Farewell, Neon Dynasty

Continuing rotation month (see previous post), today I look at Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.

Released in February 2021, Neon Dynasty (hereafter NEO) was a return to the Kamigawa plane and the first time they did so since the Kamigawa block (2004-5), a set themed on Japanese mythology. NEO takes place 1200 years later, though, and this futuristic focus is billed as "Magic's first science fiction set."

Themes & Mechanics

For theme, equipment and enchantments (auras, sagas, and shrines) feature heavily on this plane. Prevalent creature types include samurai, ninja, monk, spirit, fox, and snake.

Mechanics include:

- Reconfigure (artifact cards that are both equipment and creatures, and can switch roles even once in play)

- Modified (modified creatures are those with auras, equipment, or counters)

- Sagas (enchantments were something different happens each turn; here, on conclusion, they transform to the other side)

- Ninjutsu (paying a creature's ninjutsu cost while it's in your hand enables you to play it on the battlefield tapped and attacking if you return an unblocked attacker to your hand)

- Channel (paying a card's channel cost and discarding it while it's in your hand enables you to do its stated effect)

Favorites

As enchantments featured here, I enjoyed some of those (Michiko's Reign of Truth, Spirited Companion, Generous Visitor, Kodama of the West Tree, Jukai Naturalist) in a Selesnya enchantment deck. Gravelighter had a nice ability. Kumano Faces Kakkazan was a staple in many an aggro deck; Thundering Raiju showed up in a few as well. And Secluded Courtyard is great for tribal decks.

Good Riddance

Farewell was a super board-wipe, destroying not only the battlefield but eliminating graveyards, too. The Wandering Emperor drove me bonkers (as planeswalkers do); she was a staple in control decks that I did not care for. I appreciated the ninjutsu mechanic but never made a deck and grew to dislike facing them, so Moon-Circuit Hacker and Dokuchi Silencer make the list. Invoke Despair had its intended effect (I think it was banned though). Fable of the Mirror-breaker was super annoying until it was banned. Tamiyo's Safekeeping was okay but often in decks that frustrated me. Oni-Cult Anvil signified a drawn out experience. Iron Apprentice could do bad things. And the channel land cycle was overpowered.

On the whole, NEO wasn't a bad set, but I am very happy The Wandering Emperor is leaving standard. And I never really got into the theme of the set, either. I won't lose sleep over this one.