Mountain's Shadow Dojo

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

Card Type

Stronghold

Province Strength

6

Gold Production

4

Starting Family Honor

6

Clan

Crane

Card Text

Tireless Battle: Target your performing Crane Clan Samurai at the current battlefield to make a Ranged 3 Attack. Move him home or to another battlefield.

Legality

Race for the Throne (Samurai)

Deck

Pre-Game

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Mountain’s Shadow Dojo 6PS 4G 6FH Battle: Even if this Stronghold is bowed, target one of your Crane Clan Samurai at the current battlefield: Ranged 3 Attack. Move him home or to another battlefield." [Erratum, 3 September 2007; effective 3 October 2007] "Another battlefield" implies that the target Crane Clan Samurai must be at a battlefield already, and refers to a battlefield other than the one the Crane Clan Samurai is at. [ML, 26 July 2007] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 148

Rules Q&A

• Q: If I play The Khan's Gambit, can I still use Mountain's Shadow Dojo?
  A: The stronghold ability is not one of your "abilities on your cards at this battlefield." Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo and The Khan's Gambit", 8 Dec 2007
• Q: (S)ince I cannot move home, do I have to move to a different battle, or is that effect negated?
  A: If you try to move home, it's negated. If you don't, it isn't. Your choice remains. Zen Faulkes, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo and The Khan's Gambit", 8 Dec 2007
• Q: (C)an Daidoji Yaichiro's reaction move him back(?)
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo and The Khan's Gambit", 8 Dec 2007
• Q: Battle: Even if this Stronghold is bowed, target one of your Crane Clan Samurai at the current battlefield: Ranged 3 Attack. Move him home or to another battlefield.
  If there is no legal target for a ranged attack at the current battlefield, can they take this action? I would think not, such as in the case of Rapid Deployment, as the rulebook states about a ranged attack: In an effect, “Ranged X Attack” (where X is a number known as the strength of the ranged attack) is shorthand for “Target a Follower or a Personality without Followers in the current enemy army. If its Force is equal to or less than X, destroy it.” A ranged attack’s strength is treated as a stat with regard to bonuses, penalties, and minimums.
  A: No. This has always been the case for Mountain's Shadow Dojo, even pre-errata. Chris Fuchs, "Question on targeting for Mountain's Shadow Dojo, Errataed", 30 Oct 2007
• Q: On Mountains Shadow Dojo, the text reads - "Battle: Even if this Stronghold is bowed, target one of your Crane Clan Samurai at the current battlefield: Ranged 3 Attack. Move him home or to another battlefield."
  If I have a personality that is unopposed, and I am at the unopposed samurai's battlefield, can I use the stronghold's ability to move to another battlefield? The reason I'm confused is because though I can meet the requirements for the action, I can't meet the requirements for the Ranged Attack. So does that meet I can't take the action, or does that mean the ranged attack just fizzles and the rest of the action works?
  Thanks for the help.
  A: A legal target for the ranged attack is required targeting to be able to take the action. If there is no legal target for the ranged attack, you may not take that action. Chris Fuchs, "Rules Question: MSD", 12 Oct 2007
• Q: Hi! I have probably not read more posts about Mountain's Shadow Dojo than I have, and the rulings seem to cultivate the players' desire to make it as strong as they can for the environment. The reason I am writing to you is a playing experience I had relevant to a ruling that says that a Crane samurai who is opposed in province A can move unopposed in province B and resolve the Stronghold's range attack there along with Burn it Down. The ruling is the following: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=59786&p=768495 The objection that I have stem purely from logic, the rules and the wording. It says clearly: Range 3 attack. Move ..... You have ruled that the effects of actions must be resolved in the order stated in the action (as would also be expected by anyone reading the cards). Thus, it would be logical to assume that the range attack would have to be resolved before the movement, and that the movement would follow. The next logical step would be that for the range attack to resolve, the targets (that you also have ruled must be chosen in their entirety before paying costs and resolving effects) would have to be legal from the moment of its announcement to the moment of its resolution. So, what would be simpler than to say that the Crane samurai can produce a range attack targeting legal targets, i.e. cards opposing him, (even if it should go without saying), and then he can move. I do not think that the thought behind the card was (or should be) that Crane samurai attacks province A, defender assigns unit with follower (to protect from range attack) to province A and unit without follower (thought to be safe from the range attack) in province B and Crane samurai has the following options: a) move to province B, shoot the unit and probably break the province or b) moves to province C, targets province C with range attack along with burn it down and again breaks the province. Nor should it be, in my humble opinion, to negate two different traits of the game, both cavalry (cavalry unit attacks; crane samurai defends province A; cavalry units assigns to province B; crane samurai move to province B and shoots cavalry unit) and naval (naval unit attacks province A, crane samurai defends province B; naval unit passes; crane samurai moves in and shoots naval unit). Please, clear the table by ruling the evident: that Crane samurai should produce range attack where he is, resolve it normally and legally -that is, he can't if he has no legal targets, e.g. he is unopposed- and then move. I am begging you to consider the effect you are having on the game! You are not simply playing with words, you are defining the playing experience of hundrends (if not thousands) of players, many of them (hopefully) new ones. Do not offer them rulings that produce the aforementioned imbalanced undesired effects. Please keep in mind that you are ruling on an action that has no cost whatsoever (the Crane samurai does not have to bow or even be unbowed to do it, he can take an action and still count his force in another battlefield, and this action without cost kills something that the opposing player has payed good money to bring into play, be it a personality or a follower -let alone a province) and is recyclable. Thank you for taking the time to read this and, again, please devote some time to think it over seriously and answer with some arguments and not just quoting the rules. Thank you.
  A: The definition of ranged attack was changed from "opposing" to "in the current enemy army" with the Samurai Edition rules.
  That being said, Rules and Design are taking a close look at the stronghold. Any further posts in the Rules forum demanding that Mountain Shadow Dojo or the current rules that apply to it be changed may result in mod warnings. Chris Fuchs, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo - Once and (hopefully) for all", 29 Aug 2007
• Q: What would be the result of reacting to the battle action of Mountain's Shadow Dojo with two Burn it Down?
  A: Province Strength reduced by twice Ranged Attack strength. (Fixed.) Zen Faulkes, "Burn it Down... Twice", 26 Aug 2007
• Q: When you target a Crane samurai you own as per the stronghold's battle action, is it considered that he performed the action(?)
  A: http://rules.l5r.com/Glossary_P-Q#Perform: "A Personality or Follower is performing an action if its controller is the player taking the action, and any of these things is true:
  "The action comes from an ability on the Personality or Follower." Does not apply.
  "The action comes from an ability on an Item or Spell in the Personality’s unit." Does not apply.
  "The Personality or Follower was targeted by targeting in the ability’s constraints block (between the two colons)." Ding ding ding ding ding! Zen Faulkes, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo and Performing", 16 Aug 2007
• Q: From: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=60100
  ------- The two situations are not the same.
  In Marty's post, the defender is opposed; i.e., there is a legal target for a Ranged Attack. In mine, the defender is not opposed; i.e., there is no legal target for a Ranged Attack. -------
  By the text of Mountain's Shadow Dojo, the performing Samurai need not oppose the target at the time of the ranged attack. It was specifically ruled in the referenced thread that, even with no presence in the battlefield, it is legal to resolve a ranged attack in that battlefield IF you then move the performing Samurai into that battlefield. Keep in mind that by SE rules, there is no requirement that the Samurai oppose the target -- only that the action has to satisfy the Rule of Location.
  Edit: I searched for Mountain's Shadow Dojo specifically, didn't see the earlier post. Sorry!
  A: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=60119
  Already pointed out.
  Mod request: When commenting on a ruling, please read other recent posts in the forum before making one of your own. Thanks! Zen Faulkes, "Re: The neverending Mountain's Shadow Dojo", 6 Aug 2007
• Q: "I'm attacking a Crane player using Mountain Shadow Dojo. I have cavalry, so the opposing Crane player defends Province "A" with one unit. I assign my unit to attack province "B". I resolve province "A" first (which I do not have a unit in)."
  As the defending player, can I just wait for the Unicorn player to resolve province "B" to use (Mountain Shadow Dojo) to go to that province, shooting the cavalry personality there?
  A: No.
  Shoot, then scoot. Not vice versa.
  You must have a legal target for the Ranged Attack in Province A to be able to take the action at all. Zen Faulkes, "The never ending Mountain's Shadow Dojo", 5 Aug 2007
• Q: I'm attacking a Crane player using Mountain Shadow Dojo. I have cavalry, so the opposing Crane player defends Province "A" with one unit. I assign my unit to attack province "B". I resolve province "A" first (which I do not have a unit in). Can the Crane player use the SH's ability to target his unit in Provice "A", produce the ranged attack - targeting my unit in province "B", and then move into Province "B"?
  A: No. No legal target for the Ranged Attack, which is required targeting. Zen Faulkes, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo revisited yet a 4th time (sorry)", 3 Aug 2007
• Q: OK. A Crane attacks Prov. A and is opposed. At Prov. B there is a defender. If the battle at Prov. B is being resolved before Prov. A can he take the Range Atk. from MSD at the defender at Prov. B?
  A: Let's check.
  Does he have a unit at the current battlefield or is he using an ability to move one of his units to the current battlefield? Yes
  - Check off the Rule of Presence
  Does he have a legal target at the current battlefield for the Ranged Attack? Yes
  Does he have a legal target of a Crane Clan Samurai at the current battlefield or one that is being moved to the current battlefield by the ability? Yes
  - Check off the Rule of Location and the action's own targeting requirements.
  So he can legally do that, but has to move his Crane Clan Samurai to battlefield B. He can't choose to move him Home or to Battlefield C. Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo Again!!!!", 2 Aug 2007
• Q: Can he take the same Range Atk. if he is not opposed at Prov. A?
  A: Being opposed at Battlefield A doesn't matter. All that matters is that your Crane is at a Battlefield so he can move to "another battlefield." Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo Again!!!!", 2 Aug 2007
• Q: Now, let's say that to either of the above scenarios the answer is, yes can the Range Atk. still be taken if the movement part of MSD's Battle Act. is negated?
  A: Yes, it can. Heck, the Ranged Attack comes first. It'll resolve before anyone has any chance to Negate the movement effect - and Negating one effect of an Action does not normally affect any of the other effects of the Action unless they have an obvious dependency (like an "Do X. If X happened do Y." type wording). Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo Again!!!!", 2 Aug 2007
• Q: You are attacking.
  Your Daidoji Yaichiro is at Province A while your opponent's Daigotsu Masami is at Province B. Can you:
  1. Resolve Province B first by moving Yaichiro in and then shooting Masami, thereby satisfying presence and location as well as use the exception to the rule?
  I separated this from my previous post as the nature of the action is quite different in application.
  Many Thanks.
  A: Mountains Shadow Dojo says, "Ranged 3 Attack. Move him ..."
  Shoot first. Period. Full stop. Move second.
  You can, however, use Mountain's Shadow Dojo during a Battle at Battlefield B to target your Crane Clan Samurai at Battlefield A, shoot a subject at Battlefield B, and then move your Crane Clan Samurai to Battlefield B.
  Moving your Samurai into the Current Battlefield invokes the Exception to the Rule of Presence by moving a Unit you control into the Current Battlefield.
  Moving your Samurai into the Current Battlefield invokes the Exception to the Rule of Location by moving the card you targeted outside of the Current Battlefield (normally illegal under the Rule of Location) into the Current Battlefield.
  For more information about the Rule of Presence, Rule of Location, and their Exceptions, look here. Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo Ranged Attack Question", 30 Jul 2007
• Q: You are attacking.
  Province A has your Daidoji Yaichiro and an opposing Daigotsu Masami. Province B has no units from either side.
  A: First of all, let's just ignore Daidoji Yaichiro's Reaction ability for the moment. It has no impact on the legality of any Battle Action he might perform. I'm going to replace Daidoji Akagi for Yaichiro in all the following questions just so we can keep Mountain's Shadow Dojo distinct from Yaichiro's own movement Reaction, OK?
  Can you:
  1. Resolve Province B by shooting Masami at province A and then move [Akagi] to Province B?[/quote]
  No. Ranged Attack Effects target. You can't target Masami at Battlefield A. Battlefield B is the Current Battlefield and any card in a unit you target with a Battle Action must either be at Battlefield B or have its unit moved into Battlefield B as a result of the Action. Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo Ranged Attack and Movement", 30 Jul 2007
• Q: 2. Resolve Province B by declaring a ranged attack at Province A to move [Akagi] to Province B, and then use Burn It Down before required targetting to target Province B's strength instead?
  A: You don't declare the Ranged Attack. You announce that you want to use Mountain's Shadow Dojo. In Reaction to the Announcement, you play Burn It Down, which lets you target the Current Battlefield's Province with your Ranged Attack. You reduce Province B's strength by 3 and then move [Akagi] into Battlefield B. Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo Ranged Attack and Movement", 30 Jul 2007
• Q: 3. Same as situation 2 but I target Province A instead with Burn It Down?
  A: Burn It Down only allows you to target the Province associated with the Current Battlefield. If you are in the Combat Segment for Battlefield B, you can only Burn It Down against Province B. Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo Ranged Attack and Movement", 30 Jul 2007
• Q: Hi! Mountain's Shadow Dojo Battle: Even if this Stronghold is bowed, target one of your Crane Clan Samurai: Ranged 3 Attack. Move him home or to another battlefield.
  Burn It Down Reaction: After you announce an action with a Ranged Attack effect: One of the Ranged Attacks may target this battlefield’s province instead of an enemy card. If it does, reduce the province’s strength by the Ranged Attack’s strength when it resolves.
  A Crane samurai assigns in Province A. Crane A performs the Mountain's Shadow Dojo range attack ability and moves to Province B. After moving to province B, he now plays Burn It down on Province B.
  Is this legal? And can you please explain why it is or it isn't? Thanks!
  A: I think you need to back up and read the abilities of the cards again.
  Burn It Down says you have to play it upon announcing the Action.
  You have to play it in response to announcing that you are using Mountain's Shadow Dojo, not after you've already started resolving its effects.
  Also, you have to resolve the Ranged Attack before you resolve the movement effect. You have to do the effects of the Action in the order they are written. "Ranged 3 Attack." comes before "Move him ..."
  Now, all that said, the following sequence would be perfectly legal:
  1.) Assign Crane Clan Samurai "Bob" to Battlefield A.
  2.) Engage the Battle at Battlefield B.
  3.) Announce using Mountain's Shadow Dojo
  4.) Play Burn It Down as a Reaction.
  5.) Target "Bob" with Moutain's Shadow Dojo.
  5.) Reduce the Province Strength of Province B by 3.
  6.) Move "Bob" to Battlefield B. Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo and Burn It Down", 30 Jul 2007
• Q: http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=59668
  Regarding this. Marty even includes the exception in his quote that should allow this action from other battlefields. It creates unconditional movement. It is not optional. It targets a unit with the action on the stronghold. Additionally, ranged attacks do not have to target opposing cards. I don't understand why it has to come from the current battlefield when it clearly falls within the exception.
  A: It doesn't have to do so, provided you move the Samurai in question into the Current Battlefield to invoke the Exception.
  You can not shoot a random enemy at Battlefield A by targeting your Samurai at Battlefield B and moving him to Battlefield C or to your Home.
  I don't think I understood exactly what was being asked there, but I'll attempt to remove the confusion. Martin Lund, "Regarding Mountain's Shadow Dojo", 26 Jul 2007
• Q: The Rule of Location: If a Battle action is on a card in a unit (a Personality or attachment in play), the unit must be at the current battlefield; and any cards in units must be at the current battlefield to be legally targeted by a Battle action.
  EXCEPTION: A Battle Action can target or be taken by a card in a unit at another location if its costs or effects say they can move the unit to the current battlefield. Choices within the action must then be taken, if possible, such that they do move the unit there.
  A: - Marty Lund Deputy Rules Monkey Martin Lund, "Mountain's Shadow Dojo wording question.", 26 Jul 2007