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Hero's Grave is an uncommon from Reign of Blood. Although that set
was
considered very weak by most people, I liked it. Of course, I am a
Phoenix player, and it played to many of my clan's strengths. This
holding was one of the cards from that set that is seemingly overlooked
quite a bit, and it just gains in power as time goes on.
First, it costs 3 gold, and bows to produce 2 gold. This is not very
effecient, but normal for holdings with decent special abilities. I
believe this one qualifies. The ability on it is a reaction. When
your
stronghold bows, except to pay gold, bow this holding to straighten
your
stronghold. The balancing restriction on Hero's Grave is that if the
stronghold bowed for an ability, that ability may not be used the rest
of
the turn.
So, why did I feel the need to write an article on this card, when
there
was already one in the Imperial Herald? Several reasons. First, the
environment has changed wince this first came out. Second, that
article
focused more on how they created and balanced the card, not on various
uses for it so much.
So, why use Hero's Grave? First, it is a card you need to consider
carefully for inclusion in your deck. Will your deck be using
abilities
that bow your stronghold? Does your Stronghold have an ability that
requires it to bow? Then consider this. If your deck has no way to
bow
your stronghold other than for gold, you might as well forget this card
now.
Which clans have abilities on their stronghold that require bowing?
Well, here is a clan by clan list:
Crab: Crab's only stronghold with an ability that requires bowing is
Razor's Edge Dojo. So, you could bow it for the force bonus, then bow
this to straighten the stronghold for gold production later.
Crane: Kakita Dueling Academy and Kyuden Doji both have abilities that
require bowing, and you can use HG to straighten it afterward. With
Kyuden Doji, especially, you can then still use it's other ability if
needed.
Dragon: None of the Dragon's current Diamond legal strongholds have
abilities that bow them.
Lion: Two of the Lion Strongholds require bowing to use their
abilites.
Kuyden Ikoma was the one the designers were most worried about, but
with
the changes to it that have been made, it is not as much of a worry.
Shironai Toshi allows for you to drop a second terrain, and still use
the
gold production later.
Mantis: Like Dragon, Mantis have no abilities that bow their
stronghold.
Phoenix: Morning Glory Castle, the only Phoenix stronghold with an
ability that requires bowing, is kind of funny. It is a conditional
bowing, and because of that, you need to be careful of the order you do
things. Still, the ability to bring back a shugenja, and then pay for
it
the same turn is pretty good.
Ratling: The Tch'Tch Warrens is the only Ratling stronghold with an
ability that requires bowing, and it makes for an interesting turn.
First, steal a card, then use your stronghold for gold.
Scorpion: Like Morning Glory Castle, Shadowed Tower of the Shosuro has
a
conditional method of bowing. It is the only Scorpion stronghold that
bows to do something.
Shadowlands: Temple of the Ninth Kami has an interesting ability that
requires bowing, and is the only one that does among the Shadowlands
strongholds.
Unicorn: None of the Unicorn strongholds require bowing for their
ability any more, which is a change from pre-Diamond. This is true
especially for Moto Provinces' ability to bow for 7 gold for followers.
It is still providing gold, so can't then be straightened.
That covers the strongholds themselves. What else can you use the
holding Hero's Grave for? Quite a bit actually. First, don't forget
that three of the Winds, and Gozoku Sensei, have abilities that you can
bow your stronghold to do. And because of the wording on Hero's Grave,
you can use those abilities more than once per turn. Drop four Rings
with the Voice, prevent multiple people being sent home with the Right
Hand, lower multiple honour gains in a turn with the Sensei, or gain
lots
of honour from the Left Hand.
Nice, but is that all? Not a bit! There has been several new cards
that require bowing the stronghold to provide their effects. Katsu,
for
instance, or stopping the effects of the card "Outmaneuvered in Court".
Also, Hero's Grave can be used to essentially negate the effect of
anything that bows your stronghold.
Hope this has been helpful when you are looking to build decks in the
future. Consider this holding, in single or multiple copies. Good
luck!
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