Tear Away the Darkness

 
 
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This uncommon spell from Heaven & Earth just came into it's own. Previously, it was a flavour spell, but nothing more. With Reign of Blood, this spell just became interesting.

Costing 5 gold, with a focus of 4, the spell gains 3 charge tokens when it enters play. As a Limited Action, bow the shugenja and destroy one of the Charge tokens to destroy one card with the Maho Trait or a Maho action. This is surprisingly powerful.

Before RoB, very few cards actually had the Maho Trait, or actions with that Trait. A [very] quick perusal of Diamond [i.e., what I had available] has Iuchiban, Mohai, Seppun Jin, Jama Suru Exp, and Gargelara with Maho abilities. I would note that although Chunigo has the Maho-Tsukai trait, it is not applicable to this spell.

With the release of RoB, there are many more cards with either Maho abilities or the Maho trait. And this spell doesn't care whether they have used the ability yet or not, it just kills them. Another positive point is that it is not limited to the type of target. It will hit any card with the Maho Trait or a Maho ability.

One point to note is that any personality who says that any kihos, spells, or spell effects are considered Maho effects, but does not himself have the Maho trait or a Maho ability, is not a legal target for this spell.

However, for what it does target, this spell is brutally effective. Where else will you find a spell that will kill any of a number of personalities with out destroying itself, or requiring multiple shugenja. This one does not require anything of the sort. One shugenja, and three uses per copy. And if it is attached to Moshi Eihime, it can be sick, as she could use the 3 tokens, attach a different copy, return the used one to your hand, and repeat, getting limitless uses out of it. (Samoshii adds: And as a Naval card, she can even be straightened with Yoritomo Manobu. The Phoenix Inquisitors and Kuni Witch-Hunters should employ a Mantis contingent...)

Out of Kyuden Agasha, this spell is of course even better, as it only costs 3 there. Very nice.

I hope you consider this older spell with your next deck, with the sudden influx of Maho cards in RoB. Let me know what you think.
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