Ninja Shapeshifter

Legend of the Five Rings card from Pearl Edition, Imperial Edition, Emerald Edition, Obsidian Edition, Jade Edition, Celestial Edition 15th Anniversary, Twenty Festivals, Hidden Emperor Starter, Promotional–Twenty Festivals

Card Type

Personality

Force

2

Chi

2

Honor Requirement

-

Gold Cost

10

Personal Honor

1

Clan

Ninja, Unaligned

Keywords

Ninja

Card Text

Ninja Shapeshifter's Followers must be Ninja.
Ninja Battle/Open: Ninja Shapeshifter copies a target Personality's Force, Chi, Personal Honor, or ability that does not copy abilities.

Legality

A Brother's Destiny (Twenty Festivals), Clan Wars (Imperial), Hidden Emperor (Jade), War of the Seals (Onyx Edition)

Deck

Dynasty

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Ninja Shapeshifter 2F/2C -HR 10G 1PH Unaligned Ninja. The Ninja Shapeshifter will only attach Ninja Followers. Open: Once per turn, the Ninja Shapeshifter can copy the Force, the Chi, the Personal Honor, or one ability of any one Personality in play, until the end of the turn. All tokens created by a copied ability are destroyed at the end of the turn." [MRP, Pearl Edition] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 117
• The Shapeshifter does not count as using an innate ability when he uses an ability copied from a shugenja. An "innate ability" is, by rulebook definition, something only a shugenja can possess, and the Shapeshifter is not a shugenja. When he copies an ability which refers to the copied card by its own name, consider the text to refer to the Shapeshifter instead. [RD, l5rinfo, 4/30/96, and rulebook] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 44
• Can repeatedly copy an ability which is usable only once per game, because at the end of the turn he forgets that he's used it. [RD, l5rinfo, 7/8/96] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 44
• Clarified: only tokens created by a copied ability go away at the end of the turn, not all effects of the ability. Text Change & Errata List, February 15, 2000, p. 18
• Erratum: Errata/Changed: can NOT copy traits. Text Change & Errata List, February 15, 2000, p. 18
• Erratum: Clarified: all effects of the copied ability wear off at the end of the turn. Errata: can notn copy traits. Legend of the Five Rings FAQ, Version 3.4 & errata, June 1997, p. 28
• Q: If I use my Ninja Shapeshifter's copy-ability to copy the Unique ability, are all my opponents’ Shapeshifters destroyed? A: Check out the definitions on p. 31. "Unique" is not an ability, it is a trait, and the Shapeshifter cannot copy traits. Only Limited, Open, Battle, and Reaction actions are "abilities". Legend of the Five Rings FAQ, Version 3.6.2, May 1998, p. 23
• Q: I have a Ninja Shapeshifter, initially 2F/2C with a +2/+2 weapon token, and I want him to copy an Ogre Bushi's Force of 6. That means the Ninja becomes a total 8F/4C creature, right? Six Force from the Ogre, plus two from the weapon? A: Actually, no. Check out p. 32 again: "If a card copies a value from another card, the current value of the card being copied replaces the current value of the copying card." The important phrase is "current value", which is the base value plus al/ modifiers. The current value of your Ninja's Force before the shapechange is 4: a base of 2 plus 2 for the weapon. After the change it's 6, since that's what the Ogre's current Force is. Since this 6 is now the Ninja's current Force, we don't add anything to it -- "current value" already includes all bonuses and penalties. If your NSS has any kind of a weapon, you'll almost always end up in a situation where The Whole Is Not Equal to The Sum of the Parts if you copy someone else's Force or Chi. In our example above, the +2F from his own sword apparently disappears. The sword doesn't change from a +2/+2 weapon into something else, nor does the NSS's base Force of 2 change. What does happen when you copy a stat is that you stop using basic math to figure his total and just use the copied value on faith (plus or minus any further changes that happen after the shapeshift, of course). That's ninja trickery for you. Legend of the Five Rings FAQ, Version 3.6.2, May 1998, p. 23
• Q: Is it true that I can't copy the Crab Oni's ability to gain +1/+1 per Crab Personality I control? A: That isn't an "ability", it's a "trait". The NSS can't copy it. The Imperial Herald, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Issue 5), p. 15
• Q: Is there anything else I should know about the 'shifter? A: Two things. The first is that using another card's ability is a two-step process, since you have to take one action to copy the ability first, then another to actually use it. You can't just duplicate an effect cold-turkey – it takes planning and forethought in some situations to use it right. The other thing is that the NSS's ability is a targeted action, since you have to pick which card to copy. This means your opponents can use Mamoru or Investigation to counter an attempt to copy their cards, and it means you can't copy anything from your own bowed Personalities. The Imperial Herald, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Issue 5), p. 15

Rules Q&A

• Q: I have read something strange in the accumulated rulings in the Experienced chapter: "An Experienced card can be overlaid on a less Experienced card even if the title of the less Experienced card does not match the trait on the Experienced card, as long as there is a chain along the experience levels. E.g., the Experienced 7 Shosuro can be overlaid on either Shosuro (whose trait reads, "Experienced Ninja Shapeshifter") or the Ninja Shapeshifter. [ZF, 10 April 2003]"
  Please explain beccause Shosuro require me to overlay her on a scorpion personality and there are not.
  A: Well, it starts with the misconception that Shosuro requires you to overlay her on a Scorpion Clan personality. Shosuro says, "May overlay any Scorpion Clan Personality you control."
  Note the word, "May." You can bring Shosuro into play by any other method as normally permitted by other card effects or the rulebook. You can pay Shosuro's Gold Cost and buy her out of the Province just like any other Personality. You can also overlay Shosuro on a less-experienced version of her character, just like any other Experienced Personality. It just so happens that Shosuro has a funny experienced-versions chain that goes: Ninja Shapeshifter - Nonexperienced, Shosuro - Experienced Ninja Shapeshifter, Shosuro - Experienced 7 - Scorpion Clan Thunder. Martin Lund, "Rules for 6 January 2005", 10 Jan 2005
• Q: OK this came up in a game a few nights ago. If Ninja Shapeshifter copies Hida Wukau (Experienced) Ability and uses it on say Hida Kuon does it last until The ninja shapeshifter uses it again or does it fall into the "May remained Bowed" Catagory on PG68?
  A: It falls into the latter category. It ends when the ability disappears. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 1 March 2004", 2 Mar 2004
• Q: 4) Sorry if I missed the initial discussion, but why does Shosuro Technique target the opponent when copying force, but not when copying Chi? I compare this to the ability of Hoshi Eisai experienced, which I have always ruled must target. Furthermore, the rules archive states:
  A card is targeted when some aspect of it is targeted (e.g., when copying a stat on another card). [Extension of Ninja Shapeshifter ruling, JA, 7 October 2002]
  I don't understand then why Shosuro Technique would ever not target the person whose Force or Chi is being copied.
  A: Because of the general method used to determine what ANY targeted action targets: anything that is affected or that must be chosen. I'm trying to apply the rule consistently. Copying the Force as a Battle action requires selecting one Personality out of several. Copying the Chi of the one opponent in a duel does not.
  You are also reading the NSS ruling wrong. It is not about targeting something else, but about BEING targeted. The ruling is that if something like a card's stat, trait, or action is targeted, then so is the whole card. But under the paragraph above, there is no Chi targeting. Jeff Alexander, "post for 22 May 2003", 23 May 2003
• Q: Normally a ninja shapeshifter can not copy an ability of the owners bowed cards for targetting reasons. If I have my Ninja Shapershifter target my Tadaka's Last Wish..can I then copy the abilities of my own bowed cards using the copied ability from the Last Wish?
  A: Sure. Jeff Alexander, "post for 7 Oct. 2002", 8 Oct 2002
• Q: When you attach a Follower with an Honor Requirement to a personality that can legally attach it, if the personality is then dishonored, the Follower remains attached.
  So when a Ninja Shapeshifter or Shosuro Taushui copies someone's Shugenja trait,
  A: Which it can't do, by both errata and later by MRP. The NSS can't copy traits. But if it could... Jeff Alexander, "post for 13 May 2002", 15 May 2002
• Q: Here are a few followup questions to what is already been answered:
  1) The Ninja Shapeshifter (who has copied nothing) and the Naga Warlord are in a duel. Both have a Chi of 2. The NSS challenged with an action card. The Warlord strikes. The Warlord plays Poison Weapon; the NSS is dead. Can the NSS player play Poison Weapon in retaliation (the Warlord, due to Reaction order, had first opportunity to play PW)? Or is the duel over before he can send the Warlord to an equally ignominious fate?
  As soon as either participant dies, the duel ends without resolution. The NSS player cannot respond with his own Poisoned Weapon.
  What about if both personalities have focused? If both of them have over 4 chi with focuses added, can both players play Poisoned Weapon?
  A: Anyone whose Chi + focuses totals 4 or more will not die instantly from one Poisoned Weapon, giving that player a chance to play a Poisoned Weapon of his own. Jeff Alexander, "post for 5 March 2002", 6 Mar 2002
• Q: To All,
  I had a few questions on different subjects. First of all with regards to In Search of the Future -
  1. How does In Search interact with cards like Shosuro Technique and Ninja Shapeshifter since they are "raising force"? Does "raising" and "copying" force equate "force bonus?"
  A: Raising a stat, or copying a value that's higher, both count as bonuses. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 15-16 April 2001", 19 Apr 2001
• Q: Ninja Shapeshifter Inexp / Ninja Shapeshifter Can I use Shapeshifter to copy the Inexperienced ability of Shapeshifter when they are the same person?
  A: No. General ruling: cards cannot copy off themselves. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 18 March 2001", 24 Mar 2001
• Q: 1. Refuge of the Three Sisters and Exile's Road. Exile's Road becomes an exact copy except for name. There can only be one Refuge of the Three Sister in play at any time. Do i follow Exile's Road text to the letter, or do standard (such as Ninja Shapeshifter) copying rules apply. Does Exile's Road now say that there can only be one in play at a time, or can i have one Refuge and 3 Roads all with the ability of Refuge?
  A: You may bring the first Exile's Road into play freely. Its title stays "Exile's Road", so it doesn't violate the Refuge's prohibition against more than one Refuge.
  Furthermore, since the Refuge's prohibition is NOT self- referential -- it doesn't refer only to that one particular Refuge card -- that text does NOT become "Only one Exile's Road may be in play at any time." That means you can keep bringing in more Exile's Roads and copying that Refuge with them. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 7 February 2001", 9 Feb 2001
• Q: 2. Can each Ninja Shapeshifter copy Yoritomo Yukue exp's ability and use it once?
  A: Each can copy it and use it. But due to this ruling:
  ] Only the copied ability, tokens created by it, and effects whose ] durations depend on the originating card (for example, "until this ] card straightens") disappear at the end of the turn. [Rulebook, DW, ] 3/11/97]
  each of the Shapeshifters' effects wear off when they lose the copied ability at the end of the turn. By an even older ruling, though, they also forget they've used it and can re-copy and re-use it again on each of your turns. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 19 January 2001", 23 Jan 2001
• Q: So, first question; let's say we have a ninja shapeshifter with a +2f weapon, and another personality with 5f. The ninja copies the second guy's force. Is the ninja now 5f or 7f (5f+2f)?
  Second question; now ninja shapeshifter has a Tachi. He copies a 6chi personality. Does the ninja now have 5chi, 6chi, or 9chi?
  Edit: for clarification, relevant texts: Tachi +3chi Negate this Personality's Force and Chi bonuses
  Ninja shapeshifter 2f 2chi Ninja Battle/Open: Ninja Shapeshifter copies a target Personality's Force, Chi, Personal Honor, or ability that does not copy abilities.
  A: When you "copy" or "set" a stat to a specific number, you give a bonus or penalty equal to the difference between the new number and the old number.
  In example 1, the Shapeshifter is currently 4F, and is copying a 5F personality. Therefore he gets a bonus of +1F, and is 5F.
  In example 2, the Tachi negates the bonus to chi the Shapeshifter would get, so he remains at 5C. Jon Palmer, "2 questions about ninja shapeshifter and weapons", 17 Apr 2015
• Q: how does these two work together?
  let's say i have Ninja Shapeshifter copy Achirin Exp
  does Ninja Shapeshifter forget the copied Once per Game ability of Achirin Exp at the end of my turn? [since that is of course when Ninja Shapeshifter would lose his copied ability]
  thanks
  A: Achirin's ability will not be copied. Alex Jones, "Copied Abilities and Once per Game", 8 Jun 2012
• Q: Can Shosuro (Experienced 7 Thunder) overlay the Ninja Shapeshifter or Shosuro (Experienced Ninja Shapeshifter)?
  A: Archive, General, Experienced - even lists that example. Yes. Zen Faulkes, "overlaing thunders and actions", 21 Feb 2005