Editing Saviors of Kamigawa

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|sub1 = Theme decks
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{{for|the novel|Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa}}
{{Infobox set
  |image = SOK logo.png
  |image_bgcolor = white
  |plane = [[Kamigawa]]
  |symbol_description = Lantern
  |design  = [[Brian Tinsman]] (lead) <ref>{{DailyRef|suppressing-fire-how-we-designed-saviors-axe-2005-05-30|Suppressing Fire: How We Designed ''Saviors'' with an Axe|[[Brian Tinsman]]|May 30, 2005}}</ref> <br/> [[Brian Schneider]]<br/>[[Brandon Bozzi]]<br/>[[Devin Low]]
  |development = [[Randy Buehler]] (lead) <ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/future-present-past-2005-05-06|Future, Present, Past|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|May 06, 2005}}</ref><br/>Brian Schneider<br/>[[Worth Wollpert]]<br/>[[Mons Johnson]]<br/>[[Justin Webb]]
  |art = [[Jeremy Cranford]]
  |release = June 3, 2005 
  |mechanics = [[Flip cards]], [[Wisdom]] ([[hand]]size matters)
  |keywords = ''[[Channel]]'', [[Epic]], ''[[Sweep]]''
  |size= 165 cards<br/>{{curmb|55|55|55}}
  |code_expansion = SOK 
  |code_expansion_ref= {{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}
  |code_development = Fire 
  |series = [[Kamigawa block]]
  |first = [[Champions of Kamigawa]]
  |second = [[Betrayers of Kamigawa]]
  |third = '''Saviors of Kamigawa'''
  |previous = [[Betrayers of Kamigawa]]
  |next = [[Ninth Edition]]
}}
'''Saviors of Kamigawa''' is the thirty-fifth ''[[Magic]]'' [[expansion]] and was released in June, 2005 as the third set in the [[Kamigawa block]]. The [[prerelease]] was May 21, 2005.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/saviors-kamigawa-prerelease-primer-2005-05-16|''Saviors of Kamigawa'' Prerelease Primer|[[Brian David-Marshall]]|May 16, 2005}}</ref>

==Set details==
''Saviors of Kamigawa'' contains 165 black-bordered cards (55 rare, 55 uncommon, and 55 commons). Its [[expansion symbol]] is a "toro".<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/saviors-logo-concepts-2005-03-02|''Saviors'' Logo Concepts|[[Magic Arcana]]|March 02, 2005}}</ref> A toro is a lamp of stone, bronze, iron, wood, or another heavy material. These illuminate the grounds of Japanese temples, shrines, gardens, and other places that include tradition in their decor. It's also a symbol of hope.<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-october-2006-2006-10-02|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|October 31, 2006}}</ref>  ''Saviors of Kamigawa'' expands on the Kamigawa block themes, featuring cards with [[spiritcraft]], [[Soulshift]], [[Spirit]]s, [[Arcane]] instants and sorceries, cards with [[Splice|Splice onto Arcane]], and a high number of legendary creatures. It introduced [[flip cards]] that change their permanent type when flipped. With <c>Evermind</c>, it featured the first spell in ''Magic'' without a [[casting cost]] (its effect can only be achieved through the use of the Splice mechanic).
===Marketing===
''Saviors of Kamigawa'' was sold in 15-card [[boosters]], four [[preconstructed theme deck]]s and a [[fat pack]].<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/saviors-kamigawa-product-shots-2005-04-20|''Saviors of Kamigawa'' Product Shots|[[Magic Arcana]]|April 20, 2005}}</ref> The booster packs featured artwork from <c>Infernal Kirin</c>, <c>Maga, Traitor to Mortals</c> and <c>Adamaro, First to Desire</c>. The [[prerelease card]] was a [[foil]] [[alternate art]] <c>Kiyomaro, First to Stand</c>. The [[release card]] was <c>Ghost-Lit Raider</c>. The set was accompanied by a [[Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa|novel]] by [[Scott McGough]].

===Storyline===
{{main|Guardian: Saviors of Kamigawa}}
The ronin [[Toshi Umezawa|Toshi]] has sought to avoid the [[Kami War|great conflict]] between the spirit and [[utsushiyo|human realms]]. But despite his best efforts, he's not only involved in it, he's at the center of it. Together with [[Michiko Konda|Princess Michiko]], daughter of [[Konda|Daimyo Konda]], he must find a way to stave off the impending victory of the [[kami]], while preserving his own life into the bargain.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/saving-grace-taking-last-look-kamigawa-2005-05-09|Saving Grace - Taking a Last Look at Kamigawa?|[[Rei Nakazawa]]|May 09, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|feature/tales-beyond-veil-2005-06-13|Tales From Beyond the Veil|[[Jay Moldenhauer-Salazar]]|June 13, 2005}}</ref>

===Tournament impact===
Following the steps of the rest of the block, ''Saviors of Kamigawa'' contributed to the tournament scene with strong finishers and "[[Fatty|fatties]]" like <c>Kagemaro, First to Suffer</c>, <c>Maga, Traitor to Mortals</c> and <c>Arashi, the Sky Asunder</c>, as well as strong [[sideboard]] cards, like <c>Pithing Needle</c>, <c>Manriki-Gusari</c> and <c>Kataki, War's Wage</c>. It also featured a good amount of quality [[weenie]]s like <c>Hand of Honor</c>, <c>Hand of Cruelty</c> that helped [[aggro]] decks battle the mostly [[control]] environment of Kamigawa Block [[Constructed]].

==Mechanics==
''Saviors of Kamigawa'' introduced the [[ability word]]s ''[[Sweep]]'' and ''[[Channel]]'', the keyword [[Epic]].  It also introduced the [[wisdom]] mechanic, cards that get better depending on your and sometimes your opponents' hand size.  Several cards altered your or your opponent's [[maximum hand size]].
* '''[[Sweep]]s''' {{-}} some powerful spells can uproot the land itself. When you play a spell with the sweep ability, you can return to your hand any number of your lands of the right type. The more lands you return, the more devastating the spell is (e.g. <c>Sink into Takenuma</c>).
* '''[[Channel]]''' {{-}} near the final days of the war, the veil between worlds became increasingly volatile. [[Kami]] with the channel ability could focus their life essence into a one-shot blast of energy instead of solidifying into a creature (e.g. <c>Ghost-Lit Redeemer</c>). Since this is an ability instead of a spell, regular countering spells can't stop it.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/choosing-channel-2005-05-23|Choosing a Channel|[[Mark Rosewater]]|May 23, 2005}}</ref>
* '''[[Epic]]''' {{-}} Spells with the epic ability are so extraordinary that once you play one, you can't play any more spells for the rest of the game. However, each time your upkeep starts, you get another free copy of the epic spell (e.g. <c>Enduring Ideal</c>).<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/epic-struggles-2005-05-09-0|Epic Struggles|[[Mark Rosewater]]|May 09, 2005}}</ref>
* '''[[Wisdom]]''' {{-}} the set is filled with creatures and spells that get better the more cards you have in your hand (e.g. <c>Akki Underling</c>, <c>Kitsune Bonesetter</c>).

==Creature types==
The following [[creature type]]s are introduced in this expansion:  [[Kirin]].

The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: [[Advisor]], [[Archer]], [[Beast]], [[Cleric]], [[Demon]], [[Druid]], [[Fox]], [[Goblin]], [[Insect]], [[Mercenary]], [[Monk]], [[Moonfolk]], [[Ogre]], [[Rat]], [[Rogue]], [[Scout]], [[Shaman]], [[Shapeshifter]], [[Snake]], [[Soldier]], [[Spirit]], [[Warrior]], [[Zubera]].

==Cycles==
Saviors of Kamigawa has nine [[cycles]] and a [[vertical cycle]].
{| class="wikitable" 
! Cycle name 
! {{W}}
! {{U}}
! {{B}}
! {{R}}
! {{G}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Ascendants'''
|{{card|Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant||SOK}}
|{{card|Erayo, Soratami Ascendant||SOK}}
|{{card|Kuon, Ogre Ascendant||SOK}}
|{{card|Homura, Human Ascendant||SOK}}
|{{card|Sasaya, Orochi Ascendant||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these [[rare]] [[legendary]] [[Monk]] [[creature]]s [[flip card|flip]] to legendary [[enchantment]]s.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/ascendants-ascendance-2005-12-27|Ascendants in Ascendance|[[Magic Arcana]]|June 02, 2005}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Bouncers'''
|{{card|Eiganjo Free-Riders||SOK}}
|{{card|Trusted Advisor||SOK}}
|{{card|Skull Collector||SOK}}
|{{card|Oni of Wild Places||SOK}}
|{{card|Stampeding Serow||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these uncommon creatures requires another creature of its color to be returned to your hand during each of your [[upkeep]]s, keeping your hand full and fitting with the [[wisdom]] mechanic.
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Epic'''
|{{card|Enduring Ideal||SOK}}
|{{card|Eternal Dominion||SOK}}
|{{card|Neverending Torment||SOK}}
|{{card|Undying Flames||SOK}}
|{{card|Endless Swarm||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these rare sorceries restrict you from playing any more spells for the rest of the game, but the epic spell is copied during each of your upkeeps until the game ends.
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Ghost-Lit'''
|{{card|Ghost-Lit Redeemer||SOK}}
|{{card|Ghost-Lit Warder||SOK}}
|{{card|Ghost-Lit Stalker||SOK}}
|{{card|Ghost-Lit Raider||SOK}}
|{{card|Ghost-Lit Nourisher||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these uncommon [[Spirit]] creatures has an activated ability and can be discarded from your hand using the [[channel]] ability for twice the effect.<ref>{{DailyRef|ghost-lit-kami-2005-06-20|Ghost-Lit Kami|[[Magic Arcana]]|June 20, 2005}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Kirin'''
|{{card|Celestial Kirin||SOK}}
|{{card|Cloudhoof Kirin||SOK}}
|{{card|Infernal Kirin||SOK}}
|{{card|Skyfire Kirin||SOK}}
|{{card|Bounteous Kirin||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these rare legendary Spirit creatures has flying and a [[spiritcraft]] ability related to the casting cost of the spell cast.
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Maro]]s'''
|{{card|Kiyomaro, First to Stand||SOK}}
|{{card|Soramaro, First to Dream||SOK}}
|{{card|Kagemaro, First to Suffer||SOK}}
|{{card|Adamaro, First to Desire||SOK}}
|{{card|Masumaro, First to Live||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these legendary Spirit creatures, fashioned after the card <c>Maro</c> from ''[[Mirage]]'', have power and toughness dependent on the number of cards in a player's hand.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/sun’ll-come-out-maro-2005-05-16|The Sun'll Come Out To Maro|[[Mark Rosewater]]|May 16, 2005}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Maro spells'''
|{{card|Descendant of Kiyomaro||SOK}}
|{{card|Descendant of Soramaro||SOK}}
|{{card|Kagemaro's Clutch||SOK}}
|{{card|Gaze of Adamaro||SOK}}
|{{card|Descendant of Masumaro||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these spells is related to the corresponding legendary Maro Spirit.
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Onna'''
|{{card|Nikko-Onna||SOK}}
|{{card|Kiri-Onna||SOK}}
|{{card|Kemuri-Onna||SOK}}
|{{card|Yuki-Onna||SOK}}
|{{card|Haru-Onna||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these uncommon Spirit creatures have comes-into-play abilities can be returned to your hand whenever you play a Spirit or [[Arcane]] spell.
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Shinen'''
|{{card|Shinen of Stars' Light||SOK}}
|{{card|Shinen of Flight's Wings||SOK}}
|{{card|Shinen of Fear's Chill||SOK}}
|{{card|Shinen of Fury's Fire||SOK}}
|{{card|Shinen of Life's Roar||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these common Spirit creatures has a static ability and can be discarded from your hand using [[channel]] to give this ability to another creature.
|}

===Vertical cycle===
{| class="wikitable" 
! Cycle name
! {{keyrune|SOK}}
! {{keyrune|SOK|rarity=u}}
! {{keyrune|SOK|rarity=r}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Recursive'''
|{{card|Death of a Thousand Stings||SOK}}
|{{card|Exile Into Darkness||SOK}}
|{{card|Akuta, Born of Ash||SOK}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these three black spells has an ability that returns it from the graveyard assuming you have more cards in hand than each opponent.
|}

===Pairs===
''Saviors of Kamigawa'' has four [[mirrored pair]]s.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"|Mirrored  Pairs
!Description
|-
|{{card|Arashi, the Sky Asunder||SOK}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Jiwari, the Earth Aflame||SOK}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|Rare legendary Spirit creatures for {{3}}MM with an activated ability to deal damage to a (non-) flying creature and can both be discarded using [[channel]] to deal damage to all (non-) flying creatures.
|-
|{{card|Burning-Eye Zubera||SOK}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Rushing-Tide Zubera||SOK}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|3/3 uncommon Zubera Spirit creatures for {{2}}MM with an ability that triggers if they go to the graveyard from play after being dealt four damage or more that turn.
|-
|{{card|Hand of Cruelty||SOK}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Hand of Honor||SOK}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|2/2 Human Samurai for MM, both with protection from the opposing color and [[Bushido]] 1.
|-
|{{card|Ivory Crane Netsuke||SOK}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{C}})}}
|{{card|Ebony Owl Netsuke||SOK}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{C}})}}
|Uncommon artifacts for {{2}} with an upkeep ability which triggers when certain players have seven or more cards in hand.
|}

==Functional reprints==
''Saviors of Kamigawa'' has five [[functional reprint]]s:

*<c>Blood Clock</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Umbilicus</c> from ''[[Urza's Saga]]''.
*<c>Molting Skin</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Broken Fall</c> from ''[[Tempest]]''.
*<c>Presence of the Wise</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Gerrard's Wisdom</c> from ''[[7th Edition]]''.
*<c>Stampeding Serow</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Stampeding Wildebeests</c> from ''[[Visions]]'', save for creature type.
*<c>Captive Flame</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ghitu War Cry</c> from ''[[Urza's Legacy]]''.

==Notable cards==
*<c>Pithing Needle</c> became a popular counter against combo decks and other strategies relying on a specific card, and was reprinted several times.
*<c>Erayo, Soratami Ascendant</c> was so effective in [[Commander format]] [[control deck]]s that she was banned from use as a [[commander (designation)|commander]], and later banned altogether in the format.
*<c>Ebony Owl Netsuke</c>, along with <c>Howling Mine</c>, became the namesake of a popular deck in "Owling Mine," which sought to kill an opponent by filling their hand with cards.

== Theme decks ==
{{Main|Saviors of Kamigawa/Theme decks}}

The preconstructed [[Theme deck (preconstructed)|theme decks]] are:

{{Decks|theme
  |Soratami's Wisdom|WU
  |Critical Mass|BR
  |Spirit Flames|RG
  |Truth Seekers|GW
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Prodpage|saviors-of-kamigawa|Saviors of Kamigawa}}

{{Sets|state=collapsed}}
{{Kamigawa|block}}
[[Category:Kamigawa sets]]