing" monster from the Deck to GY, and it takes on that monster's Level--which is why Simoon the Poison Wind is crucial here. If it happens to destroy a monster by battle, it can steal it to your side of the field as a bonus.

Nothung the Starlight might not be a Tuner Synchro monster, but it disrupts the opponent as soon as it is Synchro Summoned, with burn damage and the lowering of an opponent's monster's stats. While face-up, this Synchro Monster also provides an additional Normal Summon once per turn.

Black-Winged Dragon is more fodder in this Deck, but in some cases it can be a powerful boss monster--especially against Burn Decks. If you get any Effect Damge, this card lowers its own ATK and gains Black Feather Counters on itself for each instance. Then, it can use all the counters to lower the ATK of a monster the opponent controls.

The main Level 8 Synchro Monster would be Silverwind the Ascendant. When Synchro Summoned, it can destroy up to two monsters the opponent controls with less DEF than this monster's 2800 ATK--at the cost of that turn's Battle Phase. It also provides "Blackwing" monsters a once-per-turn battle protection effect.

Blood Mefist can be swapped with another Level 8 Synchro Monster with generic materials as players see fit, but this card's addition is to punish the opponent with burn damage for the amount of cards they control on the field, and for attempting to Set Spells and Traps to use in a different turn.

The main boss monster is Black-Winged Assault Dragon. It can be Synchro Summoned normally, but it can also be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck by tributing a Tuner Synchro Monster and a "Black-Winged Dragon" from the field or GY. For every time the opponent activates a monster effect, it burns the opponent for damage--something similar to Masquerade the Blazing Dragon.

Once it manages to get 4 Black Feather Counters from the burn effect, it gains a Quick Effect to destroy all cards on the field on command.

The second boss monster is Blackwing Full Armor Master, which is simply immunite to all other cards' effects. For every opponent's monster activates an effect, it gains a Wedge Counter, and once per turn it can be stolen to your side of the field. As another threat, it can destroy all monsters with Wedge Counters on the field during your End Phase.

Baronne de Fleur is a common boss monster to add if a Synchro-centric Deck can go up to Level 10 Synchro Monsters. An omni-negate and a once-per-turn targeted card destruction effect is useful for any Deck.

Aside from the "Blackwing" Synchro Monsters, it's up to the player to add their cards of preference for additional choices. For Xyz and Link monsters, these three cards are added for concise reasons.

Abyss Dweller is meant to be a counter for Graveyard effects, which is especially powerful against Decks that use it as a secondary resource pool--like Ishizu Tearlaments.

Time Thief Redor is used to deny cards from the opponent's Deck once per turn. If players choose to add in Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder, this monster is perfect to be used as the starting point due to carrying over attached materials.

It might be a weird choice, but Underworld Goddess of the Closed World can be used because of how easy a Blackwing Deck can swarm the field with so many monsters. This Link Monster can get rid of boss monsters that are usually hard to remove from the field.

Core Combos and Interactions

Sample Hand into Two Boss Monsters

Both Black Whirlwind and Black Feather Whirlwind are crucial to maintain enough resources to continue your combos. If you happen to start a Duel with both Continuous Spell Cards in hand, you're already off to a good start.

Cards in Hand
Step	Description
1	Activate both Black Whirlwind and Black Feather Whirlwind from the hand. They will come in handy in later steps.
2	Activate Pot of Prosperity. The mostideal card you can get is a copy of Blackwing - Chinook the Snow Blast, thus let's assume we got the card.
3	Normal Summon Blackwing - Sudri the Phantom Glimmer, and activate its search effect. The Normal Summon also triggers Black Whirlwind's effect, so alongside Sudri's effect, chain the effect with one another. Chain Link 2: Search and add to the hand a copy of Blackwing - Shamal the Sandstorm. Chain Link 1: Search and add to the hand a copy of Blackwing - Vata the Emblem of Wandering.
4	Chain Link 2: Activate the Quick Effect of Blackwing - Shamal the Sandstorm from the hand; banish it, and search out a second copy of Black Feather Whirlwind. Activate it as soon as this current Chain Effect is over. Chain Link 1: Because you control another "Blackwing" monster, you can Special Summon Blackwing - Vata the Emblem of Wandering from the hand.
5	Activate the effect of Blackwing - Vata the Emblem of Wandering; tribute itself from the field, and send a copy of Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite and a second copy of Blackwing - Chinook the Snow Blast from the Deck to the GY, to Special Summon Black-Winged Dragon without having to Synchro Summon.
6	Activate the effect of Blackwing - Sudri the Phantom Glimmer; tribute the copy of Blackwing - Chinook the Snow Blast to Special Summon a Phantom Glimmer Token. Remember that this Token is a Tuner as well.
7	Activate the effect of Blackwing - Zephryos the Elite from the Graveyard; return one of the two Black Feather Whirlwinds you have on the field to your hand, and Special Summon itself back onto the field.
8	Using the Phatom Glimmer Token Tuner and Blackwing - Sudri the Phantom Glimmer as materials, Synchro Summon Blackwing - Boreastorm the Wicked Wind. Upon being Synchro Summoned, use its effect and send a copy of Blackwing - Simoon the Poison Wind from the Deck to GY, to maintain being a Level 6 Synchro Tuner Monster.
9	Using the Level 6 Blackwing - Boreastorm the Wicked Wind Tuner and Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite as materials, Synchro Summon Blackwing Full Armor Master.
10	Due to Synchro Summoning Blackwing Full Armor Master, activate the effect of the second Black Feather Whirlwind; Special Summon back to the field Blackwing - Boreastorm the Wicked Wind.
11	Banish *Blackwing - Boreastorm the Wicked Wind and Black-Winged Dragon on the field to Special Summon Black-Winged Assault Dragon without having to Synchro Summon

No Active Field Spell
	X		X
	-		-	-
-		-		-

Boss Monsters

	Blackwing Full Armored Master
	Blackwing Full Armor Master is completely immune to all other card effects, making this card very hard to remove from the field. Its Wedge Counters serves two purposes: as a monster stealer with its Wedge Counters, andas a card-destroying Quick Effect if the opponent activates monster effects.
	Baronne de Fleur
	With the Deck's affinity for Synchro Summon, having Baronne de Felur added to the Extra Deck is a must-have due to its very generic material requirements. An omni-negate Quick Effect and a once-per-turn card destruction effect makes this bos monster very valuable in any Deck that can Synchro Summon.
	Black-Winged Assault Dragon
	This can be seen as an evolution of Black-Winged Dragon, as Black-Winged Assault Dragon can use it as material to summon it easier instead of a regular Synchro Summon. Much like Blackwing Full Armored Master
	Underworld Goddess of the Closed World
	The Blackwing Deck can Special Summon monsters repeatedly, and swarm the field to use up every Monster Zone possible. In this instance, Underworld Goddess of the Closed World can be used to get rid of a monster that's normally hard to remove from the field by usual means, and can negate all effect monsters the opponent controls upon being Link Summoned.

Blackwing Counters: How to Beat

Best Decks to Use Against Blackwing

Swordsoul

Tenyi Swordsoul Decks are extremely consistent, and when going first, you can fully expect them to pull off their full combo into two boss monsters. Once that happens, setting up will be harder than usual, having to deal with negates and disruptions. If you go second versus Blackwings, it's going to depend more on if they manage to set up properly as well.

Tenyi Swordsoul Deck List & Card Guid

Eldlich Control

Players can still make Eldlich Control decks work even with a couple of its card being hit with limitations when the game's banlist got updated. That still did not hinder the Deck's infamous slow playstyle and control over the field. If they run Skill Drain, the Deck is all the more debilitating to combos and monster effects, especially against an ATK-boosted Eldlich the Golden Lord.

All Eldlich Deck Lists
Eldlich Control	Budget Eldlich

Runick Control

Unless Blackwing players have put in counters like Solemn Strike or Delta Crow - Anti Reverse, Runick Control Decks might be one of the hardest Decks to deal with. A plethora of Quick-Play Spells that can both disrupt combos and break boards is something this Deck might not be able to manage.

Runick Deck Lists
Pure Runick	Spright Runick
Ishizu Runick	Naturia Runick

Ishizu Tearlaments

As of writing, Master Duel is currently in the middle of the Tear Zero: Ishizu Tearlaments is the undisputed best Deck in the game, accounting for its flexibility in strategy and its sheer interactivity. The Deck can even make plays during the opponent's turn, and unless the Blackwing players has prepared specifically for Ishizu Tearlaments, it will always have a chance to run away with the game.

Ishizu Tearlaments Deck List & Card Guide

Best Cards to Tech Against Blackwing

	Dark Ruler No More
	Dark Ruler No More neutralizes all of the Effect Monsters in this Deck, which will completely break the Deck's strongest field. While the trade-off is not being able to deal damage, it's a very noteworthy price to pay for a chance to remove the pesky boss monsters from the field.
	Skill Drain
	Much like Dark Ruler No More, Skill Drain effectively stops all Effect Monsters active of the field so long as this Continuous Trap remains active on the field. The Blackwing-using opponent will have to get rid of this card first if they want to continue setting up properly to get to the boss monsters.
	Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju
	Technically, all Kaijus monsters are applicable here; Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju just so happens to be the Kaiju monster with the lowest ATK among the archetype. All it needs to be on the field is a monster the opponent controls to be tributed. It easily bypasses any ignition effects that could trigger if the monster card was destroyed, or immunities like being immune to targeted card effects.
	Effect Veiler
	Considering a lot of the boss monsters in this Deck can turn the tide in their favor, Effect Veiler should be a card to consder. It can act as a combo disruptor, denying the opponent an effect that extends a Blackwing play, or negate specific monsters' effects that should leave them vulnerable if able.
	Maxx "C"
	Blackwings can Special Summon monsters left and right, thus making them ripe to be countered with a Maxx "C". This can completely stop the Blackwing player from continuing with their combo, as each Special Summon grants you a draw if this hand trap's effect gets to resolve.

Related Packs to Blackwings

Beyond Speed	Cross-Dimensional Contracts
Indomitable Knights	Invulnerable Iron Wings
Legacy Pack	Master Pack
Rapid Aircraft Advancement	Soaring on Darkest Wings
Those who Stand Against Kings	Wind-Up Soldiers

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Related Guides

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Deck Archetypes

Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel Decks

Deck Tier List: Best Decks for Season 35

List of All Covered Decks

World Champion Decks

2024 World Champions: Team 7
Horus Tearlaments	Yubel	Fire King Snake-Eyes
Salamangreat	Purrely	Vanquish Soul

Decks Used in Worlds 2024

Decks Used By All Teams in Worlds 2024
snipehunters	CER	Hero's Future
BOTB	MYYGO	Thank Love
CER 2 x FCG	BRAZ IL	Maxx “Yee”
Double Noir	Rogue Ruler

Aggro Decks

List of All Aggro Decks
D/D/D Aggro	Code Talker / Prank Kids	Zoodiac
Blue-Eyes	Virtual World	SPYRAL Control
Toon Kingdom	Red-Eyes	Blue-Eyes
Zoodiac	Prank-Kids	Zoodiac Tri-Brigade
Pure Tri-Brigade	Ancient Gear	Dragonmaid
Tri-Brigade Lyrilusc (Bird Up)	Dinosaur	Raidraptor
HERO	Dragon Link	Despia
Magikey	Adamancipator	Black Luster Soldier
Pendulum Magician	Stardust Dragon	Tenyi Swordsoul
Cyberdark	@Ignister	Cyber Dragon
The Winged Dragon of Ra	Despian Predaplant	Despia Darklord
Odd-Eyes Performapal	Numeron FTK	Six Samurai
ABC	Trickstar Windwitch	Blackwings
Fluffal	Cupid Pitch Turbo	Lunalight
Vampire	Ultra Athletes	Thunder Dragon
Z-ARC Pendulum Magician	Adventurer Rose Dragon Tenyi	Adventurer P.U.N.K.
Suship	Pure D/D/D	Numeron Egyptian Gods
Galaxy Eyes OTK	Borrelend Dragon Link	Vaylantz
Beetrooper	Icejade Ra	Therion ABC
Libromancer	Mathmech	Spright Evil☆Twin
Spright Tri-Brigade	Ishizu Chaos	Slifer Arcana Knights
Gaia OTK	Vernusylph	Ancient Warriors
Ghoti	Springans	8-Axis Gizmek Orochi
Danger! Dark World	Mikanko	Scareclaw Kashtira
Zombie World P.U.N.K.	Hungry Burger Nouvelles	Obelisk the Tormentor
Mannadium	Gate Guardian	Gold Pride P.U.N.K.
Superheavy Samurai	Nemleria	Dragon Rulers
Snake-Eye	T.G. Diabellstar	Skull Servant
Kaiju	Resonators	Earthbound
Malefic	Kozmo	Armored Xyz Shark
Unchained	Battlin' Boxer	Chimera Illusion
Fire King Snake-Eyes	Vaalmonica	Memento
Horus Tearlaments	Centur-Ion	Dragon Master Magia
Ice Barrier	Infernoid	Lightsworn
Ogdoadic Ragnaraika	Genex	Tenpai Dragon
Goblin Biker	Infernoble	Armed Dragon
Flame Swordsman	Melodious

Control Decks

List of All Control Decks
Invoked Shaddoll	Eldlich Control	Drytron Fairy
True Draco	Dark Magician	Traptrix
Phantom Knights	Madolche	Relinquished
P.U.N.K.	DPE Scythe	Evil★Twin
Paleozoic Frog	Salamangreat	Gravekeepers
Monarch	Tellarknight	Agent
Exosisters	Darklord	Plunder Patrol
Rikka	Floowandereeze	Adventurer Phantom Knights
Dinomoprhia	Tri-Brigade Gladiator Beast	Adventurer Witchcrafter
Dark Magician Gravekeeper	Branded Tri-Brigade	Branded Despia
Zombie Vampire	Blue-Eyes Jet Dragon	Spellbook
Branded Cyber Dragon	Branded Zombies	Pure Scareclaw
Dinomorphia	Runick	Labrynth
Harpies	Buster Blader	Umi Control
Endymion	Nekroz	Spright
Spright Runick	Ishizu Runick	Branded Ishizu
Crystal Beasts	Orcust	Altergeist
Witchcrafter	Subterror Krawler	Mayakashi
Ishizu Tearlaments	Evilswarm	Melffy Spright
Bystial Branded	Dogmatika Bystial	Naturia Runick
Generaiders	Kashtira	Purrely
Ninja	Rescue-ACE	Gishki Spright
Prediction Princess	Vanquish Soul	Jinzo
Egyptian God	Ojama Control	Aromage
Ghostrick	Kuriboh	Anti-Meta Stun
Runick Spright Fur Hire	Horus Control	Toy Box Dark Magician
Yubel	Voiceless Voice	Rikka Ragnraika
Ritual Beast	Shining Sarcophagus

Burn Decks

List of All Burn Decks
Red-Eyes Burn	Timelord Burn	Chain Burn
D.D. Dynamite	Igknight OTK	Cubic
Dinosaur Bishbaalkin FTK	Volcanic Snake-Eyes	Transaction Rollback Burn

Alt-Win Decks

List of All Alternate Win Decks
Crooked Cook Exodia	Flower Cardian Exodia	Treasure Panda Exodia
Suicide	Defense OTK

All Budget Decks

List of All Budget Deck Guides
Budget Shark Xyz	Budget Eldlich	Budget Hippo Turbo
Budget Despia	Budget F.A. Metalfoes	Budget Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Budget Chain Burn	Budget Majespecter	Budget Yosenju
Budget Flower Cardian	Budget True Draco	Budget Amorphage
Budget Ishizu Tearlaments

Best Cards for Decks

Lists of Best Cards for Deck Building
Best Staple Cards		Best Searchers		Best Hand Traps
Best Board Wipes		Best Negates		Best Fusion Monsters
Best Synchro Monsters		Best Xyz Monsters		Best Link Monsters
Best Structure Decks			Best Decks to Go 1st or 2nd