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For the accompanying novel to Saviors of Kamigawa, see Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa.

Saviors of Kamigawa
SOK logo
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description Lantern
Design Brian Tinsman (lead) [1]
Brian Schneider
Brandon Bozzi
Devin Low
Development Randy Buehler (lead) [2]
Brian Schneider
Worth Wollpert
Mons Johnson
Justin Webb
Art direction Jeremy Cranford
Release date June 3, 2005
Themes and mechanics Flip cards, Wisdom (handsize matters)
Keywords/​ability words Channel, Epic, Sweep
Set size 165 (55 Common 55 Uncommon 55 Rare)
Expansion code SOK[4]
Development codename Fire
Kamigawa block
[[Champions of Kamigawa]] [[Betrayers of Kamigawa]] [[Saviors of Kamigawa]]
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
[[Betrayers of Kamigawa]] Saviors of Kamigawa [[9th Edition]]

Saviors of Kamigawa is the thirty-fifth Magic expansion and was released in June, 2005 as the third set in the Kamigawa block. The prerelease was May 21, 2005. [5]

Set details

Saviors of Kamigawa contains 165 black-bordered cards (55 rare, 55 uncommon, and 55 commons). Its expansion symbol is a "toro". [6] A toro is a lamp of stone, bronze, iron, wood, or another heavy material. These illuminate the grounds of Japanese temples, shrines, gardens, and other places that include tradition in their decor. It's also a symbol of hope. [7] Saviors of Kamigawa expands on the Kamigawa block themes, featuring cards with spiritcraft, Soulshift, Spirits, Arcane instants and sorceries, cards with Splice onto Arcane, and a high number of legendary creatures. It introduced flip cards that change their permanent type when flipped. With Evermind, it featured the first spell in Magic without a casting cost (its effect can only be achieved through the use of the Splice mechanic).

Marketing

Saviors of Kamigawa was sold in 15-card boosters, four preconstructed theme decks and a fat pack. [8] The booster packs featured artwork from Infernal Kirin, Maga, Traitor to Mortals and Adamaro, First to Desire. The prerelease card was a foil alternate art Kiyomaro, First to Stand. The release card was Ghost-Lit Raider. The set was accompanied by a novel by Scott McGough.

Storyline

The ronin Toshi has sought to avoid the great conflict between the spirit and human realms. But despite his best efforts, he's not only involved in it, he's at the center of it. Together with Princess Michiko, daughter of Daimyo Konda, he must find a way to stave off the impending victory of the kami, while preserving his own life into the bargain. [9] [10]

Tournament impact

Following the steps of the rest of the block, Saviors of Kamigawa contributed to the tournament scene with strong finishers and "fatties" like Kagemaro, First to Suffer, Maga, Traitor to Mortals and Arashi, the Sky Asunder, as well as strong sideboard cards, like Pithing Needle, Manriki-Gusari and Kataki, War's Wage. It also featured a good amount of quality weenies like Hand of Honor, Hand of Cruelty that helped aggro decks battle the mostly control environment of Kamigawa Block Constructed.

Mechanics

Saviors of Kamigawa introduced the ability words Sweep and Channel, the keyword Epic. It also introduced the wisdom mechanic, cards that get better depending on your and sometimes your opponents' hand size. Several cards altered your or your opponent's maximum hand size.

  • Sweeps — some powerful spells can uproot the land itself. When you play a spell with the sweep ability, you can return to your hand any number of your lands of the right type. The more lands you return, the more devastating the spell is (e.g. Sink into Takenuma).
  • Channel — near the final days of the war, the veil between worlds became increasingly volatile. Kami with the channel ability could focus their life essence into a one-shot blast of energy instead of solidifying into a creature (e.g. Ghost-Lit Redeemer). Since this is an ability instead of a spell, regular countering spells can’t stop it. [11]
  • Epic — Spells with the epic ability are so extraordinary that once you play one, you can’t play any more spells for the rest of the game. However, each time your upkeep starts, you get another free copy of the epic spell (e.g. Enduring Ideal). [12]
  • Wisdom — the set is filled with creatures and spells that get better the more cards you have in your hand (e.g. Akki Underling, Kitsune Bonesetter).

Creature types

The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: Kirin.

The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: Advisor, Archer, Beast, Cleric, Demon, Druid, Fox, Goblin, Insect, Mercenary, Monk, Moonfolk, Ogre, Rat, Rogue, Scout, Shaman, Shapeshifter, Snake, Soldier, Spirit, Warrior, Zubera.

Cycles

Saviors of Kamigawa has nine cycles and a vertical cycle.

Vertical cycle

Mirrored pairs

Saviors of Kamigawa has four mirrored pairs.

Functional reprints

Saviors of Kamigawa has five functional reprints:

Notable cards

Theme decks

The preconstructed theme decks are:

Theme
deck name
Colors Included
{W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Critical Mass B R
Soratami's Wisdom W U
Spirit Flames R G
Truth Seekers W G

References

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External links

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