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Isao, Enlightened Bushi
Legendary Creature — Human Samurai
This spell can't be countered. Bushido 2 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.) {2}: Regenerate target Samurai.
2 / 1
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“Uncounterable Samurai lord with bushido rewards blocking and resilience.”
Midrange
Beginner
Combat damage, Tokens swarm
Tribal, Voltron, Counters
Strategy
Isao, Enlightened Bushi is a resilient green creature that turns combat into a defensive puzzle for your opponents. With an uncounterable entrance and bushido 2, Isao rewards you for blocking—every time it trades blows, it becomes a 4/3 wall. The regeneration mode keeps your Samurai alive through spot removal, making Isao a tough anchor for go-wide Samurai strategies. Your game plan is to build a Samurai army, use Isao's evasion and toughness to stall the board, then pivot to damage once you've assembled enough creatures. The deck wins through grinding out combat advantages and swinging with an army of equipped or pumped Samurai.
This isn't a flashy combo deck—it's about synergies between Samurai lords, cheap removal, and equipment that rewards blocking. Cards like Konda, Lord of Eiganjo and Yosei, the Morning Star pump your team, while equipment like Sword of Kaldra or Umezawa's Jitte turn Isao into a serious threat. Green's ramp and mana dorks get you online quickly, and the bushido mechanic means even small Samurai become relevant blockers. You'll often find yourself in a grindy midrange game where board presence and evasion matter more than raw power.
Strategy generated by Tapped Decks AI. Not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.
Key Synergies
Budget Build
Skip expensive cards like Kaldra Compleat; instead run cheap Samurai lords (Konda, Yosei), basic equipment (Basilisk Collar, Godo's Chain), and green staples like Cultivate and Llanowar Elves for a solid budget version.
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Inclusion = % of Isao, Enlightened Bushi decks running this card. +lift = percentage-point boost over the format average.
Community Decks
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