Smite the Blood is one of the spells we got from Reign of Blood. It is
an Uncommon spell with a focus of 2, very average. It is also [as of the
time of writing this] one of the 2 free spells available to us.
StB is a Maho reaction. Other than the word Maho, it does not seem to
have any other drawbacks to it along the corruption front, though that
will probably be enough to stop some people from using it. StB says that
when you make a ranged attack, you may bow the caster of Smite as a cost.
The ranged attack will bow its target in addition to any other effects.
Huh?
Okay, most people use Ranged attacks to kill cards, personalities and
followers. So, we kill it, then bow it? How is this possibly useful?
Actually, I can see it becoming very useful. There are now 3 Shugenja
followers with ranged attack abilities, Firestorm Legion, Acolytes of
Air, and Minor Shugenja. Yes, Minor Shugenja have a Ranged attack. All
three are fairly small [Well, Firestorm Legion depends who it is attached
to, but probably 2-5], so need to be added together to actually kill a
card.
This spell says that instead of adding them up, you can just use one,
and this spell, to bow target card legal to shoot. This is a good thing.
First, many decks with Mirabu in it use the Minor Shugenja to use
Mirabu's ability, destroy the follower to destroy opposing follower or
personality without followers. This gives the Minor Shugenja something
to do if Mirabu is not yet out. It works with either of the other
Shugenja with ranged attacks, and even with Isawa Junichiro, but it is
best with the Minor Shugenja. Why? Because you are losing 1F, while
they are losing the largest force card you can shoot. They have a
Samurai out with the Celestial Sword, but no followers? Well, your
little ranged one just bowed him. Not bad, at all.
This will work with any clan with shugenjas [to cast the spell] and
cards with ranged attacks. It also does not require the shugenja be in
the battle to cast the spell. Although it is very specific, it is also
very powerful for what it does do. I can see Mantis using this, but very
rarely, as they usually have the ability to make their ranged attacks big
enough to take out cards. Phoenix sometimes can, but usually can't.
So, why include this spell? First, the sheer surprise factor. Yes, all
the cards to anything this works with will be on the table, but many
people forget about the ranged attacks on the followers. They are always
there, in plain sight, but people still forget about them. Probably
because Phoenix tend to use the Shugenja followers for other things, like
Mirabu's ability and helping with Importune Kami and other such rituals.
The spell will be in play, but will likely be forgotten in the fact you
have several other, more immediate spells out, like possibly Kuro's Fire,
which this spell also works with. With Kuro's Fire and other Ranged
attack spells, again, if you don't quite have enough to kill the card,
bow it instead. This is good with Kuro's Fire, as you can spend some of
the ranged attack on killing any followers off, then use StB to bow the
personality.
Hope this article was of some help to you with your next deck. Good
Luck!
Samoshii adds: With the Isawa House Guard and Ring of Air in a deck, the big cost (bowing one of your guys) can also be negated. Powerful spell, that would be an auto-include for several of my decks if it wasn't for that nasty Maho trait!
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