Windy City AvenHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Ascend MagicCon: Chicago

The Ascend MagicCon: Chicago ability is a conditional keyword that checks two criteria: your physical attendance at the specific event and your board state. If you attended MagicCon: Chicago and control ten or more permanents at any time, you permanently gain the Windy City's blessing. Once you have this blessing, you keep it for the remainder of the game, even if your permanent count later drops below ten or Windy City Aven leaves the battlefield.

How it Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast Windy City Aven and it enters the battlefield. If you already have ten permanents and met the attendance requirement, the game recognizes you have the blessing immediately. When you declare Windy City Aven as an attacking creature, the game checks if you have the blessing. If the condition is met, the triggered ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you place a 1/1 blue Bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is forgetting that the blessing check happens during the attack declaration. If you do not have the blessing at the moment you declare attackers, the ability will not trigger at all, even if you somehow gain the tenth permanent during the combat phase. Additionally, remember that the blessing is a status granted to the player, not a counter on the creature; it cannot be removed by effects that remove counters or abilities.

When to Play It

Windy City Aven is best utilized in 'go-wide' decks or token-based strategies where reaching the ten-permanent threshold is easy. Since the blessing persists for the rest of the game, you should prioritize reaching ten permanents as quickly as possible to maximize the value of every attack phase. It pairs exceptionally well with cards that care about Bird types or flyers.

Interaction examples

Accelerating the Blessing

Solemn Simulacrum

You control eight permanents and cast Solemn Simulacrum. When it enters, you search for a basic land and put it on the battlefield. You now control ten permanents. Because you attended MagicCon: Chicago, you immediately gain the Windy City's blessing. When you later attack with Windy City Aven, you will successfully create a 1/1 Bird token.

Doubling the Tokens

Roaming Throne

With Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Bird' or 'Warrior', you declare Windy City Aven as an attacker while you have the Windy City's blessing. Roaming Throne's replacement effect causes the Aven's triggered ability to trigger twice. You will create two 1/1 blue Bird tokens with flying instead of just one.

Maintaining the Blessing

Solemn Simulacrum

You have the Windy City's blessing and ten permanents, including Solemn Simulacrum. Your opponent casts a spell that destroys Solemn Simulacrum, leaving you with nine permanents. Because the blessing lasts for the rest of the game once acquired, Windy City Aven will still create a Bird token the next time it attacks.