Top 10 Reprints We Want from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

Will these 10 cards sneak into the latest set?

Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty is Magic: The Gathering’s first set scheduled for release in 2022. Fans of the original Kamigawa block have been patiently waiting to return to the plane, but there’s a twist — Neon Dynasty takes place in a cyberpunk world 2000 years after the original Kamigawa storyline.   

Wizards of the Coast has packed Neon Dynasty full of Spirits, Ninjas, and Samurai. The spoiled Atsushi, the Blazing Sky and Satoru Umezawa are thrilling additions to Kamigawa’s most-beloved tribes. Interestingly, Ninjas and Samurai will be entering the Pioneer format for the first time thanks to Neon Dynasty.

While WotC’s Standard sets contain mostly new cards, they often include a handful of reprints. Innistrad: Crimson Vow notably features reprints of Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Splendid Reclamation, and Abrade. Innistrad: Midnight Hunt also contains playable reprints, including Pithing Needle, Delver of Secrets, and Field of Ruin. Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty should be no exception to WOTC’s recent inserting of playable reprints in Standard sets.

As for reprinting Kamigawa cards, it would be relatively safe for WotC to include Distress, Mending Hands, and Squelch in Neon Dynasty. Even though none of these cards are spectacular, their power levels are reasonable for both Limited and Standard. That said, there are much better Kamigawa reprint options available. Let’s look at 10 of the best cards from the Kamigawa block that players would be excited to see in Neon Dynasty. 

10. Sakashima the Impostor

Saviors Of Kamigawa | Rare

Market Price: $7.59

Sakashima the Imposter, initially printed in Saviors of Kamigawa, is a four-mana legendary creature capable of copying any creature on the battlefield. One upside for Sakashima the Imposter is his four-mana ability to return to your hand and copy a different creature. Another benefit is that he retains his name when copying another creature, allowing you to have a copy of a legendary creature under your control. A bit of backstory on Sakashima, previously published on WotC’s website, is archived here.

Market Price: $22.78

Market Price: $12.29

Sakashima the Imposter is a versatile creature that slots into many Commander decks, especially those featuring Sakashima of a Thousand Faces. Another great home for Sakashima the Imposter is in the 99 of Koma, Cosmos Serpent. Producing two 3/3 blue Serpent creature tokens a turn with Koma and Sakashima in play can end games quickly.

9. Glimpse of Nature

Champions Of Kamigawa | Rare

Market Price: $16.29

Champions of Kamigawa introduced players to Glimpse of Nature, a one-mana sorcery commonly played in Legacy Elves. Glimpse of Nature lets you draw a card whenever you cast a creature spell this turn. Although Glimpse of Nature was banned in Modern, it remains legal in Legacy, Vintage, and Commander.

You don’t have to try to go infinite with Glimpse of Nature, as drawing 2 to 3 cards for one green mana is an acceptable return on investment. Commanders such as Animar, Soul of Elements, Aeve, Progenitor Ooze, Seton, Krosan Protector, and Ezuri, Renegade Leader synergize well with Glimpse of Nature. Reprinting Glimpse of Nature may encourage more players to try it in various Commander decks. While there is almost no chance of it appearing in the primary Neon Dynasty set, WotC could include Glimpse of Nature as a box topper or in a Neon Dynasty Commander precon deck. 

8. Freed from the Real

Masters 25 | Uncommon

Many Commander players know that Freed From the Real is a powerful common from Saviors of Kamigawa (reprinted uncommon in Masters 25). Freed From the Real creates two-card combos with creatures like Bloom Tender, Zaxara, the Exemplary, Faeburrow Elder, and Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle. There is strong player demand for Freed from the Real, considering its market price is almost $4. Enabling a two-card combo in Standard or Pioneer may not be in WotC’s best interests, but it could be in the 99 of a Commander precon deck.   

7. Sakura-tribe Elder

Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur’s Gate | Common

Sakura-tribe Elder is an iconic mana-fixing creature that dates back to Champions of Kamigawa. According to EDHREC, Sakura-tribe Elder is Commander’s second-most played green creature. How amazing would it be for Sakura-tribe Elder to appear in both Standard and Pioneer? It’s not too far a stretch for Sakura-tribe Elder to possibly sneak into Neon Dynasty.

6. Kataki, War’s Wage

Modern Masters | Rare

Kataki, War’s Wage is a legendary white Spirit from Saviors of Kamigawa. Kataki offered protection of warriors’ weapons and armor, according to the Kamigawa’s lore. In Modern, Kataki is an all-star sideboard card. Kataki also sees some Constructed play in Legacy and Vintage Death and Taxes decks.

The average market price for Kataki, War’s Wage exploded following Modern Horizons 2’s release, increasing from around $2 to over $10. Kataki’s power level seems fine for Standard and Pioneer, where artifact-centric decks are a small portion of the metagame. Reprinting Kataki in Neon Dynasty will lower its market price substantially and legalize it in additional formats.

5. Kira, Great Glass-Spinner 

Jumpstart | Rare

Kira, Great Glass-Spinner is well known by fans of Spirits and Merfolk. As a three-mana legendary blue Spirit, Kira, Great Glass-Spinner provides excellent protection to creatures you control. Fascinatingly, Kira, Great Glass-Spinner’s average market price has doubled since November 2021.

Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander Deck – Spirit Squadron

Commander: Innistrad: Crimson Vow

Market Price: $26.39

WotC’s release of the Spirit Squadron Commander Deck is likely the catalyst for Kira, Great Glass Spinner’s recent price increase. If Kira, Great Glass Spinner does not see a reprint in Neon Dynasty, it could appear in a supplemental Commander deck.

4. Forbidden Orchard

Double Masters 2022 | Rare

Forbidden Orchard taps for one mana of any color — with the drawback that a target opponent creates a 1/1 colorless Spirit creature token. This downside balances its power level enough to be an excellent addition to Standard. Neon Dynasty is a fantastic opportunity to reprint Forbidden Orchard, since there are plenty of Spirit tribal cards currently in Standard. Plus, most Commander players would be delighted to have a cheaper version of Forbidden Orchard available.

3. Oboro, Palace in the Clouds

Saviors Of Kamigawa | Rare

Market Price: $56.02

Oboro, Palace in the Clouds is a legendary land from Saviors of Kamigawa with an average market price of $85. The benefits of Oboro, Palace in the Clouds are more than just coming into play untapped and producing blue mana. Oboro, Palace in the Clouds can return to your hand for one mana, which is excellent for triggering landfall or avoiding land destruction.

Oboro, Palace in the Clouds sees some play in Modern. Merfolk plays Oboro to produce blue mana with Mutavault, avoid Choke, and handle other fringe situations. Mill decks utilize Oboro to trigger Hedron Crab and Ruin Crab repeatedly. Regarding Commander, Oboro has a home in landfall decks led by Tatyova, Benthic Druid, Omnath, Locus of Creation, and Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait.

2. Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni

Planechase Anthology | Rare

Market Price: $10.18

Fans of Rat and Ninja Commander decks are very familiar with Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni. First printed in Betrayers of Kamigawa, Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni possesses ninjutsu, regeneration, and another exciting ability: whenever Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni deals combat damage to a player, you may put a creature from that player’s graveyard onto the battlefield under your control.

Based on images of leaked Neon Dynasty cards, we know one or more Rat Ninjas will be present. Since Rat Ninjas are in Neon Dynasty, it would make sense to include Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni. Considering Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni is a $20 card, it would make an excellent addition to Neon Dynasty for both playability and value.

1. Ninja of the Deep Hours

Commander 2018 | Common

Ninja of the Deep Hours has players clamoring for its reprinting in Neon Dynasty. Ninja of the Deep Hours is an all-star in the Pauper format and Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow Commander decks. Sneaking Ninja of the Deep Hours into play with its ninjutsu ability will draw you a card and deal damage.

 A new set with Ninjas and ninjutsu would not be complete without Ninja of the Deep Hours.