Isawa Zao

Legend of the Five Rings card from Promotional–Samurai

Card Type

Personality

Force

2

Chi

4

Honor Requirement

6

Gold Cost

7

Personal Honor

3

Clan

Phoenix

Keywords

Phoenix Clan, Shugenja

Card Text

Reaction: Before paying the costs of a Spell or Kiho action that Zao is performing, give Zao +2F or gain 2 Honor.

Legality

Race for the Throne (Samurai)

Deck

Dynasty

Printings

Rules Q&A

• Q: Regarding viewtopic.php?f=59&t=68597 I note that specific reference is made to spells, and the CR's say:
  The timing point "after [a card] performs" an action is after the fact that the card's performing status is known; that is,
  * after the action is announced, if the performing is from the card's own ability or that of an Item or Spell attached to it; * after the action targets the performer otherwise.
  So it makes sense that Zao can react after performing an action on a spell, per the first bullet point. However, what about kihos that would bow him? For example, Wrist Lock says:
  Water Kiho Battle: Bow your target Monk or Shugenja: Move home a target attacking Personality. You may target and destroy an attachment in his unit. Gain 2 Honor.
  This is a little unclear...does it go by the strict order of words in the text? For example, it says "Bow your target Monk or Shugenja..." Since "bow" appears in the sentence before "target", is Zao bowed before the trigger point in the second bullet point above (after the action targets the performer otherwise). So, if it said, "Target your Monk or Shugenja and bow him..." Zao would be able to react? Or am I looking too hard at the strict details of the text? The other posts I've searched on Zao deal only with spells, not kihos.
  Thanks!
  A: Mandatory targeting is always going to occur before bowing to pay cost.
  Start at http://rules.l5r.com/Abilities_and_acti ... _targeting, and you see that all happens before the next step of paying costs. Zen Faulkes, "Isawa Zao and Kihos", 8 Jul 2008
• Q: Let's say its my turn and I declare an attack and assign no infantry or cavalry. Let's also suppose my opponent doesn't assign any infantry or cavalry. Can I resolve a battle and use Castle of Water to raise my opponent's province strength for the purpose of gaining 2 honor?
  A: I don't see why not; everything in that sequence is nice and legal.
  Enjoy your 2 Honor... oh, but watch out for Retribution!
  Frivolous attacks for Honor gain are not without risk. Brook Cunningham, "Isawa Zao and Castle of Water", 18 Jun 2008
• Q: Isawa Zao
  Reaction: After Zao performs a Spell or Kiho: Give Zao +2F or gain 2 Honor.
  Is it possible for Zao to use his reaction after he performs a Spell or Kiho that requires that he bows as a cost (like Touch of Ice)?
  It has been argued that he can because he can react because he's not bowed when the trigger for his reaction occurs. From here http://rules.l5r.com/Glossary_P-Q#Perform
  "Perform" The timing point "after (a card) performs" an action is after the fact that the card's performing status is known; that is,
  * after the action is announced, if the performing is from the card's own ability or that of an Item or Spell attached to it; * after the action targets the performer otherwise.
  So as soon as you announce Zao is performing Touch of Ice, the "After Zao performs" trigger is met.
  A: Yes, Zao can react to performing a Spell that requires him bowing as a cost.
  As you point out, the trigger for Zao's Reaction occurs before he would bow. Brook Cunningham, "Isawa Zao and Reacting while bowed", 4 Jun 2008