Saviors of Kamigawa
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.
Set details
Saviors of Kamigawa contains 165 black-bordered cards (55 rare, 55 uncommon, and 55 commons). Its expansion symbol is a "toro". 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. 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. 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.
MagicStory
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, and 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.
- 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).
- 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
Pairs
Saviors of Kamigawa has four mirrored pairs.
Functional reprints
Saviors of Kamigawa has five functional reprints:
- Blood Clock is a functional reprint of Umbilicus from Urza's Saga.
- Molting Skin is a functional reprint of Broken Fall from Tempest.
- Presence of the Wise is a functional reprint of Gerrard's Wisdom from 7th Edition.
- Stampeding Serow is a functional reprint of Stampeding Wildebeests from Visions, save for creature type.
- Captive Flame is a functional reprint of Ghitu War Cry from Urza's Legacy.
Notable cards
- Pithing Needle became a popular counter against combo decks and other strategies relying on a specific card, and was reprinted several times.
- Erayo, Soratami Ascendant was so effective in Commander format control decks that she was banned from use as a commander, and later banned altogether in the format.
- Ebony Owl Netsuke, along with Howling Mine, became the namesake of a popular deck in "Owling Mine," which sought to kill an opponent by filling their hand with cards.
Theme decks
The preconstructed theme decks are: