Shiba Emiri

Shiba Emiri

One of our (very) many 3/3 for 7GC, 2PH samurai, Emiri is never going to see play based solely on her stats. Her anti-Tsudao trait (despite annoying many Phoenix who supported Tsudao!) is icing, and not a good reason to play her. However, her movement ability deserves some examination.

Her ability means that Emiri works well with Elemental Dragons. In Diamond, the standard Province Strength is 7 - the same as the Force of the average dragon. Thus, an efficient Dragon deck needs a (preferably reusable) Force boost in order to crack provinces. Since Dragons can't attach items or Followers, that leaves three broad classes of boosts: holding boosts (military advisor/Shrine to Bishamon), action card boosts (Strength of Purity, Destiny has no Secrets, Prayers and Blessings), and Personality boosts (Bunjaku/Ryouko to assign with them in cavalry, or Shiba Emiri). Prayers and Blessings is probably the best of these (free, searchable and reusable) but it's a kiho, so doesn't work out of City of Rememberance. A CoR deck running Emiri, Shrine to Bishamon and Strength of Purity should be able to boost the Dragons as soon as it gets them out - however, this doesn't solve the problem of getting the scaly beasts out in the first place. Still, Emiri is good support for that deck.

Emiri is usually vulnerable to Overconfidence when she moves in, so watch out for that. Also, note the combo with the Isawa House Guard - a big Shugenja (like a dragon, for instance!) bows to move Emiri in and give her a Force bonus, then straightens itself. Lots of Force!