This spell has been around for many years, and was reprinted in Diamond
as a common. It has both a gold cost and focus of 3.
Emergence of the Masters was the first Ritual Battle spell [at least
that I could find]. It has different effects depending on how many
shugenja you use in the ritual. Or maybe I should say additional effects
as more bow.
For just the caster, you can give one personality in the battle +1F.
For two casters you give one personality +1F and one follower +3F. Three
shugenja allow the above and to send one opposing unit home. There is no
bonus for a fourth shugenja [they probably ran out of room on the card].
If you bow five shugenja to cast this spell, you get the real bonus, as
you get to destroy one opposing unit.
One note to keep in mind however, you have to do the effects in order.
First the personality force bonus, then the follower, then the opposing
unit home, then the unit destruction.
This spell is often ignored because it is so shugenja intensive to get
maximum effect. I personally like it, and think it is more available
than previously believed. Our Diamond decks that use the Champion
already use a lot of Shugenjas, both personalities and followers, so that
is not as much of a problem as it was before. One thing to remember is
that you only have to have one shugenja personality, and can then use 4
shugenja followers. Something for those Minor Shugenja and Masters of
the Bells to do, especially if your Champion is not out or was sent home
from the battle.
The spell is cheap already, and out of Kyuden Agasha it is even cheaper.
It is very affordable, unless you are very hard up for gold. One thing
I think about this spell is that it is mid to late game, as you need 3 to
5 shugenja to make most use of it. You can have this out for that last
battle, and I believe it could swing the battle drastically. Not for
what it does for you as for what it allows you to do to your opponent.
At last battles, I often find I have several personalities that don't do
much other than provide 1-2 force and presence. This spell allows you to
use them to some effect. Send home the second largest opposing unit,
then destroy the largest opposing unit. For this, you have to bow 5 of
your otherwise useless shugenja.
One other thought I have played around with is that of using Asako
Shiwasu. With this shugenja, who can cast spells attached to other
shugenja, with enough shugenja, you could use this spell multiple times
in one battle, or at a different battle than the one the spell is at.
Just a thought to think about and ponder.
Hope you can look at this interesting and complex spell in a new light.
Samoshii adds: This spell has a lot of potential - but I think we need more cheap shugenja before it truly becomes viable. The biggest risk with this spell is that it gets cancelled - whether by Flee the Darkness, Faith in my Clan, Break the Line or Kyuden Ikoma - in which case you've bowed 5 shugenja for minimal effect. Too risky in my books - but if we get more cheap shugenja, this spell may yet come into its own.
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