L5R: Crab is on the Menu
Take a look at how the Crab Clan will handle in the upcoming L5R LCG.
The Crab are the Wall of Rokugan. Their clan shelters the Emerald Empire from the onslaught of monsters from the Shadowlands. From Oni. From the Undead. Theirs is a Clan of Duty and Courage and Sacrifice. It is they alone who defend the massive Kaiu Wall in the South, and there the fate of the Empire is decided day by day, held in the hands of these stalwart defenders.
via FFG
Today we have a look at how the Crab Clan handles Their themes are courage, duty, and sacrifice, as we mentioned above. And nowhere is this more exemplified than in their signature card (well, one of them), the Way of the Crab, which allows you to sacrifice a character in order to force your opponent to sacrifice a character themselves.
As you can see from the artwork, there’s this idea of brutality and resilience that endures. As you might expect from the Clan that’s tasked with defending the Wall that holds out the monsters, they are expert defenders. The embodiment of inhuman reserves of strength–here we have a look at one of my favorite cards from the preview set: The Mountain Does Not Fall. Even just typing out the name gives me a little chill and immediately grounds me in the setting. But then it’s also a phenomenal card to play.
A character does not Bow when defending. Leaving them free to defend again–or better still, to counterattack. This is the strength of the Crab (who, while not as good as Mantis Clan, still helped allow for the rise of Mantis Clan [best clan], so we must give credit where credit is due). Actually there’s a lot that’s the strength of the Crab. With multiple characters having some sort of sacrifice mechanic and others equipped with the means to get characters in play, a canny Crab player should have no trouble setting the tempo of the fight.
Unsurprisingly, military skill runs high in the Crab. They have a lot of synergies built in to the sacrifice mechanic–and more still which synergize with defense. If you want to break a Crab province, you’d best come prepared. Whether the provinces themselves lending aid to defenders, as Shiro Nishiyama does:
Or providing rewards when successfully defending, such as those gained from the Province “Defend the Wal,.” which lets you get the effects of one of the five rings, even though you’re not attacking. Again, this can help swing the momentum of the game in your favor.
And with characters like the steadfast Hida Toinonatsu and Hiruma Yojimbo ready to help protect your provinces, any Crab Clan’s stronghold is going to be an especially tough nut to crack.
And then of course, we have a look at the Clan Champion himself Hida Kasada.
With 0 glory, he doesn’t care about being honored or dishonored. All he needs is his 7 military strength to lord over whichever conflict he becomes a part of–and his ability to cancel an action ability is one more way to control your opponent. And now, hopefully, you understand the Way of the Crab.
Stay tuned for more L5R news as it develops.
