Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor
DARK/Winged Beast/Tuner
Level 1

ATK: 800  DEF: 0  
ANPR-EN005


If this card is face-up on the field, you cannot use it for a Synchro Summon. If this card is in your Graveyard, you can remove from play this card plus 1 non-Tuner "Blackwing" monster in your Graveyard and Special Summon 1 "Blackwing" Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck whose Level equal the total Levels of the removed monsters. The effect(s) of that Synchro Monster is negated.



Even a few months before Ancient Prophecy was released, Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor has been a highly coveted card. The hype it generated from being the first card ever to "Synchro from the Graveyard" led to Vayu's current popularity today.

Originally, Vayu wasn't too playable. With it only able to bring out 2 Monsters (at the time) and it removing from play being a cost, Vayu wasn't that great. Now, Vayu has rulings that made the card way better. Here they are:


1)This effect targets 1 “Blackwing” monster in your Graveyard.

2) Special Summoning a monster with this effect is not considered a Synchro Summon.

3) You can activate this effect even if “Discord” is active.

4) If the effect of “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor” is being negated by “Skill Drain” you can use it for a Synchro Summon while it is on the field.

5) If the Synchro Monster you want to Summon with Vayu’s effect is no longer in your Extra Deck when the effect resolves,you must Special Summon another appropriate Synchro Monster instead. If you do not have one, your opponent can check your Extra Deck to verify.

6) If an effect causes you to have no cards in your Extra Deck when Vayu’s effect resolves, you still remove from play Vayu and the selected “Blackwing” monster.

7) If Vayu or the targeted “Blackwing” monster isn’t in the Graveyard when this effect resolves, the effect is not applied. 


Now Vayu is capable of a lot of things. It can't be stopped by Royal Oppression now since  removing from play the monsters for the effect of Vayu is not cost. It is part of the resolution of it's effect. Since you can activate effects during a card's resolution, it doesn't work. You can activate Royal Oppression against the effect of Vayu, however it is pointless to do so because the opponent can then continue to keep activating the effect of Vayu. All you're doing is lowering your life points by 800. That's one good reason that makes Vayu amazing.

Vayu's first effect, "If this card is face-up on the field, you cannot use it for a Synchro Summon," is no longer a condition. Which means that cards like "Forbidden Chalice," "Skill Drain," and even "Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame" make it so that Vayu can be used like a normal Tuner. Then you can proceed to use it again when it's in the Graveyard. This is the second reason why Vayu is so great. 

Many player's want to see Vayu limited or even banned on the next list seeing that it generates a free 2300/2500/2800 ATK Blackwing Monster. Like Mezuki, it's a simple "+1" in terms of card advantage. With an added Book of Moon, the Monsters Special Summoned by Vayu can get their effects by when flipped face up again. Also, another way to abuse Vayu is by using Burial from a Different Dimension. With this, you can continuously Special Summon free Blackwing Synchros. This is the final reason why Vayu is amazing. 

So, what do you think? Is Vayu broken? Or is it simply a balanced card that happens to be abused by other cards? Do these situations slow it down?

1) Crush Card Virus is banned
2) Vayu brings out Monsters with no effects 
3) Vayu can only bring out Blackwing Synchros
4) Vayu can't be used like a normal Tuner unless it's effect has been negated


Let me know what your opinion is. Thanks for reading.



- Dark World Overlord


[If you have any questions concerning the article or the cards discussed, just send me a message and I'll get it worked out. Thanks!]