💿🥷🐉 Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty is the latest instalment of Magic: the Gathering cards where tradition blends with modernity in a return to a now futuristic, sci-fi plane of Kamigawa, almost 18 years later…
Set 1,200 years after the conclusion of The Kami War that ended in 3326 AR, as depicted in ye olde’ Kamigawa block, Neon Dynasty merges old with the new as it transforms returning mechanics and introduces never-before-seen abilities. The feudal past of 神
河
(Kamigawa) has met futuristic modernity, with ninjas and samurai now carrying a cyberpunk aesthetic.
The card set features returning mechanics as well as brand-new card abilities, with Legendary creatures and characters from ye olde’ Kamigawa block making a comeback in the new set.
Wizards of the Coast is really doubling down on the Japanese aspect of this card set, that they’ve produced 漫画 (manga), アニメ (anime) trailer, and a collab with 初音ミク (Hatsune Miku)!
Let’s start by looking back at how far the Neon Dynasty has evolved from the Kamigawa of olde…
Old Land Drop
The first thing each player typically does in a game of Magic is to put a land into play. Basic Lands found in the Champions of Kamigawa had art that connected together to form a panorama! This was a great idea since land cards are typically put on the table in a row close to the player., and drawing cards and hoping you’ll be able to assemble a full panorama reminds us of a game mechanic in the board game: Tōkaidō (itself a homage to travelling along 東海道, the most important road of Edo period Japan. A great many guidebooks of famous places were published and distributed at this time, and a culture of virtual tourism through books and pictures thrived.)
The Kami War
Kamigawa Cycle Series: Outlaw, Heretic, and Guardian.
Michiko’s Reign of Truth
岩
城
Azusa’s Many Journeys
The Shattered States Era
崎
兄
弟
story of challenging a deadly imperial decree, he took it upon himself to end the contest for the throne.
Teachings of the Kirin
The Dragon-Kami Reborn
Era of Enlightenment
Experience the Era of Enlightenment as it is depicted in a wall tapestry woven by the artisans of Kamigawa.
… they collaborated … to develop what would later be known as merge gates. Through their combined effort, the mortals built gates around every new rift, ensuring the kami could safely become part of a new unified Kamigawa.
The Order of Jukai
We presume these merge gates are the 御神体 (Go-Shintai) of Kamigawa, where the spirit world and the mortal world are merging…
It seems as though the 明神 have transformed alongside their 本殿 have been modified into 御神体?
Tranquil Light
Calm Waters
Stone Fangs
Shattered Heights
Fruitful Harvest
just as 東京 is the capital of 日本.
Originally inspired by feudal Japan, the setting has been transformed into a bright, futuristic neonscape of a city with looming skyscrapers and vibrant cherry blossom trees.
For much of Kamigawa’s history, power was concentrated in the hands of the elite: the Imperials who ran the plane with Kyodai’s blessings, various warlords, and those who could channel the power of the kami. More recently, however, Kamigawa has found itself facing significant disruption to this status quo as new innovations have made access to power more widely and cheaply available to all.
The stage is nearly set for present-day Kamigawa. Will the inhabitants of the plane accommodate the change in light of the new innovations and technologies of the modern age?
Boseiju Reaches Skyward
Neonpunk Themes
Mechas, Pilots, and Robots
One of the most popular genres in Japanese Pop-Culture is the Mecha Anime;
it seemed as if one of the Commander decks, Buckle Up, would exemplify that…
Being the colour of the Imperialists, this suggests the use of Mechas are from the privileged parts of Kamigawa…
Runners vs. the Corporations
has gained control of some of that sweet tech for themselves.
Modular is that you? Feels a little Mirran.
Splice to Reconfigure
Thematically, this feels like the Phyrexian keyword ability Living Weapon... Foreshadowing?
Throwback to the Future!
Side Story: The Foes Who Make Us.
Through the Unspeakable
Plane Shift
Life is a series of choices between bad and worse.
Life of 梅澤俊郎 Toshiro Umezawa
Hello Planeswalker
⚠️ SPOILERS for Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Light it up and embrace the future.
Experience Kamigawa: a world where magic meets technology! Neon Dynasty captures the best side of every player, land, character, creature and artifact. In the future: you always look awesome.
