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The specter of war looms large over the Emerald Empire. All-out war has come to Rokugan and conflicts between clans have become more and more complicated. Strategic alliances must be forged to defeat enemies old and new. What will the political landscape of the Emerald Empire look like when all is said and done?

Join us today as we preview multiplayer-centric cards in Clan War, a new Premium Expansion for Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Game!

Clan War expands the conflicts of Rokugan into all-out war with two different multiplayer game modes, the rules of which can be found here. The Enlightenment format sees three or more players racing to claim all five elemental rings on their provinces, while Team Conquest allows four players to join up into two teams to break each other’s’ strongholds. When the clans clash in open war, none can be victorious alone!

Allies and Enemies

The Enlightenment format introduces a new mechanic in the form of keeping claimed rings on provinces. While these rings can later be taken by your opponent, they can also trigger some potent abilities on a variety of cards in Clan War. The Crab, for example, can collect rings in the Slaughtered Village (Clan War, 13), and should the province be broken, they can enact vengeance on their foe before the rings are taken from them. Meanwhile, the Crane can protect their rings with Model of Courtesy (Clan War, 14), ensuring that even if their provinces are broken, the Left Hand of the Emperor can still triumph. The Scorpion utilize a similar trick, using a Shadowed Alleyway (Clan War, 18) to move their rings out of danger when a conflict is taking place at a province. With subtle manipulation, even if the Scorpion lose conflicts, they can prevent their enemies from gaining any ground.

But it’s more than just provinces that interact with this mechanic. Kobo Ichi-Kai Jujutsu (Clan War, 64) can of course work in a single-player format, enhancing a character’s military strength by their opponent’s claimed rings. While this will often provide a boost of one or two skill in single player games, it can be far more potent during multiplayer games, potentially boosting your samurai to greater heights.

The Lion also benefit from rings on provinces. When the Righteous Akodo (Clan War, 41) is attacking a province with a claimed ring, she gains two political skill, making her a valuable player in any conflict for any one fate. But the Lion can do far more than boost skill. From their Privileged Position (Clan War, 79), they can ensure they will not be ganged up on if they keep your honor low. In an Enlightenment game, alliances are constantly shifting and you never know when a betrayal is waiting in the wings. Privileged Position can ensure your safety to some extent, limiting the amount of times a conflict can be declared against you during a turn.

While the Lion can limit conflicts, the Unicorn have a whole new way to turn a battle on its head. Diversionary Maneuver (Clan War, 90) completely cancels out a military conflict and replaces it with a different battle at a different province. While this can of course be used on the same opponent’s province, it may also come about as part of a deal, and find your Unicorn forces attacking a different player entirely. The Unicorn can run down any target, and having them on your side could be vital to victory.

Every clan will also have access to neutral cards to give them the edge in multiplayer battles. Seize the Day (Clan War, 93) works in the traditional Legend of the Five Rings: the Card Game format, but excels in multiplayer games where you can become the first player for free. The more opponents you have, the longer it will take to reclaim the first player token. When you need it most, Seize the Day can provide you an opportunity to act first and strike down your foes; all you have to do is reach out and take it.

Players can also mitigate their opponent’s strongest characters by listening to Hige’s Sermon (Clan War, 92). Though playing this card is Heresy, it provides every player the opportunity to bow an opposing character. By working with your allies, you can use Hige’s Sermon to strike fiercely at your enemies, bowing several of their characters. Just make sure your closest friends don’t betray you when it’s their time to bow a character.

The Specter of War

Though Rokugan is a land built on honor, who can you trust when the specter of war looms so brightly? The Clan War is coming, what side will reign victorious when all is said and done? Find out when Clan War releases this February!