Betrayers of Kamigawa

Betrayers of Kamigawa is the thirty-fourth Magic expansion, released in February 2005 as the second set and first small expansion in the Kamigawa block. The prerelease was on January 22, 2005.
==Set details==
Betrayers of Kamigawa contains 165 black-bordered cards . Its expansion symbol is a "shuriken" or "shaken" to evoke the set's ninja theme. A shuriken is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing. Shuriken is the name given to any small-bladed object, while shaken is traditionally used to indicate the "throwing star". The set introduced the Ninjutsu and Offering keywords.
===Marketing===
Betrayers of Kamigawa was sold in 15-card boosters, four preconstructed theme decks and a fat pack. The booster packs featured artwork from <c>Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo</c>, <c>Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni</c> and <c>Isao, Enlightened Bushi</c>. The prerelease card was a foil alternate art <c>Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni</c>. The release card was <c>Budoka Pupil</c>. The set was accompanied by a novel by Scott McGough.
===Storyline===
Now in the employ of Princess Michiko and beholden to the Myojin of Night's Reach, Toshi Umezawa tries to honor his commitments while pursuing his ends. But as the Kami War threatens to engulf Kamigawa, an unimaginably powerful spirit beast threatens the world. And at the heart of the battle moves the figure of the Daimyo, whose impassive features conceal a sinister crime that gnaws at the world's heart.
====Magic Story====
Title 	Author 	Release Date	Setting 	Featuring
Heretic: Betrayers of Kamigawa	Scott McGough 	January 2005	Kamigawa	Takeshi Konda, Pearl-Ear, Michiko Konda, Yosei, Toshiro Umezawa, Kiku, Uramon, Marrow-Gnawer, Uchida, Yuki-Onna, Hidetsugu, Choryu, Sharp-Ear, Silk-Eyes, Silver-Foot, Blade-Tail, Dawn-Tail, Frost-Tail, Nagao, Riko, Godo, Myojin of Infinite Rage (mentioned), Myojin of Night's Reach, Myojin of Life's Web (mentioned), Isamaru, Munetsugu Takeno, Kyodai, O-Kagachi, Fuan, Hon, Uyo, Chiyo, Mochi, Meloku (mentioned), Okazawa, Seitaro and Shujiro Yamazaki, Iki Hisoka, Myojin of Cleansing Fire (mentioned), All-Consuming Oni of Chaos, Keiga, Okabe
A Servant's Mission 	Jay Moldenhauer-Salazar	2005-02-04 	Kamigawa	Ink-Eyes, Muzan, Kuro
Patron of the Akki 	Jeff Grubb 	2005-01-12 	Kamigawa	Ik-Uk, Patron of the Akki, Riko (mentioned), Hu-Hu
Personal Battles 	Rei Nakazawa 	2005-01-19 	Kamigawa	Iwamori, Shisato, Ansho, Korin, Eiyo, Dosan (mentioned), Azusa (mentioned), Toshiro Umezawa
Redemption Smiles 	David A. Page 	2005-01-26 	Kamigawa	Toshusai, Yoshinobu, Sakoda, Muro, Kentaro, Terashi (mentioned)
The Sound of Crickets 	Alexander O. Smith 	2005-02-02 	Kamigawa	Higure, Kagero, Nitta, Kio
===Token===
A special 3/3 Spirit token with flying for <c>Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens</c> appeared in Magic Online.
==Mechanics==
*Ninjutsu allows a player to put a Ninja creature card from their hand into play tapped and attacking by paying a cost and returning an attacking, unblocked creature they control to its owner's hand.
*Offering allows the player to partially pay for a spell by sacrificing a creature of a certain creature type, and lets the spell be played as an instant. This ability is used on five Spirit creatures, the patron spirits of five non-human species in Kamigawa.
==Cycles==
Betrayers of Kamigawa has eight cycles and a vertical cycle.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Patrons 	 	 	 	 	
Patrons 	Patrons are rare legendary spirit creatures that have creature offerings. For example, Patron of the Orochi has snake offering, which allows the controller to sacrifice a snake to play the card as an instant and pay the difference in the mana cost of the card and the sacrificed snake. Patron of the Kitsune has fox offering and so forth. Each patron has an ability.	Patrons are rare legendary spirit creatures that have creature offerings. For example, Patron of the Orochi has snake offering, which allows the controller to sacrifice a snake to play the card as an instant and pay the difference in the mana cost of the card and the sacrificed snake. Patron of the Kitsune has fox offering and so forth. Each patron has an ability.	Patrons are rare legendary spirit creatures that have creature offerings. For example, Patron of the Orochi has snake offering, which allows the controller to sacrifice a snake to play the card as an instant and pay the difference in the mana cost of the card and the sacrificed snake. Patron of the Kitsune has fox offering and so forth. Each patron has an ability.	Patrons are rare legendary spirit creatures that have creature offerings. For example, Patron of the Orochi has snake offering, which allows the controller to sacrifice a snake to play the card as an instant and pay the difference in the mana cost of the card and the sacrificed snake. Patron of the Kitsune has fox offering and so forth. Each patron has an ability.	Patrons are rare legendary spirit creatures that have creature offerings. For example, Patron of the Orochi has snake offering, which allows the controller to sacrifice a snake to play the card as an instant and pay the difference in the mana cost of the card and the sacrificed snake. Patron of the Kitsune has fox offering and so forth. Each patron has an ability.
Alternate cost splice cards	 	 	 	 	
Alternate cost splice cards	Common instants that can be spliced onto arcane by paying a non-mana splice cost. 	Common instants that can be spliced onto arcane by paying a non-mana splice cost. 	Common instants that can be spliced onto arcane by paying a non-mana splice cost. 	Common instants that can be spliced onto arcane by paying a non-mana splice cost. 	Common instants that can be spliced onto arcane by paying a non-mana splice cost.
Baku 	 	 	 	 	
Baku 	Common spirits that gain Ki counters whenever their controller plays a spirit or arcane spell. These counters can then be removed for an ability. The artifact <c>Baku Altar</c> has a similar mechanic and complements the cycle. 	Common spirits that gain Ki counters whenever their controller plays a spirit or arcane spell. These counters can then be removed for an ability. The artifact <c>Baku Altar</c> has a similar mechanic and complements the cycle. 	Common spirits that gain Ki counters whenever their controller plays a spirit or arcane spell. These counters can then be removed for an ability. The artifact <c>Baku Altar</c> has a similar mechanic and complements the cycle. 	Common spirits that gain Ki counters whenever their controller plays a spirit or arcane spell. These counters can then be removed for an ability. The artifact <c>Baku Altar</c> has a similar mechanic and complements the cycle. 	Common spirits that gain Ki counters whenever their controller plays a spirit or arcane spell. These counters can then be removed for an ability. The artifact <c>Baku Altar</c> has a similar mechanic and complements the cycle.
Flip cards 	 // 	 // 	 // 	 // 	 //
Flip cards 	Uncommon MM 2/2 human creatures that acquire ki counters whenever a spirit or arcane spell is played and may be flipped at the end of turn once they have at least 2 ki counters on them. Their flipped forms are all legendary spirits with activated abilities that require removing their ki counters. 	Uncommon MM 2/2 human creatures that acquire ki counters whenever a spirit or arcane spell is played and may be flipped at the end of turn once they have at least 2 ki counters on them. Their flipped forms are all legendary spirits with activated abilities that require removing their ki counters. 	Uncommon MM 2/2 human creatures that acquire ki counters whenever a spirit or arcane spell is played and may be flipped at the end of turn once they have at least 2 ki counters on them. Their flipped forms are all legendary spirits with activated abilities that require removing their ki counters. 	Uncommon MM 2/2 human creatures that acquire ki counters whenever a spirit or arcane spell is played and may be flipped at the end of turn once they have at least 2 ki counters on them. Their flipped forms are all legendary spirits with activated abilities that require removing their ki counters. 	Uncommon MM 2/2 human creatures that acquire ki counters whenever a spirit or arcane spell is played and may be flipped at the end of turn once they have at least 2 ki counters on them. Their flipped forms are all legendary spirits with activated abilities that require removing their ki counters.
Genju 	 	 	 	 	
Genju 	Auras that can temporarily turn the land they enchant into a creature for . If the enchanted land goes to the graveyard, the enchantment is returned from the graveyard to the owner's hand. The five-colored <c>Genju of the Realm</c> also exists as a complement to the cycle. 	Auras that can temporarily turn the land they enchant into a creature for . If the enchanted land goes to the graveyard, the enchantment is returned from the graveyard to the owner's hand. The five-colored <c>Genju of the Realm</c> also exists as a complement to the cycle. 	Auras that can temporarily turn the land they enchant into a creature for . If the enchanted land goes to the graveyard, the enchantment is returned from the graveyard to the owner's hand. The five-colored <c>Genju of the Realm</c> also exists as a complement to the cycle. 	Auras that can temporarily turn the land they enchant into a creature for . If the enchanted land goes to the graveyard, the enchantment is returned from the graveyard to the owner's hand. The five-colored <c>Genju of the Realm</c> also exists as a complement to the cycle. 	Auras that can temporarily turn the land they enchant into a creature for . If the enchanted land goes to the graveyard, the enchantment is returned from the graveyard to the owner's hand. The five-colored <c>Genju of the Realm</c> also exists as a complement to the cycle.
One-mana spirits 	 	 	 	 	
One-mana spirits 	Common 1/1 spirits costing one colored mana that could sacrificed for an ability. 	Common 1/1 spirits costing one colored mana that could sacrificed for an ability. 	Common 1/1 spirits costing one colored mana that could sacrificed for an ability. 	Common 1/1 spirits costing one colored mana that could sacrificed for an ability. 	Common 1/1 spirits costing one colored mana that could sacrificed for an ability.
Lobotomy spells 	 	 	 	 	
Lobotomy spells 	An uncommon cycle of spells that removed a target card from the game, then also removed all other copies of the card in its controller's graveyard, hand, and library from the game. They were all reprints from Urza's Destiny. 	An uncommon cycle of spells that removed a target card from the game, then also removed all other copies of the card in its controller's graveyard, hand, and library from the game. They were all reprints from Urza's Destiny. 	An uncommon cycle of spells that removed a target card from the game, then also removed all other copies of the card in its controller's graveyard, hand, and library from the game. They were all reprints from Urza's Destiny. 	An uncommon cycle of spells that removed a target card from the game, then also removed all other copies of the card in its controller's graveyard, hand, and library from the game. They were all reprints from Urza's Destiny. 	An uncommon cycle of spells that removed a target card from the game, then also removed all other copies of the card in its controller's graveyard, hand, and library from the game. They were all reprints from Urza's Destiny.
Shoals 	 	 	 	 	
Shoals 	Arcane instants which costs and 2 of the appropriate mana. A cycle of Pitch Spells means that the player may exile from their hand a card of the appropriate color with a converted mana cost of X rather than pay the card's cost. Also, each piece of art has fish in it. 	Arcane instants which costs and 2 of the appropriate mana. A cycle of Pitch Spells means that the player may exile from their hand a card of the appropriate color with a converted mana cost of X rather than pay the card's cost. Also, each piece of art has fish in it. 	Arcane instants which costs and 2 of the appropriate mana. A cycle of Pitch Spells means that the player may exile from their hand a card of the appropriate color with a converted mana cost of X rather than pay the card's cost. Also, each piece of art has fish in it. 	Arcane instants which costs and 2 of the appropriate mana. A cycle of Pitch Spells means that the player may exile from their hand a card of the appropriate color with a converted mana cost of X rather than pay the card's cost. Also, each piece of art has fish in it. 	Arcane instants which costs and 2 of the appropriate mana. A cycle of Pitch Spells means that the player may exile from their hand a card of the appropriate color with a converted mana cost of X rather than pay the card's cost. Also, each piece of art has fish in it.
===Vertical cycle===
Cycle name	 	 	 	 	
Glasskites	 	 	 	 	
Glasskites	Blue flying creatures that have "Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability for the first time in a turn, counter that spell or ability". The rare, while technically not having this line of text, has an ability that grants it to all creatures under your control.	Blue flying creatures that have "Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability for the first time in a turn, counter that spell or ability". The rare, while technically not having this line of text, has an ability that grants it to all creatures under your control.	Blue flying creatures that have "Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability for the first time in a turn, counter that spell or ability". The rare, while technically not having this line of text, has an ability that grants it to all creatures under your control.	Blue flying creatures that have "Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability for the first time in a turn, counter that spell or ability". The rare, while technically not having this line of text, has an ability that grants it to all creatures under your control.	Blue flying creatures that have "Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability for the first time in a turn, counter that spell or ability". The rare, while technically not having this line of text, has an ability that grants it to all creatures under your control.
==Notable cards==
*<c>Tendo Ice Bridge</c> is a simple design that cleanly gives multiple colored mana Turn 1 without significant drawbacks for later turns. 
*<c>Shining Shoal</c>
*<c>Threads of Disloyalty</c> was a popular way to fight <c>Tarmogoyf</c> and <c>Dark Confidant</c>, and in general most creature decks in early Modern and Extended.
*<c>Hokori, Dust Drinker</c> was <c>Winter Orb</c> for a new age and proved just as powerful.
*<c>Goryo's Vengeance</c> is a restricted <c>Shallow Earth</c> variant that worked with the Legendary theme of the block. It was elevated to competitive playability with the printings of powerful Legends such as <c>Griselbrand</c> and later <c>Atraxa, Grand Unifier</c>. Relatedly, <c>Nourishing Shoal</c> was often a part of the <c>Griselbrand</c> decks as gaining 15 from <c>Autochthon Wurm</c> represented 14 cards.
*<c>Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni</c> is a Ninja that can reanimate creatures as a sabotage trigger.
*<c>Ninja of the Deep Hours</c> is an <c>Ophidian</c> descendant which continues to power blue Pauper decks and had a short stint in Legacy when <c>Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow</c> was printed.
*<c>Flames of the Blood Hand</c> proved a powerful closer for aggressive decks in the standard format.
*<c>Shuko</c>'s 0-mana equip made it ripe for combo applications, starting with the Extended Cephalid Breakfast deck up to <c>Nadu, Winged Wisdom</c> decades later.
===Banned and restricted cards===
*<c>Umezawa's Jitte</c> is arguably the most powerful card that has ever been included in a preconstructed deck (Rats' Nest theme deck). Its modal, mana-less ability dominates any creature matchup by making combat impossible, resulting in polarization away from conventional creature decks. It began banned in Modern's inception and remains so.
*<c>Blazing Shoal</c> seems like a poor combat trick and ineffectual as a <c>Hatred</c> effect even with the discount, given the risk of running such high-cost cards that don't even kill a player from 20. However, combining it with Infect made a one-shot kill much more reasonable as it only required a single 9- or 10-mana card. It was hence banned in Modern since September 2011 after a powerful showing at Pro Tour Return to Ravnica, the format's first Pro Tour.
==Theme decks==
The preconstructed theme decks are:
==Reprinted cards==
The following cards have been reprinted from previous sets.
*The "Lobotomy cycle" (<c>Scour</c>, <c>Quash</c>, <c>Eradicate</c>, <c>Sowing Salt</c> and <c>Splinter</c>) were last seen in Urza's Destiny. Per Mark Rosewater, "They were chosen for repeats as their ability to remove threats from the game seemed like a good answer to several issues in Standard at the time (<c>Eternal Witness</c>, <c>Goblin Charbelcher</c>, <c>Cloudpost</c>, etc.)."
*<c>Phantom Wings</c> was last seen in Weatherlight.
===Functional reprints===
Betrayers of Kamigawa has 2 functional reprints:
*<c>Gnarled Mass</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Trained Armodon</c> from 8th Edition, save for creature type.
*<c>Goblin Cohort</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Mogg Conscripts</c> from Tempest, save for creature type.
==References==
==External links==
*Betrayers of Kamigawa product information page
Category:Kamigawa sets