2 hours ago, Kaito Kikaze said:

I mean, it's the job of the Isawa to Know...so we already knew about this card for a couple weeks now, at least.

A couple of weeks? We knew this was coming for months now:

”The cold of the Void pressed down, trying to drown her. There! She could see it for but an instant: a spirit, a shadowy creature of smokeless fire, horned and bestial. It howled, writhing against some binding force, trying to pry itself loose.”

and

“I saw something,” she managed, her voice trembling. “A spirit, trapped within the talisman. It was trying to break free, trying to get to the Emperor.”

Oh, and by the way, wasn’t the Dragon the one responsible for not banning Meishodo? Because there’s this bit at the end:

“Fortunes guide us all,” Kaede whispered.
Only the Dragon remained. Ambassador Kitsuki Yaruma and his meager delegation marched in silence.
The ambassador turned and looked upon Kaede with a cold, knowing stare. She could not fathom why.

Is this the first 5 coster that’s not an unique? Man, without the possibility of discard duplicates to put fate, you either unload a ton of Fate when you play this, or splash Crab for Reprieves.

Also, is a 5 cost, but requires that you have more participanting chars. It’s like it’s walking in two opposite directions.

Good for Charge and Cav Reserves.

Problem is, can't attach reprieve.

It's 6/3 for 5, it's worth unloading a ton of fate.

32 minutes ago, HirumaShigure said:

Problem is, can't attach reprieve.

You’re right! I totally missed that!

Who cares ?

It is just the best charge target available for Unicorn that you're going to unbow with encampment.

26 minutes ago, Khudzlin said:

It's 6/3 for 5, it's worth unloading a ton of fate.

Problem is, its ability triggers with numeric superiority, like a lot of the new Unicorn cards. So, if you’re going the swarm route with Uni, you cannot spend a ton of fate in a single guy.

Although, being non-unique, it can be targeted by Karmic Twist, and Phoenix splash is already a thing in Unicorn...

3 hours ago, Tabris2k said:

Problem is, its ability triggers with numeric superiority, like a lot of the new Unicorn cards. So, if you’re going the swarm route with Uni, you cannot spend a ton of fate in a single guy.

Although, being non-unique, it can be targeted by Karmic Twist, and Phoenix splash is already a thing in Unicorn...

Plus the new spell that lets you turn facedown's into a mini swarm.

I think it would need a Spiritcaller-like ability (which we don’t have) to make this worthwhile, otherwise it’s Charge fodder - albeit a very decent one at that.

It’s just that, like someone said above, Uni seem to be being pulled in opposite directions: You want the ‘Regulars face-up along with other juicy Charge targets like Moto or Altansarnai... but you also want all your cards to be facedown to maximise that new “put into the conflict as 1-Mil characters” attachment (which itself needs you to have a non-Assassinateable Shugenja out, which needs its own fate investment...). So the two seem to work against each other.

I have a feeling that winning by a lot is going to have an uptick in importance so this may improve your chances to play something like Fallen in Battle or Path of Man.

As others have mentioned, works well with Charge or Cavalry Reserves or even movement into a battle where you already have the numbers and this was bowed from a previous battle where you didn't get it to go off.

Or maybe someone thought

"War Dog Master doesn't have enough high cost fate options to really make it go........"

Matsu Seventh Legion - Lion Clan Spoiler from Imperial Advisor

Nice. Nothing like Lion to say, "Enough talking, you're getting in the way of a good fight."

Rules question, you can still participate as a defender though, right? Possible to Favorable Grounds a courtier in after the fact?

21 minutes ago, AradonTemplar said:

Nice. Nothing like Lion to say, "Enough talking, you're getting in the way of a good fight."

Rules question, you can still participate as a defender though, right? Possible to Favorable Grounds a courtier in after the fact?

I'd say so. It's declare not participate that is forbidden.

But all the same, Holy Amaterasu Mother of Hantei they're a bit hard. Also, notably, cavalry.

At this point it's possibly worth starting to guess who the other 5-costs are:

Crab - we know this is Kuni Yori.

Crane - I think it's time for either the Grey Crane, or an Asahina Daimyo

Dragon - Togashi Mitsu?

Lion - Matsu Seventh Legion

Phoenix - Isawa Tsuke or Asako Azanami

Scorpion - Yogo Junzo

Unicorn - Minami Kaze Regulars

See, now I can admit I was wrong now that there's evidence of both.

1 hour ago, Coyote Walks said:

Matsu Seventh Legion - Lion Clan Spoiler from Imperial Advisor

"I feel a great disturbance in the force......as of hundreds of voices cried out and then went silent"

Oh that? It was just the Unicorn players seeing another out of clan cavalry character that is better than the one they got.

31 minutes ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

I'd say so. It's declare not participate that is forbidden.

But all the same, Holy Amaterasu Mother of Hantei they're a bit hard. Also, notably, cavalry.

At this point it's possibly worth starting to guess who the other 5-costs are:

Crab - we know this is Kuni Yori.

Crane - I think it's time for either the Grey Crane, or an Asahina Daimyo

Dragon - Togashi Mitsu?

Lion - Matsu Seventh Legion

Phoenix - Isawa Tsuke or Asako Azanami

Scorpion - Yogo Junzo

Unicorn - Minami Kaze Regulars

The way the designers were gushing over how excited they were for the big Dragon chatter in this cycle, and referred to it as "he" I can only assume it's Mistu. I can't think of anyone else from the Dragon that would get people that hyped.

Unless they gender bendered Hitomi.

Ooooh maybe it could be the guy that was half Dragon (the creature) can't remember the name?

Nah it's Mitsu, for sure.

7 minutes ago, Ishi Tonu said:

The way the designers were gushing over how excited they were for the big Dragon chatter in this cycle, and referred to it as "he" I can only assume it's Mistu. I can't think of anyone else from the Dragon that would get people that hyped.

Unless they gender bendered Hitomi.

Ooooh maybe it could be the guy that was half Dragon (the creature) can't remember the name?

Nah it's Mitsu, for sure.

You mean Togashi Hoshi, yes? (Togashi's half-dragon son).

I suppose it could be Mirumoto Daini, or Mirumoto Satsume...

26 minutes ago, Ishi Tonu said:

"I feel a great disturbance in the force......as of hundreds of voices cried out and then went silent"

Oh that? It was just the Unicorn players seeing another out of clan cavalry character that is better than the one they got.

I don't agree. This ability is pretty situational while the Minami Kaze's ability is great with a pretty easy condition to meet.

26 minutes ago, Tonbo Karasu said:

You mean Togashi Hoshi, yes? (Togashi's half-dragon son).

I suppose it could be Mirumoto Daini, or Mirumoto Satsume...

Hoshi.........that's it! Thanks!

I still think it's going to be Mitsu though.

11 minutes ago, HamHamJ2 said:

I don't agree. This ability is pretty situational while the Minami Kaze's ability is great with a pretty easy condition to meet.

Sorry, I should have added a raspberry smiley to better denote my sarcasm.

Personally I think both are relatively mediocre. I'm sure they will get some play. Lion's is more of a meta call if the environment ever goes heavy Courtier and I think in the long run that ends up being more valuable when you consider a 5 drop that isn't unique and has to be bought in full. At least Lion has the chance of the Ujiyaki flip into FGG to keep it around a little longer, where the Unicorn can't be Reprieved.

4 hours ago, Ishi Tonu said:

Sorry, I should have added a raspberry smiley to better denote my sarcasm.

Personally I think both are relatively mediocre. I'm sure they will get some play. Lion's is more of a meta call if the environment ever goes heavy Courtier and I think in the long run that ends up being more valuable when you consider a 5 drop that isn't unique and has to be bought in full. At least Lion has the chance of the Ujiyaki flip into FGG to keep it around a little longer, where the Unicorn can't be Reprieved. 

It will be interesting to see how the Matsu Seventh Legion plays out. Maybe Good Omen will be the right way to go with M7L. As you said, the big play will be Ujiaki and FGG now that Charge and FGG are Restricted List. Or maybe Charge and Twist of Fate if splashing Phoenix. Twist of Fate will be a risk from opponent's as well. Hard casting M7L is going to be a rough option to go for. Charge, Ujiaki and Spiritcaller doesn't play well with the ability. If it was "cannot participate" it would be too powerful.

This does play well with WotL, but so does Toturi. I suppose it is another option to get the +5 mil conflict wins with the new stronghold.

The Lion cards are very mediocre and probably won't help Lion.

Not bad.

Maybe splashable for Unicorn, another way to move characters to a conflict? So they can get their numerical advantage. Although their only commander is Shono, right?

If they really want more Commanders, they could always splash Lion Seal.

Honored General is a Commander.