Ikoma Sume

Legend of the Five Rings card from Diamond Edition, Gold Edition

Card Type

Personality

Force

1

Chi

3

Honor Requirement

5

Gold Cost

5

Personal Honor

2

Clan

Lion

Keywords

Historian, Lion Clan, Soul of Ikoma Kaoku

Card Text

Reaction: After a battle resolves in which an army containing your units destroyed the opposing army or a Province, bow Sume to permanently give each of your Personalities in that army +1F/+1C. Sume does not need to be in the battle to use this ability.

Legality

Four Winds (Gold), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Dynasty

Printings

Rules Q&A

• Q: 2 - Same for Ikoma Sume : when I asked a few weeks ago, I was told that Sume could use his reaction while in battle, and now I understand by the last posts that he can't ?!
  A: That one was a little confusing, even for me, but we've got it square now.
  Ikoma Sume can use his Reaction, but his Reaction says "after a battle resolves," and Actions timed that way have to get played after attacking and allied units have returned home bowed from battle. (DE Rulebook, pages 84-85)
  If he was an attacking or allied unit during that battle, you'll need some way of keeping him unbowed or straightening him to use his ability. If he was defending, you don't need to jump through any hoops. Martin Lund, "Rules for 26 June 2004", 29 Jun 2004
• Q: I've heard conflicting reports on this:
  If Ikoma Sume is in a army which destroys another army or province during resolution, can he bow to use his ability? Or does he bow as an attacker first?
  A: He'd bow as an attacker first. You can't play Reactions to the end or resolution of the battle until after all terrains for that battle would be destroyed, which comes after all attacking and allied units are sent home bowed (Diamond Edition Rulebook, pages 84-84) Martin Lund, "Rules for 22 June 2004", 25 Jun 2004
• Q: 1 - Can Ikoma Sume use his ability if he's present in a winning battle resolution and is about to return home bowed ?
  A: Yes. The battle is first resolved. Then you send people home. (Diamond Edition Rulebook, page 84) Martin Lund, "Rules for 8 June 2004", 10 Jun 2004
• Q: Unicorn Player with Ikoma Sume and a bunch of unicorn units attacks Shadowlands Player with 2 Ashuras. Shadowlands Player has both Ashuras enter into duels where they are both killed. The province survives but the shadowlands army is now gone. (no shadowlands cards were in play at the province during the battle resolution)
  For the purposes of Ikoma Sume's ability, does this account as destroying the opposing army?
  A: Sume's ability only keys off of Battle Resolution where entire Armies destroy one another. Killing off the units making up the Army with Actions that address Units or Cards doesn't qualify. Martin Lund, "Rules for 23 April 2004", 25 Apr 2004
• Q: This situation came up during our Week of the Ratling last Sunday: Lion is up against Unicorn in the semifinals.
  Lion attacks with a number of personalities, one of which has been affected twice by Ikoma Sume (i.e. two permanent +1/+1 bonuses). Unicorn defends, and then plays In Search of the Future as his first battle action. Does the In Search take away the "permanent" changes given by Sume to the personality?
  A: The two +1F bonuses that the Personality in question is currently enjoying do not come from a card attached to him. In Search of the Future will reduce them to +0F until the end of the turn. Jeff Alexander, "post for 1 April 2003", 2 Apr 2003
• Q: Does destroying a province with a garrison count as destroying an army for the purposes of Prepared For the Enemy, Ikoma Sume, etc?
  A: No. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 28 April 2002", 28 Apr 2002
• Q: Questions - always more questions! + more questions
  4) Can Ikoma Sume use his ability in a battle he is in, or does he bow before he gets the change to bow and give everyone in the battle +1/+1?
  He will bow before you have the option to use his Reaction. You either need to play a Rallying Cry or only use him on defense.
  If he´s outside the battle, can he use his reaction?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 23 October 2001", 23 Oct 2001