The Kamigawa block represented a change of sceneryafter just 3 sets in the Mirrodin setting. The Kamigawa Block is a very unique and internally powerful set. New card types and abilities arise in a set that is dominated by Spirits and Arcane Spells. Once you get past all the “of’s” and “The’s” in the card names, Kamigawa turns out to be a pretty cool block…

Champions of Kamigawa – 2004

Champions of Kamigawa was dominated by new card types. Many, many cards now revolved around a “spirit or arcane” strategy. No other set made other sets obsolete than this one. It is difficult to use many of the cards in this set outside the block. Some interesting new abilities Champions introduced to the game include “Soulshift”, “Bushido”, Splice cards and Flip Cards. Splice cards can be revealed from their owners hand and be played for a small amount of mana if their controller just cast an “Arcane” spell. Flip cards were a very strange concept that did not stick with the game outside of the block. Once a flip creature’s “requirements” are fulfilled, they flip into a much stronger card. Flip cards are nothing like morph cards. Bushido was, in my opinion a very cool ability. Kind of like a backwards “Flanking”, it made for some very low cost white not-so-weenies. Soulshift allowed the action of a Spirit going to the graveyard to bring another one back to its owners hand.

Legendary cards were aplenty in this set so don’t be fooled into thinking you’ve got one of the best just because it is legendary! As stated before, cards in the Kamigawa block were very difficult to use individually outside of the sets. The best card, in my opinion, is a strong flier with a powerful goes to the graveyard ability. Being legendary, both copies would immediately go to the graveyard if played together, causing a possible game ending effect!

Kokusho, the Evening Star – Rare

Runners up : Sensei’s Divining Top, Glimpse of Nature, Gifts Ungiven

Betrayers of Kamigawa – 2005

Many players thought this expansion made the game silly, introducing fighting rats and Ninjas, but overall it was a solid expansion and contained some famous cards! Betrayers is the home to the only Legendary Enchant Land in the game and introduced some powerful combat tricks. Ninjitsu actually allowed players to switch attacking and blocking creatures with cards from their hand! Betrayers also continued the unique and colorful theme from the block. Bushido was in use more than ever and almost everything you played seemed to be of the type Spirit, Arcane or both!

Betrayers contained one tournament defining card that is a fantastic play in casual and competitive games alike. It is the most famous Equipment card in the game and it can stop your opponents from calling the first coupe turns of the game “the early game”. Selling for a solid $20 dollars a pop, this card is one of the most famous and broken of its time!

Umezawa’s Jitte – Rare

Runner up : Ink Eyes, Servant of Oni

Saviors of Kamigawa – 2005

Saviors of Kamigawa represented the exciting conclusion to the Kamigawa Block. Very powerful cards flavorfully made the set worthwhile to players. New abilities such as “Epic” arose.  Cards with this ability were so powerful that they prevented their casters from playing anything else for the rest of the game! “Channel” allowed a card to be played or discarded at a cost for two different effects. This made cards more versatile. The spirit and arcane theme was also continud though this final chapter of the block. Individually the Kamigawa block was a great expansion. Drafting it is a whole new look on the game. Unfortunately so many of the cards in it are dependant on inner-block strategy, they are obsolete in much game play today. Still there are some amazing cards and combos in the set.

The best card in the set is, surprisingly, small and simple. Mixed in with a bunch of overpowering rares within the set, this card quietly continues to get the job done, even today. Recently reprinted, this artifact still sells for well over 12 dollars a piece! for very little cost, it delivers a game changing and strategy inhibiting ability…

Pithing Needle – Rare

Runners Up: Twincast, Erayo Soratami Ascendant

The Kamigawa block was unique and exciting. As different as it was, it will always fit in the game of MTG. Many players thought it was an outstanding set, while others scoffed at it. MTG returned to a more “Normal” state  in the block immediately following Saviors in late 2005… the Ravnica Block. Click here to continue reading about the Ravnica Block!

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