In 1876, the emperor of japan banned samurai from wearing swords. The final Temple Bell had tolled for the samurai. There was no place for them in this world. The industrial age was coming and their culture and style just didn’t seem to fit. Of course there were rebellions, but eventually they adapted to the new age.

Now when I see the samurai in Kamigawa, I can only think one thing. What if one rōnin (a rōnin is a samurai without a master) found the spark and travelled somewhere far across the multiverse, to a place called Kamiwaga.

This is an introduction to Samurai.

Before I delve into the secrets of the samurai I must tell you a bit about Bushido. Bushido is the code of honour amongst samurai. The code speaks of moderation, loyalty, mastery of the martial arts and honour to the death. WotC tried to cover this by giving creatures with bushido a certain bonus when they block or become blocked. It is as if they fight with honour. This is in a way the opposite of what the ninja’s try to do, who hope to surpass your defences to gain the advantages instead of facing you directly.

Lords:

Takeno, Samurai General

Sweet, a legendary creature! I’d rather call him Takeno the shogun. This card is the true bushido lord. He gives your samurai +1/+1 for each point of bushido. He is however 6 mana and only a 3/3. I’d like to make him work, but I haven’t figured out how just yet.

Konda, Lord of Eiganjo

Flavorwise Konda is a central point of the kamigawa lore. He stole the child of the mightiest Kami, O-kagachi. The great kami was enraged and so a war began between mankind and the spirits.

Another legendary I guess that’s pretty awesome.

This old man is only a 3/3 with indestructible and vigilance, oh and bushido 5. I would not like to face him. He is 7 mana however, which is a pretty steep cost.

Fumiko the Lowblood

This card is true to my heart. I like to force my opponents in awkward positions. Fumiko does just that by forcing each creature my opponents control to attack. Besides that she has Bushido X where is X is the number of attack creatures. Just leave your samurai up and let them block all the incoming attacks. Also, she is a legendary creature.

Isao, Enlightened Bushi

Isao is one of the few green samurai out there. That can make him difficult to play. He does give you the ability to regenerate any target samurai for just 2 mana. Also he cannot be countered, oh and on top of that he is a legendary.

Iizuka the Ruthless

Iizuka can give all your samurai double strike but you have to kill one of your own and pay 3 mana. I find that a pretty steep price to pay. He can be a great finisher, sacrifice that one drop and swing with the team. I am pretty bored with legendary creatures by now.

A non-legendary samurai? Is it even possible? Nevermind, I flipped the card. He is legendary. This card is pretty unusual. If you can equip him or pump him one way or another, he will be great. But otherwise he is a 1/1 for 1 mana.

Toshiro Umezawa

A black samurai, I wouldn’t use him in a tribal setup but his effect intrigues me. Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies and is sent to the graveyard, you can play an instant card from your graveyard. You guessed it: legendary.

Support:

Kentaro, the Smiling Cat

This cool cat allows you to pay colourless mana for your samurai, making it easier to summon them. Let’s not forget the awesome soul patch this legendary samurai has.

Sensei Golden-Tail

This card is Legendary. Besides the fact that this sensei is a legendary creature he can also train all your other creatures to become samurai and give them bushido 1. I would like to note here that bushido stacks. Oh also have I told you he is a freaking fox samurai. How cool is that?

Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo

Bushido 1 with defender. He can reroute damage to himself and he can prevent damage to himself. I like this card alot, but I don’t know if I would use him in a tribal setting. Also… Legendary.

Nagao, Bound by Honor

This samurai gives +1/+1 to all your samurai when he attacks. That’s pretty legendary.

Oathkeeper, Takeno’s Daisho

It seems that even the blade of a samurai is legendary. Cutely named oathkeeper this blade has some seriously awesome effects for samurai. It gives +3/+1 and when the equipped creature dies you can return it to play. When oathkeeper is removed however, the creature that wears it will also die.

Tatsumasa, the Dragon’s Fang

Another legendary blade. This blade can turn in a 5/5 dragon with flying for 6 man and it’s not until the end of turn. When the dragon dies you get your blade back and you can do it again.

Konda’s Banner

This banner is legendary and can only be equipped to legendary creatures. And it gives +1/+1 to each creature that shares a colour with the wearer and +1/+1 to each creature that shares a type with the wearer.

Call to Glory

A one turn anthem effect and you untap all your samurai. I like this combat trick. It can sneak up on your opponent especially with all this bushido.

Strategy is the craft of the warrior. Commanders must enact the craft and troopers should know this. With this tribe you must become a strategist. Will you leave your samurai to defend? Or will you strike bravely at your opponents. Combat tricks are of the essences with this deck. Of course the occasional Lightning Bolt can never hurt.

Guns are for the honourless but nobody ever spoke of magic.