Enlightenment IV - Air
Dark Path of the Shadow Strategy Article - iguesi@aol.com

We have already addressed Four of the Five Rings needed for enlightenment. For the most part, these Rings can be achieved using personalities and actions normally associated with our our family. However, Air presents a unique challenge to us. We have only one true 'Ninja Shugenja' within our fold, Goju Adorai. (Note: With the release of Ambition's Debt, we now have Goju Utsuei, 1F/3C -HR/4G/1PH Ninja Shugenja!) Hoseki can perform Spells but, when doing so, she creates Ninja effects, not Spell effects. With remorse, I must state that she cannot be used to help us get the Ring of Air into the game. (Although the Ninja Mystic can).

It's All About Spell Effects

Shugenja and Monks are the key to putting Air into play. Reaction: Play after producing three spell affects (and/or innate abilities) in one turn. Elemental Benefit: Until the end of the game, Elemental Reaction: Redirect one spell effect per turn to any other legal target.

Shugenja have an edge over Monks, because their built-in abilities are considered "innate" in regards to the Ring of Air and the Monk's are not. However, 2 Chi shugenja fall too easily to the First Scroll is Open, so balance is in order here. (So is Ki Rin's Shrine!)

Help Wanted!

When engaging the services of a Monk or Shugenja to assist in our cause, we should consider the following attributes.

1) Gold cost. Any personality we choose, generally should not require more than two holdings to purchase. (ie, the 10GC Necromancer is out!) Any that cost 3 gold or less have great promise.

2) Honor Requirement. Itako is great for recycling Kihos! But at 5 HR and 7 GC this sweetheart is out of reach. No honor requirement or 0 honor are the best choices.

3) Innate Abilities. Hida Roheteki is a decent 4 gold shugenja, but she has no innate ability. Isawa Hochiu on the other hand, costs the same and has a useful Battle ability.

Start Cheap

Off the stronghold Shugenja and Monks should receive our attention first, as we look to hire outside the clan. Our Jade legal candidates in this category include:

Asako Hosigeru - 3GC/2F/2C/0HR Shugenja with an interesting battle ability.

Goblin Wizard - 2GC/0F/2C/-HR Shadowlands Shugenja with no innate ablity. Lose 4 honor.

Hoshi Wayan - 3GC/0F/3C/-HR Monk. Has a cool built-in ability. (Remember this will not help us get RoA into play.)

Ikudaiu - 3GC/2F/2C/-HR Monk. No innate ability.

(Note: the pre-jade candidates, really don't offer us any exceptional aid.)

If we are planning to stay at or above 0 honor with this deck, Asako Hosigeru is a very solid choice for our clan. If we don't care about the honor loss, the Goblin Wizard has some potential. Hoshi Wayan and Ikudaiu make the grade, regardless of our honor situation.

You Better Get What You Pay For

If we pay more than 3 gold for our monks or shugenja, we should exclude any that do not have a useful innate ability.

I have a bias, when it comes to shugenja... I like the "whore", Seppun Kossori. She's a five gold Shugenja that bows to make 2 gold. Three of her equals the Ring of Air. Not to mention, she can buy the Assassin holding as she comes into play.

From the Scorpion clan, Yogo Shidachi (an HB foil made him Jade legal), Soshi Jujun and Soshi Jamyako all make respectable choices to aid our cause. (Jujun also works well in an Abandoning the Fortunes Deck). There are couple of Phoenix, that may also do well in Ninja garb: Isawa Hochiu, the Phoenix dueler and Isawa Taeruko, the Fortification grabber.

As Fate Would Have It

Sometimes overlooked, the Fate Deck can also be a source for Shugenja and Monks. Paying 0 gold for a Cultist has quite a nice sound to it. Furthermore, Minor Shugenja are only 3 gold. However, you'll quickly discover, your fate deck is packed with cards needed for getting the Rings into play. So it may difficult to stuff these shugenja into your Fate deck, but it is an option.

The Choice Spells

There are two Spells that are a must for enlightenment decks: Walking the Way (get a fate card) and Rise from the Ashes (stall for time).

Reaching outside of Jade, you can't miss with Mystical Terrain (Destroy a terrain and becomes a Terrain).

The Top Kihos

Several Kihos top the list as they also may help us get the other Rings into play:

Touch the Lands (destroys a Terrain and let's you play a Terrain) and Double Chi (gives a personality Double Chi when entering a duel).

There are plenty of other "general kihos" that also can make the cut, including: Banish All Shadows (fate deck control), Blessings Upon the Land (doubles the printed numbers on a holding), Strength of My Ancestors (gives a 2F/2C bonus to a target personality), and Within Your Soul (swaps the Force and Chi of one of your personalities. This kiho's special feature is that it does not bow the caster if she casts it on herself).

Returning to the darkness of the shadows...