Indebted Samurai MTG Card


Grants card draw when a Samurai dies, continuously refreshing your hand during play. Can deter opponents’ attacks with its triggered ability, changing combat dynamics. Requires careful deck construction and strategy due to specific mana costs and discard conditions.
Indebted Samurai - Betrayers of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Samurai
Abilities Bushido
Released2005-02-04
Set symbol
Set nameBetrayers of Kamigawa
Set codeBOK
Power 2
Toughness 3
Number9
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byCarl Critchlow

Text of card

Bushido 1 (When this blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) Whenever a Samurai you control is put into a graveyard from play, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Indebted Samurai.

"Forgive me, Saburo. I could not save you. But your blade will not rest in my hand."


Cards like Indebted Samurai

The Indebted Samurai presents an interesting dynamic in the realm of creature cards within MTG. This card bears resemblance to other creatures that thrive on camaraderie, such as Knight Exemplar. Just as the Exemplar bolsters fellow knights with indestructibility, Indebted Samurai enhances Bushido, a trait shared amongst many warrior-type creatures. However, Indebted Samurai’s ability uniquely activates upon the death of another Samurai, bolstering its strength and fight capacity during the heat of battle.

When comparing it to Hand of Honor, another creature found in many Samurai decks, the Indebted Samurai offers a different tactical advantage. While Hand of Honor provides protection from black, the Samurai’s strength lies in growing more formidable with each fallen comrade, a passive ability that can turn the tide of a game. There’s also Benalish Commander, whose power increases with each soldier that enters the battlefield under your command. While not a Samurai, the Commander shares a similar mechanic of becoming mightier through the presence of its unit kin. However, the reactive strength boost provided by Indebted Samurai becomes a key differentiator in deck strategies.

Assessing the Samurai’s place amongst its peers reveals its unique position in MTG gameplay. With its potential for power accumulation, it becomes a card not just about the strength of one, but the enduring spirit of the whole army.

Knight Exemplar - MTG Card versions
Hand of Honor - MTG Card versions
Benalish Commander - MTG Card versions
Knight Exemplar - MTG Card versions
Hand of Honor - MTG Card versions
Benalish Commander - MTG Card versions

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Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions
Northern Paladin - MTG Card versions
Moorish Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Witch Hunter - MTG Card versions
Carrier Pigeons - MTG Card versions
Tormented Angel - MTG Card versions
Seasoned Marshal - MTG Card versions
Coalition Honor Guard - MTG Card versions
Mangara, the Diplomat - MTG Card versions
Akroma's Devoted - MTG Card versions
Aven Cloudchaser - MTG Card versions
Seht's Tiger - MTG Card versions
Valor - MTG Card versions
Guardian Seraph - MTG Card versions
Lightkeeper of Emeria - MTG Card versions
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Mausoleum Guard - MTG Card versions
Galepowder Mage - MTG Card versions
Kor Cartographer - MTG Card versions
Sunspire Gatekeepers - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Indebted Samurai is brilliant at bolstering your hand by granting you an extra draw when another one of your Samurai dies. This ability keeps your resources high and often puts your opponent at a disadvantage as you continually replace your fallen warriors with new cards.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, the Indebted Samurai can indirectly accelerate your resources. Each Samurai that falls in battle propels your card draw, allowing you to dig deeper into your deck for land cards or mana-generating spells, keeping your plays consistent and fierce.

Instant Speed: Although this card itself isn’t an instant, the triggered ability occurs instantly upon the death of another Samurai, regardless of whose turn it is. This reactive capability ensures that you capitalize on every combat scenario, potentially deterring your opponent from attacking or blocking in ways that would otherwise grant you an immediate advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Indebted Samurai involves critical decision-making around card economy. Operating at peak efficiency may be challenging when there’s a requisite to part with other valuable cards from your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck building can be a fine art and with the Mana requirements bound to white and red Mana, this card firmly seats itself in Boros builds exclusively. This can restrict the card’s compatibility and versatility across the broader canvas of deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For players who count every Mana, incorporating Indebted Samurai into your game means investing a significant slice of your Mana pool. With a variety of options in the field, it’s worth considering whether this cost aligns with your strategy and the pace at which your deck wants to play.


Reasons to Include Indebted Samurai in Your Collection

Versatility: Indebted Samurai’s ability to get stronger as other Samurai you control die allows it to adapt to various play situations, making it a strong addition to warrior or Samurai-themed decks.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with mechanics that create Samurai tokens or involve sacrificing creatures, allowing for interesting and powerful combinations within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given that creature-based strategies often ebb and flow in popularity, Indebted Samurai can become a key player if Samurai or warrior decks rise in the meta, offering both resilience and aggression.


How to beat

Indebted Samurai is a card that amplifies its strength through the Bushido mechanic, a unique feature that can make this creature a challenging hurdle for opponents. Tackling it requires pinpoint strategies and card choices designed to weaken its impact on the board. Favorable options can include cards like Pacifism, which neutralizes the Samurai’s ability to attack or block, thus significantly reducing its influence on the game. Additionally, instant-speed removal spells that bypass Bushido, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push, can effectively eliminate Indebted Samurai before its abilities can be activated.

Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation stand out as another solid response, clearing the board without triggering Bushido and negating any advantage gained from creatures dying. Moreover, employing exile effects rather than destruction can circumvent the Samurai’s ability that kicks in when other Samurai you control are put into a graveyard from the battlefield. As a result of these strategies, Indebted Samurai’s potential for board domination can be effectively tamed, ensuring a more stable path to victory.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Indebted Samurai MTG card by a specific set like Betrayers of Kamigawa, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Indebted Samurai and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Indebted Samurai has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal