Generic draw card for WIND Attributes.


Tailwind
[Spell]
Draw 2 cards, then shuffle 1 WIND monster from your hand into the Deck. Otherwise, shuffle your entire hand into your Deck.

So, to get the conversation going, I wanted to talk about how we can view generating hand advantage (and the hand in general) from a different perspective.

Before we can delve into interesting ways to generate hand advantage, I'd like to first point out the two primary ways in which cards are added to the hand, by drawing or by searching. Consider this the oxygen of generating advantage; most strategies will be comprised of this, just like most things on earth are comprised of oxygen, yet we can end up with quite a variety of play-styles, themes and gimmicks by combining other elements that we find.

So, what are some examples of these other elements that we could combine with drawing/searching to create a mechanic that can perhaps serve as the basis of an archetype? Off the top of my head I'd say banishing, discarding, excavation and milling. If we're including drawing/searching, I like to classify these six elements as "Priority I" effects. Meaning, that for any new archetype, theme or set of cards, the creator will traditionally begin with these effects, as they will incorporate the engine (most likely). A few examples of this are cards such as Sylvan Hermitree, Pot of Duality and Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn.

I'll stop here, before I ramble and wind up with 750+ words...

Anyone else care to add to the discussion? Also feel free to post cards here that fit the theme of the week (hand advantage).

Generally speaking, yeah you kinda need hand advantage in order to have access to swarming and/or removal (most of the time). However, in an isolated incident (or even speaking in terms of generic cards) this isn't necessarily true.

Opening Remarks:
Greetings! Before anything, I'd like to thank those who took the time to check out my newest archetype, Magenum. Whether you're an esteemed custom card connoisseur or just so happened to click on the link by mistake, I greatly appreciate it.

Creation Process:
I began brainstorming the concepts for this archetype around the time I was finishing up Psychether, and I knew that I wanted my next archetype to focus on Synchro Summoning. Originally, I had planned to make an archetype of Synchro/Spirits, but over time that concept became an unnecessary hinderance to other aspects that I wanted to incorporate.
It was at this time that I decided to put the archetype down, so that I may work on other things, and within this time period I joined BT, etc.
As part of BT, I was looking at an archetype comprised only of tuners, and I wanted to play around with this idea a little bit, but in a way that was subtle. In this same regard, I found myself greatly inspired by the Fate/Stay series and so my concept became this: Spellcasters that used books to summon the companions of a fabled figure, with whom they would synergize with as partners. At this point, I had already came to the conclusion of making them Geminis; with Gemini effects that would make them Tuners.
** Side note, Geminis seem to have a stigma that is associated with having a handicap of sorts. However, I believe that when done right, not only does the Gemini mechanic provide flavor/flair to an archetype, but more importantly, it adds a layer of versatility and complexity that I enjoy.
With that being said, they needed a way to function without relying purely on Normal Summons (or terrible Gemini supporting cards, like Supervise). Naturally, I figured since the monsters were making use of spell books (thematically speaking), why not let them function like spells, but at a level beyond what Crystal Beasts and Artifacts do. The rest is history tbh. 

Playstyle:
Magenum, is a Synchro deck that gears itself towards board control through an aggro-style play. The archetype is combo oriented, and comprised of Level 4 Spellcasters in the Main Deck (all but 1 being Gemini monsters) and Level 8 Warrior Synchro Monsters. The Gemini monsters place themselves in the S/T zone (HOPT) as Continuous Spells, and while they are Continuous Spells, they gain unique effects which will help you to navigate through combos. While they are Normal Monsters on the field, they can be Normal Summoned again as Tuners. Each Gemini, or book, has a corresponding Synchro Monster; the point being, that when used to summon their respective Synchro Monster, they will be placed back in the S/T zone as Continuous Spells, but with an additional effect granted by the Synchro Monster (think Weather Painters in reverse). Collecting these 'powered up' versions of the books is key to winning with the archetype, as they are integral to how you will retain your board presence and/or deal damage to your opponent. This archetype has lots of subtleties that you will discover as you investigate the cards below, or perhaps once you're playing them in-game.

Lore:
His name is infamous among aspiring mages, along with the tale of his adventures which spoke of the young man's overwhelming charisma and magical ability. The Fantastical Wizard, Magenum, and his 5 companions who pledged to preserve his secrets, long after their bodies faded from this world. These secrets which were recorded into words, wrapped in bindings and passed through the ages; containing power that exceeded the imagination of modern day magicians. And so, as this power falls into the hands of a new generation of mages, who have been given the blessing of the great wizard through his retainers, what can be learned from the records of such a grand tale?

Contents:
I. Terms
II. Introduction
III. Pushing the Limit
IV. Understanding Limits
V. Achieving the Apex Summon
VI. The Overlimit
VII. Samples of Apex Monsters

I. Terms:
Apex Summon - the act of Summoning an Apex Monster through the use of the Apex mechanic.
Apex Monster - a new monster-type that features Limits, and Limit Effects.
Limit - a number seen on every Apex Monster. It is a resource pool for Limit Effects and an indicator for an Apex Monster’s progression towards being Apex Summoned.
Limit Effect - unique to Apex Monsters, they are utilized from the hand, and subtract from the Limit of an Apex Monster when used.
Push/Pushing/Pushed - the state of an Apex Monster being revealed in your hand, after the use of its Limit Effect.

II. Introduction:
Apex Summoning is a custom mechanic that is Main Deck driven, and introduces Apex Monsters. These monsters possess Limits, and through the act of ‘pushing', they can utilize their unique Limit Effects from the hand. An Apex Monster represents the ascended form of a Normal/Effect Monster, as they grant continual benefits, for essentially free, from the safety of your hand, while fulfilling their own Summoning conditions.

III. Pushing the Limit:
While an Apex Monster is present in your hand, you can openly declare to use its Limit Effect, and thus push that monster, at which point, it remains revealed in your hand until it is Summoned or sent to the GY. An Apex Monster is only able to use its Limit Effect, when it is in the state of being pushed. Inherently, each Apex Monster card's name can only be pushed once per turn. Meaning, that if you have two copies of the same Apex Monster in your hand, you can push one, but not the other, during the same turn. However, there is no limit to how many Apex Monsters, with different names, that can be pushed in one turn. Whenever you decide to push a new Apex Monster, whichever Apex Monster you are currently pushing is sent to the GY.

IV. Understanding Limits
Limits are present on every Apex Monster, and can be seen as a resource pool from which they are able to use their Limit Effects. Each time a monster’s Limit Effect is used, whichever value is stated on that monster’s Limit Effect is subtracted from that monster’s current Limit, starting from that monster’s original limit. Once an Apex Monster’s Limit reaches 0, they are sent from the hand to the GY. Any time an Apex Monster leaves the hand, the value of their Limit is reset.

V. Achieving the Apex Summon
Once the Limit of an Apex Monster is equal to that monster's Level, you are able to Summon that monster from your hand; this is called an Apex Summon, which is classified as a Special Summon. Although an Apex Monster can be Normal Summoned in the same ways as a Normal/Effect Monster, it will not gain any of the benefits typically seen in Apex Monsters that are Apex Summoned.

VI. The Overlimit
Apex Monsters, with a Level higher than 1, can utilize what is known as an 'Overlimit Effect'. This effect can only be used once their Limit drops below their Level, and thus, is usually very potent and/or useful in regaining advantage. Typically, the cost of this effect will deplete any remaining Limit that the monster may have, resulting in it being sent to the GY.

VII. Samples of Apex Monsters
Blue-Eyes Wyvern
[Dragon/LIGHT/Apex/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1500] Level 6
Limit 10 | Once per turn: You can activate 1 of these effects;
[-1] Shuffle 2 other cards from your hand into the Deck, add 1 Dragon monster from your Deck to your hand.
[-2] Discard 1 other Dragon monster; draw until you have 3 cards in your hand.
[-4 Overlimit] Send 3 Dragon monsters from your Deck to the GY.
If this card is Apex Summoned: You can add 1 “Blue-Eyes” monster from your GY to your hand. This card’s ATK becomes 3000 while you control a “Blue-Eyes White Dragon”.

Master Spellbook Magician of Prophecy
[Spellcaster/WATER/Apex/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 1300] Level 5
Limit 7 | Once per turn: You can activate 1 of these effects;
[-1] Shuffle 1 “Spellbook” Spell from your GY into the Deck.
[-2] Shuffle 1 of your banished “Spellbook” Spells into the Deck
[-4 Overlimit] Add 3 “Spellbook” Spells with different names from your Deck to your hand, then place 1 “Spellbook” Spell from your hand on the bottom of your Deck.
If this card is Apex Summoned: You can banish up to 2 Spellbook cards from your GY; destroy that many cards on the field.

Spiritual Beast Tamer Caam
[Psychic/WIND/Apex/Effect/ATK 1900/DEF 1700] Level 4
Limit 6 | Once per turn: You can activate 1 of these effects;
[-1] Banish 1 “Ritual Beast” monster from your Deck or GY, face-up.
[-3 Overlimit] Shuffle into the Deck, 5 of your “Ritual Beast” cards that are banished and/or in your GY, except “Spiritual Beast Tamer Caam”, then banish this card from your hand, and if you do, add 1 “Ritual Beast” monster from your Deck to your hand. 
You can only use this card’s name’s (2)nd effect once each turn.
(1) If this card is Apex Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower “Ritual Beast” monster that is banished and/or in your GY, ignoring its Summoning conditions.
(2) When this card is used as Fusion Material for a “Ritual Beast” Fusion Monster; draw 1 card.

Shinobird Sparrow
[Winged-Beast/WIND/Effect/Apex/Spirit/ATK 1200/DEF 1600] Level 4
Limit 5 | Once per turn: You can activate 1 of these effects;
[-1] Banish 1 Spirit monster from your hand or GY; add 1 Ritual Spell from your GY to your hand. You can only use this effect of “Shinobird Sparrow” once per turn.
[-2 Overlimit] Reveal 1 WIND Ritual Monster in your hand; add 1 Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand.
Cannot be Special Summoned, except by Apex Summon. You can only use this card’s (2)nd effect once per turn.
(1) If this card is Apex Summoned: This turn, if you Ritual Summon exactly 1 WIND Ritual Monster with a card effect that requires monsters, this card can be used as the entire requirement.
(2) If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can add 1 “Shinobird” Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand.
Once per turn, during the End Phase, if this card was Summoned or flipped face-up this turn: Return it to the hand.