Isawa House Guard

Legend of the Five Rings card from Diamond Edition, Promotional–Diamond

Card Type

Follower

Force

3

Chi

0

Honor Requirement

2

Gold Cost

6

Personal Honor

-

Keywords

Unique, Shugenja

Card Text

Will only attach to a Phoenix Clan Personality.
Reaction: Any number of times per turn, after one of your Shugenja bows while in an army, bow this card unless this is the first time you have used this ability this turn: Straighten that Shugenja.

Focus Value

4

Legality

Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rules Q&A

• Q: Both say "as if...", but Agasha Chieh has been ruled to be "in the army/at the battle" for all purposes including for the purposes of Isawa House Guard while I understand that Hitomi Dojo has been ruled to not make the personality a Monk for any purpose beyond the abiltiy to cast the kiho.
  A: If you could cite some specific example, I might be able to be of more help.
  Both effects last while the caster is casting. Once that is done, he or she is back as she was. Martin Lund, "Rules for 20 October 2004", 24 Oct 2004
• Q: Second situation. Fire Dragon out of CoR. Isawa House Guard is also in play. May the Fire Dragon bow to cast his Ranged 10, straighten with the IHG, then bow to cast it again, combining them? Or bow for his two ranged 5s, making a ranged 15 and a ranged 5 attack?
  A: "a card can not combine ranged attacks with itself." (Diamond Edition Rulebook, page 90) Martin Lund, "Rules for 19 October 2004", 24 Oct 2004
• Q: Can I use the Isawa house guard during the resolution of a battle to straighten my Shugenja in that battle before they go home?
  A: No. They go home bowed. That means they are either home bowed, or in the battle unbowed. Once they aren't in the battle, you can't use the House Guard anyway. Martin Lund, "Rules for 23 May 2004", 26 May 2004
• Q: Can the Isawa House Guard unbow Shugenja after they bow as a result of:
  A) Battle resolution or B) Being sent home from an action that sends the unit home bowed (for instance Block Supply Lines)?
  A: No. The cards don't bow until they move out, and hence until they are no longer in an Army. Martin Lund, "Rules for 20 May 2004", 24 May 2004
• Q: This came up at a tournament recently and I'd like someone to clear this up. Crab was attacking Phoenix with Hida Sozen. Agasha Cheih XP, who was outside the battle, had Kuro's Fire, Isawa House Guard and more force in its unit than Sozen's. If Cheih cast Kuro's Fire, could it kill Sozen? A few questions arose from this. Is Cheih, although in the army, considered opposed to Sozen?
  A: Only while casting it. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 24 March 2004", 26 Mar 2004
• Q: 3)Reactions can be used that affect her as if she is in the battle (ie Isawa House Guard).
  A: Sure. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 2-3 March 2004", 4 Mar 2004
• Q: Agasha Chieh can cast spells into the battle from the outside and I've heard a ruling that you can unbow her with Isawa House Guard because she is ,sort of, into the battle while casting it.
  Correct.
  Does the same hold for any other Shugenja when Shiba Yoma (exp) is in the current battle?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 9 Feb. 2004", 10 Feb 2004
• Q: So just like Seppuku happens before Kaagi's Reaction or several other rulings made about the difference WHEN and AFTER. Isawa House Guard say AFTER and if she's only a part of an army WHILE casting a spell, it's not legal to use ISG, because by the time it's legal to use IHG, she's no longer in the army.
  A: "After" what, though? That's where you're going astray.
  The Isawa House Guard is used after the Shugenja bows. NOT after the entire Spell is finished -- just after she bows. But that is still in the middle of casting the Spell, so she is still treated as being in the current army. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 9 Feb. 2004", 10 Feb 2004
• Q: Isawa House Guard can unbow itself?
  A: If the cost of bowing is waived, yes. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 13 December 2003", 13 Dec 2003