The Book of Izumi Samurai

[dnutt99]

The Book of Izumi Samurai
Rise of the Valkyrie - Master Set

If you cannot see the Army Card graphic, check Hasbro's Unit Page for stats and special powers, plus "character biography" and other non-game unit info.

Character Bio: Inscrutable, unpredictable and dangerous: there are no better words to describe the Izumi Samurai warriors. This precision-trained squad puts honor and ethics above all virtues; yet they are highly secretive, and will shift their allegiance if the cause inspires them. Any warrior brave enough to attack an Izumi Samurai must plan carefully and make no mistakes. The Izumi are artful masters of the riposte: the lightning-quick, deadly-accurate counterstrike. (Hasbro)

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-Rulings and Clarifications-

• - COUNTERSTRIKE : Who is affected by counterstrike
  Does Counter Strike work against other characters that have Counter Strike?
  Yes, the only time the Izumi's Counter Strike is negated is against other Samurai. All other figures that have counterstrike can still be affected by it unless otherwise stated on their card. (Hasbro FAQ)

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-Combinations and Synergies-

Synergy Benefits Received

• - HATAMOTO TARO : Heroic Defense Aura
  As Samurai, Izumi Samurai may benefit from Hatamoto Taro’s HEROIC DEFENSE AURA
  
  - KATO KATSURO : Kato Katsuro's Command
  As a Samurai Squad, the Izumi Samurai may benefit from Kato Katsuro's KATO KATSURO'S COMMAND activation synergy.

Synergy Benefits Offered

• - SACRED BAND : Disciplined Army Defense Bonus
  Having a Disciplined personality, Izumi Samurai may aid the Sacred Band with their DISCIPLINED ARMY
  DEFENSE BONUS
  *NOTE: See The Book of Sacred Band for proper application.

C3V and SoV Custom Synergies

Spoiler Alert!

Synergy Benefits Offered

Synergy Benefits Received

COUNT RAYMOND : MANEUVER 9
As Humans who follow Einar, Izumi Samurai may benefit from Count Raymond's MANEUVER 9 ability.

EBON ARMOR : ANIMATED MATERIEL & ETERNAL WAR
As a Unique Human, a destroyed Ebon Armor you control may be placed on Izumi Samurai's Army Card to replace Izumi Samurai upon his own destruction.

TOMOE GOZEN : DEFENSIVE FORMATION
As Samurai, Izumi Samurai may boost his own defense as well as Tomoe Gozen's when adjacent to Tomoe Gozen.

TOMOE GOZEN : SAMURAI LIFE DEBT
As a Unique Samurai Squad, Izumi Samurai may benefit from Tomoe Gozen's activation synergy.

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-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

Strategy Notes:

• - Someone once said, "Nothing says retreat like an approaching Izumi Samurai". They were right. The Samurai are a powerful squad that is best used either on the front line, or defending a hill or home base. The Samurai don't seem like much when you look at their base powers. They only have an attack of 2 with a range of 1, but their power comes from their defense of 5 with Counter Strike. Only a few characters in the game can attack with more than 5 dice (without any enhancements), so having their Counter Strike ability is a deadly combination especially when using height. (Hasbro FAQ)
  
  - If you use the Izumi Samurai on the front line, engage an enemy, and then allow them to swing away while the ranged figures in your army back up the Samurai. If you have to protect someone or something (e.g., the Scenario "A Desperate Rescue Attempt" from your Master Game Scenario Guide), surround them with Izumi and let the enemy come close. Once they are engaged, start firing away with everything you have. They will be forced to keep attacking the Samurai and on the off chance that they can kill one, use your next turn to shift the other 2 over and keep your web of protection. Make sure they have backup though. They won't last forever all alone! (Hasbro FAQ)

Who is affected by the Izumi Samurai's Special Powers?

• - Counter Strike: Any adjacent attacking (Non-Samurai) figure. (Hasbro FAQ)

Who else could I draft with the Izumi Samurai?

• - Raelin the Kyrie Warrior
  Raelin is almost adding insult to injury with the Samurai. Their Counterstrike ability is deadly enough with 5 defense dice,
  when you add Raelin's defense aura, it becomes downright nasty. Be careful with this combination however. Your opponent
  will likely target Raelin first, and attempt to pick both her and the Samurai off with ranged figures. (Hasbro FAQ)
  
  - Venoc Vipers
  The Venoc Vipers are very useful when using them with the Samurai. Not only do their combined point costs round off to an even 100, but they are excellent at running ahead and engaging enemies. They can normally hold figures off long enough for the Samurai to get adjacent to them. Once that happens, they are locked down till the inevitable end.
  (Hasbro FAQ)

Who do the Izumi Samurai work well against?

• - Melee Figures
  Any figures with a range of 1 that must get adjacent to attack another figure is subject to their Counter Strike ability. If they don't have any ranged support, they will be forced to attack the Samurai and thus be destroyed. (Hasbro FAQ)
  
  - Minions of Utgar
  Aha, we finally have found the weakness of the Minions of Utgar! The Minions defend with 6 dice, so they are even harder to kill than the Izumi Samurai. However, they also only attack with 2 dice. Even with their Deadly Strike ability, the Samurai will have a good chance at rolling more shields and using Counter Strike to do all the damage they need!
  (Hasbro FAQ)

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-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

Power Rankings

Jexik: Izumi Samurai- The Izumi remain good blocker units. B

OEAO: B

Cleon: Tier 5 (138/208)

dok (VC inclusive): B


Master Index

Originally Posted by MKSentinel

Izumi Samurai
Boosting Counterstrike? http://www.heroscapers.com/community...read.php?t=768
Overall Strategy http://www.heroscapers.com/community...ad.php?t=10920

Unit Strategy Review

• 
  Unit Strategy Review: Izumi Samurai

[Aranas]

Two things to remember about Counter Strike:
- Trigered only by Normal attacks.
- Works only against adjacent attakers (unless otherwise stated on their card).


Aranas

[Matthias Maccabeus]

Probably the best 60 points in the game.

[kalfalnal]

When defending with a unit that has counterstrike, such as the Izumi, do you still get to roll defense if the attacker doesn't roll any skulls?

[The Super Atheist]

Originally Posted by kalfalnal

When defending with a unit that has counterstrike, such as the Izumi, do you still get to roll defense if the attacker doesn't roll any skulls?

yes

[The Super Atheist]

This is not a squad we generally pick in our games. We usually pick 2 squads of DeathReavers as blockers.

[kalfalnal]

Just what I'd expect an atheist to pick!

Thanks for the answers guys, thats how I was playing it. I just hadn't seen anything that specifically said it was so.

[scorpiusx]

Izumi, the original masters of the counterstrike. .

[Billtog]

Deathreavers and Izumi Samurai have similar purposes, but there are differences. If someone attacks your Deathreavers, they have to deal with scatter. If someone attacks your samurai, they have to deal with counterstrike. Sometimes you'll need one more than the other, plus samurai are way cooler.

[willwall54022]

Originally Posted by Matthias Maccabeus

Probably the best 60 points in the game.

Nah DED totally

[marro_master]

Originally Posted by willwall54022

Nah DED totally

STINGERS!!! i never liked the whole samurai thing and yeah ded is ok but you get within range he's gone. stingers however are great, good attack and range, and you can increase that good attack.

[kr-zeronos]

I have a question on the counterstrike ability.

What if your attacking opponent rolls shields and/or blanks, and you roll 3 (for example) shields?

Does that mean your opponent gets 3 damage?