Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs MTG Card

Invasion cards can enhance gameplay with strong card advantage and resource acceleration. Consider the discard requirement and specific mana costs as strategic trade-offs. They maintain meta-relevance, offering deck versatility and powerful combos.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeBattle — Siege
Abilities Transform

Text of card

(As a Siege enters, choose an opponent to protect it. You and others can attack it. When it's defeated, exile it, then cast it transformed.) When Invasion of Kamigawa enters the battlefield, tap target artifact or creature an opponent controls and put a stun counter on it. (If a permanent with a stun counter would become untapped, remove one from it instead.)

Cards like Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs

When assessing the strategic impact of Invasion of Kamigawa cards in MTG, parallels are often drawn with other sets that focus on themes like historic Japan and spirit warfare. For instance, compare the mechanics of these cards to those from the Champions of Kamigawa block which also revolves around the Kami and samurais, weaving a rich tapestry of cultural and martial artistry into gameplay. This earlier set, like Invasion of Kamigawa, enhances the game with an emphasis on legendary creatures and the spirit world, deeply influencing deck building and strategy.

Similarly, Saviors of Kamigawa, the third set in the original Kamigawa block, provides players with an extended collection of cards that synergize well with the spirit and arcane spells found in Invasion of Kamigawa. While Saviors doesn’t introduce radically new mechanics, it supports and enhances the themes introduced in its predecessor, emphasizing an immersive cultural narrative experience. These sets share the soul of Kamigawa but with nuanced differences that can be exploited for a more profound strategic depth in your decks.

Therefore, when it comes to building decks that encapsulate the essences of Japanese folklore and Shinto-inspired elements, Invasion of Kamigawa cards provide a rich pool of options that blend seamlessly with cards from other Kamigawa-themed sets, further enriching the strategic possibilities available to players.

Cards similar to Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: With an invasion from the mystical plane of Kamigawa, players can find themselves accessing new decks that potentially offer strong card draw mechanics or allow for multiple card plays, ensuring a steady flow of options and the upper hand in the long game.

Resource Acceleration: The Kamigawa set often features mechanics that can boost your mana pool or resources rapidly. This acceleration is key to outpacing opponents and deploying threats or defenses much earlier than usual.

Instant Speed: The versatility of instant speed cards from the Kamigawa expansion grants players the ability to react on the fly. This responsiveness can be pivotal in turning the tide of a match, allowing for strategic plays that counter opponents’ actions during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Invasion of Kamigawa cards often means dealing with the additional requirement to discard cards. This mechanic can be a strategic setback, especially if you’re playing with a hand that is pivotal to your game plan. Discarding not only diminishes your immediate options but may also reveal your strategy to your opponent, giving them an edge.

Specific Mana Cost: Cards from the Invasion of Kamigawa set can carry very specific mana requirements that can strain your mana base. Decks that are not built to accommodate such costs might find it hard to leverage these cards at critical times. Running multiple colors or focusing on generic mana costs can help circumvent this issue, but it does mean building a deck that’s less focused on a single strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The allure of the fantastical realm of Kamigawa does come at a price. Some of the most powerful spells and creatures in this set require a substantial mana investment. While the effects of these cards can be game-changing, the high mana cost means they may sit useless in your hand while faster, more efficient plays could be made with other cards.

Reasons to Include Invasion of Kamigawa Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Cards from Invasion of Kamigawa provide a breadth of options for deck building with their unique mechanics and interactions reflective of the Kamigawa plane. This can add a new level of strategy for players looking to diversify their gameplay.

Combo Potential: The set introduces a variety of cards that have synergy with each other, allowing for creative and potentially game-winning combos. From spiritcraft to channel abilities, these cards can empower players to craft unexpected and powerful interactions within their decks.

Meta-Relevance: With elements from the set that remains pertinent in various MTG formats, having Invasion of Kamigawa cards at your disposal means you’re ready to tackle a dynamic and ever-shifting competitive scene, ensuring your deck remains a viable contender during gameplay.

How to beat

Invasion of Kamigawa brings with it a slew of potent cards that can be challenging to counter in MTG. To gain the upper hand against this card, it’s essential to have a deep understanding of your deck and the strategies that could repress its impact. Disruption spells like Thoughtseize can preemptively remove it from an opponent’s hand before they have a chance to cast. Moreover, cards with exile effects, such as Path to Exile, can efficiently remove the threat by bypassing traditional destruction and graveyard recurrence.

When facing Invasion of Kamigawa’s thematic abilities, consider enhancing your deck resilience. This can be done by including counterspells that can negate the card before its abilities can affect the game. Another strategy is focusing on a strong, aggressive lineup that can outpace and overwhelm your opponent, forcing them to defend rather than capitalizing on the strengths of their Invasion cards. Finally, having a few versatile, catch-all answers like Oblivion Ring in case the card slips through your defenses can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Overall, by employing these measures, navigating the challenges posed by an Invasion of Kamigawa set card and maintaining the upper hand in your MTG matches becomes significantly more manageable.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine and March of the Machine Art Series, 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 Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Kekai Kotaki.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 622015TransformBlackKekai Kotaki
22023-04-21March of the Machine Art SeriesAMOM 122015Art seriesBorderlessKekai Kotaki

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-04-14 A Siege’s controller can’t be its protector. If a Siege’s protector ever gains control of it, they choose a new player to be its protector. This is a state-based action.
2023-04-14 A battle can be attacked by all players other than its protector. Notably, this means a Siege’s controller can attack it.
2023-04-14 A battle can be dealt damage and be target of spells and/or abilities that target “any target.”
2023-04-14 A battle’s “defense” is displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. A battle enters the battlefield with that number of defense counters. If another permanent enters the battlefield as a copy of a battle, it also enters with that number of defense counters.
2023-04-14 As a Siege enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector.
2023-04-14 Battles can’t attack or block, even if one also becomes a creature. If an attacking or blocking creature somehow becomes a battle in addition to being a creature, it is removed from combat.
2023-04-14 Damage dealt to a battle causes that many defense counters to be removed from it.
2023-04-14 If a Siege never had defense counters on it (perhaps because a permanent became a copy of one), it can’t have its last defense counter removed. It will be put into its owner’s graveyard. You won’t exile it or cast the other face.
2023-04-14 If a battle has no defense counters, and it isn’t the source of a triggered ability that has triggered but not yet left the stack, that battle is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action. This doesn’t cause a Siege’s intrinsic triggered ability to trigger.
2023-04-14 If a battle that’s being attacked somehow stops being a battle, it is removed from combat. Similarly, if its controller changes in the middle of combat, it is removed from combat.
2023-04-14 If a non-battle permanent that is already on the battlefield become a copy of a Siege, its controller chooses one of their opponents to be that battle’s protector. However, it will most likely be put into its owner’s graveyard because it has no defense counters (see below).
2023-04-14 If a permanent that is represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it will be exiled as that Siege’s triggered ability resolves, then it will be cast transformed. Note that this applies only to transforming double-faced cards, not to modal double-faced cards that can normally be played using either face.
2023-04-14 If a token or a card that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card becomes a copy of a Siege, it can’t be cast as its triggered ability resolves. It will remain in exile. If it’s a token, it will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed.
2023-04-14 In a multiplayer game, if the protector of a battle leaves the game and that battle is not currently being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it as a state-based action. If it is being attacked, its controller chooses a new protector for it once no creatures are attacking it. This means that it continues to be attacked and can be dealt combat damage as normal.
2023-04-14 Invasion of Kamigawa’s enters-the-battlefield ability can target an artifact or creature that’s already tapped.
2023-04-14 Only creatures controlled by a battle’s protector can block creatures that are attacking that battle. This means a Siege’s controller can never assign creatures to block for it.
2023-04-14 Sieges each have an intrinsic triggered ability. That ability is “When the last defense counter is removed from this permanent, exile it, then you may cast it transformed without paying its mana cost.”