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Saviors of Kamigawa

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Saviors of Kamigawa
common expansion symbol
ReleasedJune 3, 2005
Size165 (55 rares, 55 uncommons, 55 commons)
KeywordsEpic
MechanicsChannel, Sweep, Hand size (wisdom)
DesignersBrian Tinsman (lead), Brandon Bozzi, Devin Low, and Brian Schneider
DevelopersRandy Buehler Jr. (lead), Mons Johnson, Brian Schneider, Justin Webb, and Worth Wollpert
Development codeFire
Expansion codeSOK
Third set in the Kamigawa block
Champions of Kamigawa Betrayers of Kamigawa Saviors of Kamigawa
Betrayers of Kamigawa 9th Edition

Saviors of Kamigawa (also Saviors or SoK) is a Magic: The Gathering set, third and last in the Kamigawa block. Saviors of Kamigawa was released on June 3, 2005 (prerelease on May 21, 2005). Its expansion symbol is a Japanese lantern.

Mechanics

Saviors of Kamigawa introduces several new mechanics to the game.

  • Epic spells are powerful cards that prevent their controller from playing spells for the rest of the game. In exchange, that player gets a copy of the spell again for free during each of his or her upkeeps.
  • Channel represents the fading barrier between the spirit world and reality. Spirits now have the ability to concentrate their physical form into a one-shot instant-effect. Channel is an activated ability not unlike cycling; a cost is played and the card is discarded, producing an effect.
  • Sweep spells, allow players to determine how powerful they want the spell to be, in exchange for returning lands of a required type to their owner's hand.
  • Five new flip cards introduced in Saviors are different from previous flips. Once their conditions are met, these cards change into Legendary enchantments, symbolizing that creature's Essence.
  • Wisdom isn't a keyword mechanic, but a Saviors of Kamigawa theme. Cards with wisdom get better depending on the number of cards in players' hands. Typically, the magic number is seven.

Saviors also features the first intentionally (see Alpha's Cyclopean Tomb) uncastable spell, Evermind, which has no mana cost. Its effect can only be achieved through the use of the Splice mechanic introduced in Champions of Kamigawa. However, new rules from Time Spiral now allow cards without mana costs to be cast, as long as the player can bypass paying the non-existent mana cost.