Sakaguchi’s relationship with her nest of snakes is different to the rest of the clan. The snakes are ammunition, projectiles to be expended and forgotten. Most die after being released from her serpentine bow. This callous act doesn’t seem to diminish their affection for Sakaguchi. But are they real snakes? Or some manifestation of Orochi’s wicked power? Only Sakaguchi has the answers to this.The Ophidian Arrow Ki Feat gives an incredible array of options. As well as providing a superb archer, the ability to add more models to your warband for no Rice Cost and send them hurling across the battlefield is invaluable.

The Hoshi family, while so entwined with the Minimoto as to be near indistinguishable, maintain their own Ashigaru and those living higher up the Iron Mountains are close to the Kami and Spirits of the mountains. The Hoshi have access to Minimoto blacksmiths and all the benefits this bestows upon their weapons and armour. The Ashigaru’s connection to the spiritual and the cold of the peaks can cause their enemies to freeze and slow while they wield their Yari to trip opponents before finishing them off.

It is the aspiration of all the Hoshi’s Ashigaru to walk the mountain peaks unhampered. When they can do this and not be killed by the freezing temperatures, bears or Kami, the Ashigaru ascend to the extremes to guard the Hoshi Family, rarely descending again.

Like most Miniomoto Ashigaru, these new troops from the Hoshi family offer good Armour, Defence from opposed Ki and extra benefits for holding a point alone, including Aware to prevent any surprises.

Many oni thirst for the favour of a kijo, and Tsuta knows how to drive her brethren to seek more extraordinary acts of violence and glory. As they throw themselves into battle, even if they fall, the oni grow stronger. Each battle awakens memories that have been dormant for an age, the spirits of oni who have gone before. Tsuta bears proof of the cunning of her past lives, wielding weapons that showed their worth generations ago. She throws heavy balls covered in strong spikes, lodging them in her foe’s armour and weighing them down long enough for her kin to close the distance and kill them. These weapons come from when the onis’ opponents -or they- wore armour. But no matter their heritage, they work well in Jwar against samurai and their armoured retinues.

If your warband doesn’t need these powerful ranged attacks combined with robust control when used on the right target, Tsuta’s Idolise Ki Feat is still a good enough reason to take her to war!

Community and protection are values held dear by the villagers of Jwar, as they are stronger together rather than apart. Kaiyō & Mangetsu represent these stalwart beliefs and the concepts of life, death, salvation or endless torment. They appear as rippling reflections in bodies of water such as ponds, pools, wells and the like. They are a duality spirit, two halves of a whole existing in harmony, just like the temples and the villages of Ro-Kan exist together — a perfect symbol of their reliance on each other.

Bastions of the Mountain players will eagerly add these kami to their warbands. This duo offer unmatched Ki generation and manipulation in a Villager list at the cost of their fragility. In addition, Virtue and Healing are a crucial part of Villager Warbands.

Though hailing from a noble house, Tatsuo always felt destined for the priesthood, and so she faithfully served her local Michi shrine, rising through the ranks with age. She felt she belonged there, happy in her work, hoping to remain there for the rest of her days. But all that changed when she saw a dragon...whether she was asleep and dreaming or it was real, Tatsuo does not know, but regardless she followed as fast as her feet allowed despite its mighty wings. Her journey, possibly real, possibly imagined, took her through parts of Jwar she never knew existed until, eventually, the dragon landed outside the Temple of the Heavenly Dragon. She immediately made the connection between the two and, bowing to the magnificent sentinel, swore her solemn service to it and those of the temple. That secretive sect welcomed her arrival revealing new mysteries to her.

Over time she far exceeded her previous abilities and can now summon the greatest of Takashi Ancestors to aid the clan in its hour of need. We look forward to players finding many uses for Tatsuo, as she has massive potential. Idolise is a remarkable feat, but the Ancestral Guidance Ki Feat is sure to find uses, as its powerful effects can turn the course of a game. On top of this, with the ability to both provide Virtue Tokens and add several more Virtue Effects, she is a toolbox with an array of benefits to give to the right model at the right time.

The Tribe of the Fallen Gods worship the Tengu from deep within the earth; their only contact with the gods is when one falls to the ground at the end of their long life. At this juncture, they show their affection and reverence differently from all the other tribes that dwell in or around the snow-capped mountains. The tribe will waste nothing, and in using every part of the Tengu, their god continues to help and protect the tribe. Hotene, in particular, carries a talisman from a fallen Tengu, protecting against all dangers.

Hotene is the second of the new tribe, and their abilities are already adding to White Mesa players (as well as those using the Ronin Themes), and Hotene’s Immune trait will help against most opponents. The Binding Shadows Ki Feat can help with the scenario and positioning, adding to the factions' supremacy. On top of this, Hotene is a good melee fighter with Reach and two handy Special Abilities.

The ronin of the Shiho remain a thorn in the Takashis' side. Without a fixed army the Takashi have found it almost impossible to hunt down and destroy the remaining rebels in the field, these cowed dogs hide in the woods and hills of the Dragon's lands. The solution has been somewhat answered in the excellent tracking and scouting skills of Atsushi, a former Satou family retainer now sworn to the Takashi. With his faithful hound Shinobu, rooting out those hiding in the dark, eager to savage any at the utterance of a single word from his master.

Blister contains two miniatures, supplied with 30mm bases and full colour profile cards.

Blister contains one miniature supplied with a 30mm base and full colour profile card.

This ‘lobstrosity’ has been Blessed by the Ocean and is known as the Killer Claw among his shipmates. With a form more suited to life at sea, specifically a pirate's life at sea, with his armoured frame, snapping claws and great strength, Renishi can hold a flank (Or a Deck) against all foes. Any who dare attack him are often left blooded and at the mercy of the sharks, the Jung's other fearsome sailors.

The typhoon season around Jwar produces startling and destructive weather, with high winds destroying all in its path. Whole villages and entire fleets have been known to disappear when these tempests prowl the land and sea. The storms draw their power and fury from the ocean, eventually dying out the further they travel inland, but even this brief time of landfall is one of terror and despair.

Similar to the storm this Kami embodies, its time here will be short. Animists from the Temple of Ro-Kan usually summon this Kami to teach the unsui the ways of air, but it can also be used for its destructive nature against attacking enemies. It can scatter enemy warbands to the four winds leaving a well-orchestrated attack or ambush out of position and in complete disarray.

Only some mercenaries last long unless they have prodigious skills to offer. Atsunobu has excellent swordsmanship skills and is a veteran of many battles, fighting to the bitter end regardless of the enemy. The Shiho, shoring up an army lacking in experienced fighters, are hiring sellswords and ronin from beyond Jwar, paying them with purloined Takashi Silvermoons so fresh they are still dripping in blood.

Atsonubo cares not about whence the coins come, be it Takashi, borrowed from the Silvermoon Trade Syndicate, or, as some of the rumours suggest, donated to the Shiho by the Syndicate to effect a change in the way of things…

Kinshi and Rokan players have been waiting a long time for this model. Indeed, it was first written in 2015! Kinshi Players will know it has many synergies with various Kinshi models, including

replacing the Husk when killed. It can also accelerate the collection of Void Counters.

In a Rokan Warband, it helps keep Monks topped up on Ki. For both Factions, the Kami can steal Ki Tokens from the enemy, hampering their ability to use their abilities. Doing this at both melee and ranged attacks gives this Kami many options and is a must-buy for Righteous Warriors players.

Despite his inexperience, he is a Buto of unquestionable worth. Even though he has a confident presence and intimidation factor, his apprenticeship with Brother Zandaka has raised eyebrows among the Three Moons hierarchy of the Silvermoon Trade Syndicate. When seen together, most assume Zandaka to be the negotiator and Lama’a the muscle; actually, Lama’a is often just the distraction, and Brother Zendaka is the threat. We all know just how much the Silvermoon loves threat and distraction!  Lama’a has the power to wield his fearsome Sasumata alongside his Jumo training to devastating effect while being able to soak up punishment that would kill a rhino in the fighting pits of Jima.

Struck down by a young and inexperienced Takashi ashigaru during the war against the Shiho, this spectral maiden now haunts the swamps of Sagoya wailing and lamenting her and her family's untimely deaths. Not even death has set her free from her earthly pain and suffering, and so she does everything in her fell power to bring wrack and ruin to all who are unfortunate to encounter her. This ghost now haunts a Yokai Maiden feeding on fear and haunting the places where it is most felt as if she were mysteriously drawn to it. She is as cursed as the city from which she emanates.

To evade the divine laws is to summon the wrath of the Kitsune themselves. Follow the path of your destiny, the one set out for you before you were even born, lest the Kitsune hunt you down for your transgressions against nature inviolate. The Kitsune are both Judge and Executioner against the worlds of the kami, the living and the dead. To stray from the path, even just a little, could mean death but fear not, for if there is retribution to the guilty, there is restitution to the innocent; all that matters is what you choose to be.

Box contains nine miniatures supplied with bases and twenty one full colour cards.

Mamushi’s ophidian snake form is unique in Jwar in that he gives a warning rattle from his tail before he strikes, and his colours are unlike anything seen before. The Ito considers this a great omen demonstrating that Orochi’s power has extended beyond the Empire, incorporating far-away forms. They always believed Orochi’s power was vast and her reach long, and this new type of warrior now proves what their faith has long sustained. Ito Mamushi is blessed, a favourite of both the Temple and the Shisai and is accorded the requisite formalities. Traditionally the Ito sneer at using the Yari as a weapon, but Mamushi’s lethality and skill with it are deadly enough that he remains unchallenged in that regard.

Mamushi offers Ito players a new Samurai, especially welcome in The Blessed theme. The ability to automatically apply Frightened Markers gives easy access to a new debuff and his 4 Melee and Feint (1) makes him a great combatant. He is self-sufficient, starting with an additional 2 Ki tokens, so he needs little or no support to hold a point.

Just as the judges can only deliver two verdicts, innocent or guilty, Hōfuku dispenses two forms of justice. He represents retribution against the guilty and restitution towards the innocent. While his Armour, Feint, Parry and the powerful Adept Trait allow Hōfuku to work alone, he is undoubtedly best when paired with Kuoto.

She can dispense Control Markers, which enable the Restitution Ki Feat, and also uses Death Sentence Markers, thus making Hōfuku a top-tier melee combatant with his Vengeance Trait. The Execution side of his weapon is a tremendous finishing weapon; once you wound an opponent, it should be able to get maximum damage for your Success Level and finally kill those intractable foes.

Very few kitsune master the requisite discipline and aptitude to become a Queen’s guard. Only the very best among already exemplary warriors can fulfil this role. Their stone-faced stoicism and sheer wrath in battle make them some of the empire’s most fearsome combatants. They believe in death before disrepute and will gladly lay down their lives supporting their Queen and everything she stands for. Senshi is the epitome of this. Fearsome, loyal, lightning-quick on the battlefield with an annoying habit of being precisely where he needs to be while the enemy prays hard he will appear elsewhere.

Kitsune and Temple of Ro-Kan players always like to see the Vitality Ki Feat giving extra activations when needed. Senshi’s array of Traits - including Adept and showing combat results other models cannot achieve - make him good on his own. His unprecedented Bodyguard range of 6” is not just a defensive tool but an excellent positioning option. The Kitsune are a fast, early-game warband, with the Sublime Daisho offering a late-game boost where needed. This could prove invaluable.

The samurai who guard the Heavenly Dragon Shrine are veterans that must have defeated at least one enemy samurai in a duel and fought in a major battle for the Takashi clan. Most, if not all, have slain several samurai over the years and fought cheek-by-jowl in most of the clan’s most recent battles. To think that this posting is mainly ceremonial would be a mistake, and to hint that it is for retirement is even worse! These samurai have sworn an oath to die defending the shrine and the Michi priests that dwell within its hallowed walls.

Age has not dulled their senses or skills, having forgotten most of what young samurai still grapple with learning. They are part of the shrine now and have a connection to their ancestors and the dragons that few outside the shrine could understand. While they rarely leave the Shrine, the recent daimyo’s death has meant that certain priesthood members must travel Jwar, spreading the unfortunate news to hearths and homes of both rich and poor ensuring the balance remains intact. These veteran samurai must guard them against any that would do them harm.

Ryu players can expect a few of these models to offer a different play style for their samurai. The more you include in a warband, the more options you have for Channel, Believer and Virtue effects.

Bakemono are plentiful and expendable, and it’s The Gardener’s role to enhance these chittering beasts into furious war machines that go berserk in battle, seeing everything through a fungus-infused red mist. Mushrooms and Bakemono go claw in claw. Deep within the earth’s bowels, The Gardener, over countless years - and countless bakemono - has perfected the ratio of Red Claws to feed a bakemono that will result in the savagery of Foon Gus and not the usual tongue-extending death.

Foon Gus is so vile that even his bakemono brethren give him a wide berth, which is appropriate as he does not play well with others. Only through his sheer anger and Red Claw-fueled strength and savagery and what he does to their foes is he tolerated at all.

Like all bakemono, Foon Gus is cheap enough in Rice to be expendable; he can do some real damage while he’s around. In particular, he can be a great finishing model, charging into an exhausted, outnumbered enemy model. With the charge bonus to damage (Remember the Banzai! Trait!) and Strong, he can be a model to put the final boot into an enemy and kill them after some setup.