Operation Tornado

“Operation Tornado” is an effect where the card performs a hand gaining ability (usually) through milling cards from the top of the deck. After the mill occurs, the player can then select a target from the waiting room to add back to hand whose characteristics correspond to Operation Tornado’s mill check.

The original “Operation Tornado” and the namesake of the card originates from the Angel Beats! and Kud Wafter set back in 2010.

The effect works similarly to the “cigarettes” ability where a mill occurs and hand advantage is gained from the waiting room. Operation Tornado always mills three targets from the top of your deck (no more, no less), compared to the two from “cigarettes” and is always preceded by the keyword of Brainstorm (集中). Operation Tornado also provides a check based on number of characters that fulfill the trait listed on the card itself. The potential targets are equal to the corresponding level of the number of characters featuring the listed effect’s trait(s) milled.

To put it simply, as an example, if you use the Operation Tornado card and mill exactly two characters with the selected trait on the card’s effect, you would be able to add any level 2 or lower character from your waiting room back to hand.

Operation Tornado and “cigarettes” perform the same end goal effect; however, their conditions differ drastically. Whereas “cigarettes” looks for level, this means that any card (character, event, or climax) will suffice for achieving and adding to the level total, Operation Tornado does fail on checks that include both events and climaxes. However, depending on your deck build and deck manipulations, you can make it more likely for your Operation Tornado to mill a good number of characters to provide a larger selection. The extra mill for Operation Tornado may be handy for a wider range of targets and condition checking compared to that of “cigarettes”. Both have their pros and cons respectively.

Comparatively to that of “cigarettes”, Operation Tornado has mostly remained untouched over the years. Aside from a few rare examples, Operation Tornado is almost exclusively event based. When it comes to the few character cards that carry this effect, it is usually quite pricey (stock-wise). Although, to be fair, character profiles with the effect usually spawn a character straight from your waiting room rather than adding one to hand. Interesting thing to note: since they carry the Brainstorm (集中) wording, when used as part of a character effect, and as such, they are considered as acts (起).

Best of luck! Remember that Operation Tornado does brick on itself and other events. Climaxes are a no go as well. Use the mill and hand plus to your advantage!