Azura (B14)

## Overview

Written by: Basil

Azura is a bit of a wacky MC with some solid potential. Though her condition to promote is awkward, she can class change unlike most other dancers, and her untap also comes with a sizeable +30 buff that can enable some interesting effects. Since her untap doesn’t cost flips, it also lets you run strong on-hit effects that your opponent would normally want to evade. Combined with her black/white coloring (can be buffed by Silas, run strong white cards) and having a couple personal 2 cost 70 beaters, Azura has a lot of potential builds and combos.

## Gameplan

Since your main promo needs a face-down bond so you can class change into it on turn 3, you’ll have to give up either turn 1 or 2 to use Azura 1’s skill. You could consider running some other 1 cost bond flips, but they won’t be nearly as reliable as just having this one on Azura, and it's not like you’re missing out on better 1 cost Azura's anyway. If you go first then you basically get a free pass to do it on turn 1, then turn 2 you can drop one of your 2 cost beaters and either hide behind it or attack, depending on your opponent. Going second your best bet is probably still to do it on turn 1, but you can do it on 2 if you don’t have a play and you want to try holding out for a specific bond color to flip down.

After promoting, you’re generally playing a normal midrange deck, just with a few tricks. The most common one is B22 Ike, who you can untap and buff to swing for 100 very easily and get a free destruction, but she also usually runs Kana F to try to draw when hitting the opponent’s MC, Jill and Kurth as bond spenders, and of course Silas and your 2 cost 70 beaters. You’re just trying to control the board, get value, and beat your opponent with your strong on-hit effects that are more likely to go through since you have a free untap and buff.

## Strengths and Weaknesses

**Strengths:**

* Built-in support with Silas & 2 cost Corrins
* Secures strong on-hit effects that can generate value & win the game

**Weaknesses:**

* Has to go through a few hoops to promote
* Kind of a gimmick MC that doesn’t get value on her own

## Key Cards

### Corrin 2s

Though they can’t evade, the Corrins are still above rate at 2 cost 70s when you have Azura, and luckily you do. On turn 2 they can be beaters that are annoying to clear or a nice meatshield against aggressive decks. Later on they can fit into curves pretty well, even as early as turn 4 with Silas.

### Silas

As a black/white MC, Azura should always consider running Silas just because he’s that good. Makes your MC 90 base, and can protect your board by moving it to the back line. He can even be played for cheap if you have the face-up bonds, so his 10 support is pretty much the only downside to running him.

### B20 Kana F 4(3)

Kana is the usual go-to in-color 4 drop, since she can draw you cards and even move Azura to the back line for safety. Although she isn’t the most impactful, she gets a lot of bonus points for being black/white, so she can be buffed by Silas and covers your bond requirements for your MC, which may be tricky since most Azura builds splash some other color.

### Tiki 5 B11

Tiki’s got a solid on-hit effect with her skill 2, ramp is always good, and what’s funny is she actually can swing for 100 both times because of her skill 1. Solid inclusion, especially if you splash green and want to spend a bunch of bonds on Jill + Kurth.

### B22 Ike

The most commonly splashed color with Azura is green, and Ike is the biggest reason why. Getting his destruction skill just from your MC is very strong, letting you clear whatever non-MC you want or if they have none, breaking their MC.

## Sample Decks

Azura (Green)
4 Azura, End of All
4 Silas, A True Friend Forever
3 Tiki, Awoken Daughter of the Dragon Ruler
4 Ike, Hero of Radiance and the Sacred Blade
4 Jill, Sincere Wyvern Lord
4 Kurthnaga, The Coming Era's King of Dragons
2 Corrin (Male), Song of Lamentation
3 Corrin (Female), Song of Lamentation
3 Azura, Requiem Songstress
3 Azura, At the End of the Endless Conflict+
4 Kana (Female), Hoshido-Inheriting Princess
2 Lilith, Daughter of the Silent Dragon
3 Peony, Sweet Dream-Bringing Lass
4 Ryoma, Brave King of Dawn Walking with the Dusk
2 Corrin (Male), Divine Son of the Dazzling Dawn Dragon
MC:
1 Azura, Requiem Songstress