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Bloodspeaker Sanctum is an interesting little holding. An uncommon
holding from Reign of Blood, I have seen it used to brutal effect.
First, it is a 2 gold cost holding, which bows to produce 2 gold. It
is
the ability that makes the card worth using.
That ability is to bow the holding before casting a kiho to allow one
of
your non-shugenja personality cast the kiho as though they were a
Shugenja. They also gain the Bloodspeaker trait permanently. For
some,
that is enough of a deterrent to prevent them from using it. However,
I
have to say, it is a fairly minor one. It doesn't cost any honour, it
desn't give the Shadowlands trait. So far, there are fairly few cards
that actually target cards with just the Bloodspeaker trait.
The Reaction on Bloodspeaker Sanctum is a Maho, but does not transfer
that trait to the kiho being cast. Thus, if it is not a Maho
originally,
it will not gain that. Still, this holding does count against your
deck
count if they are counting cards with a Maho ability. Otherwise, it
does
not.
Another point, due to a ruling made on the main list, is that you can
use this to give a card the Bloodspeaker trait, without actually having
to cast the kiho. Thus, in a storyline tourney, you could use this to
give any card you have control of the Bloodspeaker trait permanently,
if
you happen to support that faction. Not what I would do, but I do try
to
mention things I don't like, but that are things to think about.
Why else would you use this holding, if you do not support the
Bloodspeakers? First, it allows for you to use kihos without having
unbowed shugenja. How many times, when playing a Phoenix or Dragon
deck,
did you not have a Shugenja or Monk available, but the perfect kiho in
your hand? This holding alleviates, to some small extent, that
problem.
It is not perfect, but it helps. Essentially, when it is in play, all
of
your personalities become kiho slingers.
Another possibility is to use the holding, and a non-Shugenja, even
when
you have a caster available. Why do that? Maybe you have another kiho
in hand, and it is your only caster. Or maybe the Shugenja has a spell
attached, so it is a waste to cast a kiho, when the spell will be much
better in the future.
Also, it can be used if you have no Shugenja's in your deck. What!?!
Why would you even have kihos in your deck without Shugenjas?
Actually,
I have seen a deck built like that. Without revealing too much about
that deck [very innovative, and I don't want to give it away] that
person
uses this holding with Flee the Darkness and Turn of Fortune to allow
him
to deny actions to his opponents.
When next making a deck, consider this holding if you use kihos. It
is
quite interesting, and often overlooked. Think it over, let me know
what
you think, try it out.
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