Icy Tail is a band started by Michiru Hyodo and her friends, Tokino, Echika, Ranko and Akkie. After one of their debut performances, Michiru came to the sudden understanding that she was actually performing animusic songs with her friends. Regardless of which, Michiru ends up continuing pursuing her passions along with her group while working alongside Tomoyo (her cousin) in his game making needs.
As the name of the deck implies, the main focus of this deck is on the finisher above. Icy Tail may be a rather random potential finisher, but given enough support from Michiru’s band mates, she’ll be able to push those final bits of damage needed to send your opponent flying.
SHS/W98-093U ライブ後の打ち上げ 叡智佳 (center)
SHS/W71-088U 意外な戦力？ 美智留 (right)
As the center of the deck, the finishing Icy Tail Michiru is the core centerpiece that binds the deck together. Other pieces of the deck, particularly those shown above, help assist the Icy Tail Michiru by either using her to facilitate plays or to assist in her finishing ability.
The 2/1 Michiru assist to the left is quintessential to the game plan to extend the amount of cards milled by the Icy Tail finisher. Echika is an early play that grabs the Icy Tail finisher from your waiting room. The 0/0 Michiru to the right has two interesting abilities that both work around the Icy Tail finisher. Firstly, she can grab the 3/2 from the deck assuming you meet her conditions. Her second effect allows her to resonate with the finisher to side without penalty against an opposing card.
In terms of gaining early advantage, there are multiple options. The above Michiru also combos with a book climax that lets you both add the Icy Tail finisher to hand while potentially netting another hand from the top of your deck (reverse combo). Tokino is another reverse combo (book) that gives you the opportunity to check the top two cards of your deck and add one to hand (send the other to waiting room).
Michiru is more beneficial for grabbing the finisher; however, her other hand generation ability is rather random. Tokino has larger power comparatively to Michiru on-swing, but she can only generate a single card advantage. The choice on the early advantage combo is dependent on you.
At level 1, Icy Tail’s band members unify and provide a plethora of great hand gaining and filtering abilities. Ranko on the left is an excellent support with a number of beneficial abilities. Firstly, she is able to transform into the 2/1 level assist Michiru at level 2. Secondly, when a climax is played on stage, she lets you reveal the top card of your deck and power pump two of your characters by 1000 power if that card is blue. Lastly, whenever one of your characters checks a climax, she can filter away the climax while retaining stock and power pumping one of your blue characters.
The three members to the right is a power pump whenever an act is used. Furthermore, you may resonate this card with the Icy Tail finisher to check the top four cards of your deck and add a Game (ゲーム) character to hand.
SHS/W98-090U ライブ後の打ち上げ 時乃 (center)
SHS/W98-089S-SR 色褪せない青春グラフィティ 美智留 (right)
Some final cards to note are the ones shown above. The 3/2 Michiru to the left is another early play that helps filter for hand. Furthermore, if she does reverse a level 2 or higher opponent, she can blind stock the top of your deck. The center Tokino is a beater that also has the ability to potentially gain card advantage from the top two cards of your deck, assuming they are both Music (音楽) trait. Lastly, the Michiru to the right is a filter on top of having a Moca-esque ability, helping to act as a potential secondary finisher.
In terms of backup usage, it is your choice. If you are running the 1/0 backrow members, backups can pump an additional 500 power which can be quite beneficial. The backup to the left is a filtering backup which can be used to fix hand potentially. The backup to the right is a free costless backup that blind stocks on its use, assuming you meet its condition.
When it comes to Michiru and her band, nothing can stop them as long as they have the power of music by their side. As for some additional supports, Michiru lazing around in bed is a climax discard profile that allows you to search your deck for a character while also being a cost zero reverser. 0/0 Michiru drop search comes with a nice top two rearrange ability on-play. Michiru staring into your eyes allows you to clock a card from hand to search for any Music (音楽) character to hand. Michiru also has a tap-self search brainstorm with an on-climax play scry ability. Lastly, if you wish to gamble a bit, her 1/0 event lets you sacrifice a character on stage to search and add a climax to hand. Lastly, 1/0 Tokino can resonate with your finisher to gain power and soul at the start of your climax phase to push for further damage. Let the power of music compel you.