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This spell may be the quiet gem of the set. Especially for Phoenix. It
is a 2 gold cost spell, with 4 abilities. Yes, 4 abilities! Granted
none of them seem that amazing, but they can be. First, a couple quick
notes. Each of the abilities has an elemental trait, but not THE
elemental trait. Probably because of space issues, but interesting,
nonetheless. Second, the abilities bow the spell, but do not indicate
you must bow the shugenja. A definite first for this set. What it means
is that, though there are ways to straighten shugenja, there are far
fewer ways to straighten spells. Thus, you are limited to one different
use a turn.
The first ability is Air: As an open, bow the spell to turn a face down
card in a province face up. This is probably the most powerful ability
they could have put on here, and it alone makes this spell worth using,
in any of the Phoenix strongholds, not just KA. Even if they rule you
have to bow the shugenja, this ability makes this spell amazing.
There is a holding that does the same thing, but it is both Unique and
requires you to discard the Favour or use a specific Wind. There is also
a Region, Trade District, that does this, but it is both Singular, and
makes you pay 3 gold for each use. This non-unique spell allows the same
thing, though in a slightly limited form. Shogun's Barracks is a
Reaction, so you can use it as soon as the Province is emptied. This is
an Open, so you must have the opportunity to take an Open to use it.
Still a useful ability, very much so. If a Region came into play, use
this during your Action Phase to turn the next card over. If an event
was resolved in one of your provinces, use this later that turn for more
cards. This allows Phoenix to flow through their Dynasty decks with
amazing speed. I was amazed to see this ability on a spell, especially
one so cheap.
As an aside, if you are trying to decide what to attack, and have not
used this spell yet since your last straighten phase, lower your
confusion. Check one of the opposing provinces for what will be in it.
The second ability is to bow the spell to give a personality +1F.
Quiet, utilitarian, nondescript. A simple little, reusable force boost.
Third, and the only non-Open action, bow the spell for a Ranged 1
attack. Need a Ranged attack higher than 3, and have 2 Tsuruchi's in
hand? This gives you a base to play off of them with. Sometimes you
only need that one.
Finally, you can bow the spell to give any personality +1C. Nice,
simple, rounds out the abilities that are on here, and will almost never
be used.
This spell, in addition to the first ability, gives you choice. It has
multiple abilities, each potentially useful in it's own way. This is
what I like spells to be. Useful, unlike almost anything else in the
game, and subtlety powerful. Still, I will play with it for that first
ability. What about you?
Isawa Letomo
Phoenix clan Librarian-Shugenja
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