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Spirits, Arcane and a lot of legends
What this set is
Champions of Kamigawa begins the Kamigawa block, set on a plane inspired by Japanese myth, where the kami (spirits) are at war with the mortal world. It has 291 different cards, and 75 of them are legendary, more than any set before it, which makes it a deep source of commanders.
Its new mechanics come in pairs with its creature types. Spirits and Arcane spells work together: splice onto Arcane lets you add a spliced card's effect to any Arcane spell you cast without spending the card, and soulshift returns a Spirit from your graveyard when a Spirit dies. Bushido makes Samurai stronger in combat, and ten flip cards turn into a legendary version of themselves when a condition is met.
For Commander it supplies Kodama's Reach, Sakura-Tribe Elder, Ghostly Prison and Sensei's Divining Top, along with legends such as Azusa, Lost but Seeking, Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and Kokusho, the Evening Star.
Themes
Every mechanic in Champions of Kamigawa
Splice onto Arcane
As you cast an Arcane spell, you may reveal a card with splice from your hand and pay its splice cost to add its text to the spell. The spliced card stays in your hand, so it can be spliced again.
Soulshift
When this creature dies, you may return a Spirit card with mana value N or less from your graveyard to your hand. A chain of Spirits keeps returning one another.
Bushido
Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +N/+N until end of turn. It sits mostly on Samurai.
Flip cards
A card printed with a second, upside-down half. When its condition is met it flips and becomes the card on the other end, usually a legendary one. Champions has ten.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Champions of Kamigawa is a single code with two Modern bans.
Not Standard-legal, and never Pioneer-legal: Pioneer starts at Return to Ravnica (October 2012). Everything here is legal in Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander unless a ban list says otherwise. Modern bans Glimpse of Nature and Sensei's Divining Top, and Legacy bans Sensei's Divining Top. Nothing is banned in Commander. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Commanders
The most played commanders from Champions of Kamigawa
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from Champions of Kamigawa are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Where can I play Champions of Kamigawa cards?
In Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander, minus the cards each format bans. Champions of Kamigawa left Standard long ago and was never in Pioneer, which starts in 2012. Modern bans Glimpse of Nature and Sensei's Divining Top.
How many legends are in Champions of Kamigawa?
75 of its 291 different cards are legendary, more than any set before it.
What does splice onto Arcane do?
As you cast an Arcane spell, you may reveal a splice card from your hand and pay its splice cost to add its effect. The spliced card stays in your hand.
Is Sensei's Divining Top legal in Commander?
Yes. It is banned in Modern and Legacy but legal in Commander and Vintage.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Champions of Kamigawa released on Oct 1, 2004; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
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