Takeno, Samurai General MTG Card


Takeno augments samurais, enabling card draw and therefore, a sustained offensive presence on the battlefield. Encourages decks to leverage instant spells due to the amplified power of a stronger samurai army. Deck versatility can be restricted due to specific mana requirements and potentially higher casting cost.
Takeno, Samurai General - Champions of Kamigawa
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Samurai
Abilities Bushido
Released2004-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameChampions of Kamigawa
Set codeCHK
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number46
Frame2003
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMatt Cavotta

Text of card

Bushido 2 (When this blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.) Each other Samurai you control gets +1/+1 for each point of bushido it has.


Cards like Takeno, Samurai General

Takeno, Samurai General leaps off the page as a distinctive choice for those looking to lead a samurai-themed deck in Magic: The Gathering. Takeno sets itself apart by offering a boost to other Samurai or Bushido creatures you control, a trait not widely found in the game. Takeno shares some similarities with cards like Lovisa Coldeyes who similarly buffs warriors but boasts a broader reach by including Barbarians and Berserkers.

Another card worth mentioning alongside Takeno is Konda, Lord of Eiganjo. While Konda doesn’t specifically empower other samurais, he offers immense individual value with his indestructibility, making him a standalone force. Comparatively, Takeno encourages a team-focused board presence, enhancing each samurai’s prowess through its Bushido ability. Konda, on the contrary, functions as a reliable defensive anchor.

Assessing the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, Takeno, Samurai General offers a unique strategy by consolidating and elevating a specific creature type, thus favoring players who craft their decks with a tight-knit theme of warrior honor and tactical combat inspired by the way of the samurai.

Lovisa Coldeyes - MTG Card versions
Konda, Lord of Eiganjo - MTG Card versions
Lovisa Coldeyes - MTG Card versions
Konda, Lord of Eiganjo - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Takeno, Samurai General by color, type and mana cost

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Shieldmage Elder - MTG Card versions
Gempalm Avenger - MTG Card versions
Noble Templar - MTG Card versions
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Kjeldoran Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Duskrider Peregrine - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Takeno, Samurai General is known for empowering your samurai army, which can lead to maintaining superior board presence. This card effectively turns each samurai into a card-drawing engine upon dealing combat damage, potentially refilling your hand and ensuring you never run out of threats.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly a resource acceleration card, Takeno, Samurai General can indirectly lead to accelerated gameplay by efficiently increasing your army’s power and toughness. A strengthened array of samurai can lead to quicker victories, thus saving resources over the span of the match.

Instant Speed: While Takeno himself doesn’t function at instant speed, he encourages a gameplay style that values the reactive nature of instants in your arsenal. A well-timed combat trick or removal, facilitated by a bolstered samurai force, can tip the scales in your favor, maximizing the impact of every instant played.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Takeno, Samurai General places a strategic burden on deck design, necessitating a setup that can cope with occasionally discarding cards to optimize its combat benefits, which may not always align with your hand’s resources or game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: This samurai leader’s casting cost is particularly color-weighted, requiring both white and red mana which may not easily slot into a varied multicolor deck, potentially limiting the card’s versatility across different MTG strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its higher cost to get onto the battlefield, Takeno may arrive too late compared to other lower-cost creatures or commanders that can accelerate your game plan or offer immediate impact, often making timing and resource allocation a challenge.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Takeno, Samurai General can easily become a staple in any deck focusing on a warrior or samurai theme. With the ability to bolster other creatures, it fits well into both aggressive and mid-range decks that capitalize on creature synergy.

Combo Potential: Takeno offers the chance to combine with cards that grant significant bonuses to tapped creatures or bolster the power of legendary characters. These interactions can create powerful board states that can dominate the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-heavy decks are prominent, Takeno’s ability to encourage offensive play while also providing potentially substantial buffs to your team makes it a practical choice for staying competitive and capitalizing on board-centric strategies.


How to beat

Takeno, Samurai General elevates strategies within MTG’s warrior ranks to new heights, as it not only boosts other Samurai but also offers resilience in the battlefield. Facing this fabled warrior who can potentially turn a squad of Samurai into a formidable force presents a unique challenge. To overcome Takeno at the table, it’s essential to thwart his ability to rally his troops. Employing removal spells before his effects can trigger, like Rapid Hybridization or Path to Exile, can neutralize the threat he poses effectively. Moreover, introducing board wipes such as Wrath of God – which clears the field of creatures regardless of size – can dismantle the warrior-centric build-up that Takeno thrives in.

Distraction techniques also work wonders in limiting Takeno’s impact. Engaging in political play can redirect opponents’ attention elsewhere, reducing the General’s gathering momentum. It’s also useful to keep card draw engines and counterspells handy, like Rhystic Study and Counterspell, to maintain your resources and counter pivotal plays. Ultimately, overcoming Takeno revolves around anticipation and timely reaction, dismantling the samurai strategy before it can reach its full, deadly crescendo.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Takeno, Samurai General MTG card by a specific set like Champions 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 Takeno, Samurai General and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Takeno, Samurai General has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal