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 <c>Evermind</c>, 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 <c>Infernal Kirin</c>, <c>Maga, Traitor to Mortals</c> and <c>Adamaro, First to Desire</c>. The prerelease card was a foil alternate art <c>Kiyomaro, First to Stand</c>. The release card was <c>Ghost-Lit Raider</c>. 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.
====Magic Story====
Title 	Author 	Release Date	Setting 	Featuring
Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa	Scott McGough 	May 2005 	Kamigawa	Michiko Konda, Riko, Toshiro Umezawa, Hidetsugu, Uramon (mentioned), One-Eye, Kyodai, All-Consuming Oni of Chaos, Nagao, Silver-Foot, Kiku, Isamaru, Aoyama, Yosei, Okazawa (mentioned), Marrow-Gnawer, Myojin of Night's Reach, Takeshi Konda, O-Kagachi, Mochi, Uyo, Chiyo, Sosuke, Sachi, Myojin of Life's Web, Jugan, Godo, Yuki-Onna, Pearl-Ear, Sharp-Ear, Silk-Eyes
War's Wage 	Jeff Grubb 	2005-05-04 	Kamigawa	Furuijin, Suroshian, Kiokuri, Taimanto, Rushatsu, Kataki
The Face Behind The Mask 	Rei Nakazawa 	2005-05-11 	Kamigawa	Hojo, Keimi, Saite, Niseno, Black-Nose, Kenshi Sakashima, Natsumi, Nozomi (mentioned), Marrow-Gnawer (mentioned), Chinsen
The Meeting 	Alexander O. Smith 	2005-05-18 	Kamigawa	Makie, Toru, Pipe, Silverbeard, Thorn, Dew, Scale, Godo (mentioned), Meloku (mentioned), Ishi-Ishi (mentioned), Snow-Fur (mentioned)
Iizuka the Ruthless 	Gwendolyn Kestrel 	2005-05-25 	Kamigawa	Takeshi, Iizuka, Kensai, Ryota, Forked-Tongue, Kenshin, Hideaki, Nanashi, Ken'Ichi, Blackwhisker, Aya
The Last Visitor 	Jay Moldenhauer-Salazar	2005-06-01 	Kamigawa	Ayumi, Hamano, Kaito, Jugan (mentioned), Asuka, Saruka, Naoto (mentioned), Yumi, Kazuki, Rokuan (mentioned)
===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 <c>Kagemaro, First to Suffer</c>, <c>Maga, Traitor to Mortals</c> and <c>Arashi, the Sky Asunder</c>, as well as strong sideboard cards, like <c>Pithing Needle</c>, <c>Manriki-Gusari</c> and <c>Kataki, War's Wage</c>. It also featured a good amount of quality weenies like <c>Hand of Honor</c>, <c>Hand of Cruelty</c> 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. <c>Sink into Takenuma</c>).
* 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. <c>Ghost-Lit Redeemer</c>). 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. <c>Enduring Ideal</c>).
* Wisdom the set is filled with creatures and spells that get better the more cards you have in your hand (e.g. <c>Akki Underling</c>, <c>Kitsune Bonesetter</c>).
==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.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Ascendants 	 // 	 // 	 // 	 // 	 //
Ascendants 	Each of these rare legendary Monk creatures flip to legendary enchantments. 	Each of these rare legendary Monk creatures flip to legendary enchantments. 	Each of these rare legendary Monk creatures flip to legendary enchantments. 	Each of these rare legendary Monk creatures flip to legendary enchantments. 	Each of these rare legendary Monk creatures flip to legendary enchantments.
Bouncers 	 	 	 	 	
Bouncers 	Each of these uncommon creatures requires another creature of its color to be returned to your hand during each of your upkeeps, keeping your hand full and fitting with the wisdom mechanic.	Each of these uncommon creatures requires another creature of its color to be returned to your hand during each of your upkeeps, keeping your hand full and fitting with the wisdom mechanic.	Each of these uncommon creatures requires another creature of its color to be returned to your hand during each of your upkeeps, keeping your hand full and fitting with the wisdom mechanic.	Each of these uncommon creatures requires another creature of its color to be returned to your hand during each of your upkeeps, keeping your hand full and fitting with the wisdom mechanic.	Each of these uncommon creatures requires another creature of its color to be returned to your hand during each of your upkeeps, keeping your hand full and fitting with the wisdom mechanic.
Epic 	 	 	 	 	
Epic 	Each of these rare sorceries restrict you from playing any more spells for the rest of the game, but the epic spell is copied during each of your upkeeps until the game ends. 	Each of these rare sorceries restrict you from playing any more spells for the rest of the game, but the epic spell is copied during each of your upkeeps until the game ends. 	Each of these rare sorceries restrict you from playing any more spells for the rest of the game, but the epic spell is copied during each of your upkeeps until the game ends. 	Each of these rare sorceries restrict you from playing any more spells for the rest of the game, but the epic spell is copied during each of your upkeeps until the game ends. 	Each of these rare sorceries restrict you from playing any more spells for the rest of the game, but the epic spell is copied during each of your upkeeps until the game ends.
Ghost-Lit 	 	 	 	 	
Ghost-Lit 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures has an activated ability and can be discarded from your hand using the channel ability for twice the effect. 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures has an activated ability and can be discarded from your hand using the channel ability for twice the effect. 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures has an activated ability and can be discarded from your hand using the channel ability for twice the effect. 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures has an activated ability and can be discarded from your hand using the channel ability for twice the effect. 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures has an activated ability and can be discarded from your hand using the channel ability for twice the effect.
Kirin 	 	 	 	 	
Kirin 	Each of these rare legendary Spirit creatures has flying and a spiritcraft ability related to the casting cost of the spell cast. 	Each of these rare legendary Spirit creatures has flying and a spiritcraft ability related to the casting cost of the spell cast. 	Each of these rare legendary Spirit creatures has flying and a spiritcraft ability related to the casting cost of the spell cast. 	Each of these rare legendary Spirit creatures has flying and a spiritcraft ability related to the casting cost of the spell cast. 	Each of these rare legendary Spirit creatures has flying and a spiritcraft ability related to the casting cost of the spell cast.
Maros 	 	 	 	 	
Maros 	Each of these legendary Spirit creatures, fashioned after the card <c>Maro</c> from Mirage, have power and toughness dependent on the number of cards in a player's hand. 	Each of these legendary Spirit creatures, fashioned after the card <c>Maro</c> from Mirage, have power and toughness dependent on the number of cards in a player's hand. 	Each of these legendary Spirit creatures, fashioned after the card <c>Maro</c> from Mirage, have power and toughness dependent on the number of cards in a player's hand. 	Each of these legendary Spirit creatures, fashioned after the card <c>Maro</c> from Mirage, have power and toughness dependent on the number of cards in a player's hand. 	Each of these legendary Spirit creatures, fashioned after the card <c>Maro</c> from Mirage, have power and toughness dependent on the number of cards in a player's hand.
Maro spells	 	 	 	 	
Maro spells	Each of these spells is related to the corresponding legendary Maro Spirit. 	Each of these spells is related to the corresponding legendary Maro Spirit. 	Each of these spells is related to the corresponding legendary Maro Spirit. 	Each of these spells is related to the corresponding legendary Maro Spirit. 	Each of these spells is related to the corresponding legendary Maro Spirit.
Onna 	 	 	 	 	
Onna 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures have comes-into-play abilities can be returned to your hand whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell. 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures have comes-into-play abilities can be returned to your hand whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell. 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures have comes-into-play abilities can be returned to your hand whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell. 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures have comes-into-play abilities can be returned to your hand whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell. 	Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures have comes-into-play abilities can be returned to your hand whenever you play a Spirit or Arcane spell.
Shinen 	 	 	 	 	
Shinen 	Each of these common Spirit creatures has a static ability and can be discarded from your hand using channel to give this ability to another creature. 	Each of these common Spirit creatures has a static ability and can be discarded from your hand using channel to give this ability to another creature. 	Each of these common Spirit creatures has a static ability and can be discarded from your hand using channel to give this ability to another creature. 	Each of these common Spirit creatures has a static ability and can be discarded from your hand using channel to give this ability to another creature. 	Each of these common Spirit creatures has a static ability and can be discarded from your hand using channel to give this ability to another creature.
===Vertical cycle===
Cycle name	 	 	 	 	
Recursive 	 	 	 	 	
Recursive 	Each of these three black spells has an ability that returns it from the graveyard assuming you have more cards in hand than each opponent.	Each of these three black spells has an ability that returns it from the graveyard assuming you have more cards in hand than each opponent.	Each of these three black spells has an ability that returns it from the graveyard assuming you have more cards in hand than each opponent.	Each of these three black spells has an ability that returns it from the graveyard assuming you have more cards in hand than each opponent.	Each of these three black spells has an ability that returns it from the graveyard assuming you have more cards in hand than each opponent.
===Pairs===
Saviors of Kamigawa has four mirrored pairs.
Mirrored Pairs	Mirrored Pairs	Description
 	 	Rare legendary Spirit creatures for MM with an activated ability to deal damage to a (non-) flying creature and can both be discarded using channel to deal damage to all (non-) flying creatures.
 	 	3/3 uncommon Zubera Spirit creatures for MM with an ability that triggers if they go to the graveyard from play after being dealt four damage or more that turn.
 	 	2/2 Human Samurai for MM, both with protection from the opposing color and Bushido 1.
 	 	Uncommon artifacts for with an upkeep ability which triggers when certain players have seven or more cards in hand.
==Functional reprints==
Saviors of Kamigawa has five functional reprints:
*<c>Blood Clock</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Umbilicus</c> from Urza's Saga.
*<c>Molting Skin</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Broken Fall</c> from Tempest.
*<c>Presence of the Wise</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Gerrard's Wisdom</c> from 7th Edition.
*<c>Stampeding Serow</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Stampeding Wildebeests</c> from Visions, save for creature type.
*<c>Captive Flame</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ghitu War Cry</c> from Urza's Legacy.
==Notable cards==
*<c>Pithing Needle</c> became a popular counter against combo decks and other strategies relying on a specific card, and was reprinted several times.
*<c>Erayo, Soratami Ascendant</c> was so effective in Commander format control decks that she was banned from use as a commander, and later banned altogether in the format.
*<c>Ebony Owl Netsuke</c>, along with <c>Howling Mine</c>, 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:
==References==
==External links==
*
Category:Kamigawa sets