Saviors of Kamigawa
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| Saviors of Kamigawa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Expansion symbol |  |
|
| Release date | June 3, 2005 | |
| Mechanics | Channel, Sweep, Hand size (wisdom) | |
| Keywords | Epic | |
| Cycles | Epic spells, "Maros", Shinens, Ghost-Lit spirits, Creatures that flip to enchantments | |
| Size | 165 (55 rares, 55 uncommons, 55 commons) | |
| Expansion code | SOK | |
| Development codename | Fire | |
| Sets in 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 (also Saviors or SoK) is a Magic: The Gathering set, third and last in the Kamigawa Block. Saviors of Kamigawa was released on June 3, 2005 (prerelease on May 21, 2005). Its expansion symbol is a Japanese lantern.
[edit] Mechanics
Saviors of Kamigawa introduces several new mechanics to the game.
- Epic Spells are powerful cards with effects so big that once played their controller can't play spells for the rest of the game. In exchange, that player gets a copy of the spell again for free during each of his or her upkeeps. Ideally, these spells are used when a sort of control of the game has been established, to offset the Epic ability. Notablly Enduring Ideal had became a semi-popular deck, while being able to fetch any enchantment every turn (It usually wins by fetching Form of the Dragon and Zur's Wierding to gain control of the game)
- Channel represents the fading barrier between the spirit world and reality. Spirits now have the ability to concentrate their physical form into a one-shot instant-effect. Channel, is an activated ability not unlike cycling; a 'Channel' cost is played, and the card is discarded with an effect.
- Sweep Spells, following in the sudden burst of spell power, allows players to determine how devastating they want the spell to be, in exchange for returning lands of a required type to your hand.
- Five new flip cards - These flip cards are different from previous flips. Saviors of Kamigawa's cycle of flip creatures, once their conditions are met, change into Legendary global enchantments with big effects, symbolizing that creature's Essence.
- Wisdom isn't a keyword mechanic, but Saviors of Kamigawa theme. Cards with wisdom get bigger and better depending on the number of cards in players' hands. Typically, the magic number is 7.
- Saviors also features the first intentional (see Alpha's Cyclopean Tomb) literally unplayable spell, Evermind's effect can only be achieved through the use of the Splice mechanic introduced in Champions of Kamigawa. However, new rules from Time Spiral now allow these kinds of cards (the ones without mana cost) to be played as long as the player can bypass paying the non-existing mana cost, thus adding more ways to use Evermind.
[edit] Notable Cards
- Kagemaro, First to Suffer - Considered the best of the five 'Ancestor' spirits as he can be sacrificed to released a twisted version of the Torment spell Mutilate, at instant speed.
- Pithing Needle - An artifact which is used as a 'hoser' to cards with powerful abilities such as 'Umezawa's Jitte' or 'Sensei's Divining Top'.
- Sakashima The Impostor - A human with powerful imitation abilities. He copies every aspect of a creature except its name, a good 'Clone' spell in a Legend-heavy block.
- Twincast - A blue reprint of the base set spell Fork, except without changing the color of the copy.
- Hand of Cruelty / Hand of Honor - inspired by the mirrored cycle of base set knights (Black Knight/White Knight), the cycle was made to help give Black decent 'weenie' creatures.
