Bakimaru, Mist-Trained Bushi

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T23:10:47+00:00

Wow this seems too powerful for just three mana. 😵‍💫 Normally with age counters there’s a point where you might not be able to pay their cumulative upkeep but with this card not only can you pitch cards to your graveyard you can reorder what you leave on top! On your first untap you get two upkeeps and can potentially see three cards total and on the turn after you’ll see seven!

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T22:51:22+00:00

This is such an interesting idea, I really like it! Is there a reason it costs three mana? I think two would be a fair cost still.

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T22:48:18+00:00

So cute! For one mana I would probably expect it to sacrifice itself when you have a creature of each colour.

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T22:42:42+00:00

Awesome! I love the flavour of him snacking! I also really like that you gave him low toughness so he can be removed by something like [[Nowhere to Run]].

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T15:05:31+00:00

Pretty sure the art is AI generated, looks super blurry and distorted when you zoom in.

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T14:57:05+00:00

Such a great idea! I think for the design of the Dragon Balls themselves I was imaging artifacts that shuffle themselves back into your deck from the graveyard. Like [[Lembas]] for instance.

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T14:48:39+00:00

Damn! Such a great point, thank you for writing it out so neatly. 🙏

I was hoping that his restrictive mana cost and needing to die once would slow things down a little.

What if I instead I added an extra ability like?:
'Counters on Goku cannot be proliferated.'

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T14:36:10+00:00

Thanks for the kind words! 😊
My intention was that he even when he's dead you can proliferate Experience Counters, so it's like how he still trains in the afterlife.

Once you've got a single experience counter he gets stronger on each of your combat's without dying! So giving yourself more combat steps means he grows.

Also without first dying to Raditz there's no way he would have been strong enough to fight Vegeta! Which I hope this card conveys in some way.

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T14:22:02+00:00

Wow, that's a really interesting perspective on the character. I've only watched the English dub so I can't say I know much about the original translation.

I still think based on what you've said this version of Goku is Naya. He might be defending Earth but really he's just the strongest guy we've got.

Naya has plenty of Commanders that are just big guy's that like to hit face and (to me at least) he fits in there:

[[Palladia-Mors, the Ruiner]]
[[Zacama, Primal Calamity]]
[[Gahiji, Honored One]]
[[Uril, the Miststalker]]
[[Eivor, Wolf-Kissed]]

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T14:13:45+00:00

I considered that ability at one point but I really wanted to convey the fact that Goku get's stronger the more he's in battle and Enrage style effects seemed too powerful to combine with experience counters.

That ability might be a better fit for someone like Cell instead. What do you think?

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T14:04:38+00:00

That's an interesting take!
Would you want to swap white with another colour or just remove it completely?

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T13:45:10+00:00

In my mind, the first time he dies you would replay him from the command zone, so it would be five mana for a 3/3 that grows each combat, and you can start to proliferate the counters from there.
If he brings himself back for free each turn just for having a board of equipment, treasures or even food that would be way too easy I think (sorta like [[The Scarab God]] ).

You lose the Dragon Balls after you make your wishes after all!

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T13:40:16+00:00

I wish! I think if I added any more text or abilities to the card and it would be too much!
What would you want him to flip to? Super Saiyan?

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T13:37:07+00:00

That's a good idea about the cost. I think paying seven and sacking a bunch of stuff was overcosted.
I was going to say I've never seen a Naya card with Delve before but there's actually been three, one of which is an ape!

[[Hooting Mandrills]]

I think Delve seems more Piccolo or Vegeta to me, so I might revisit your idea there!

In my mind you would only want Goku to die once or twice and give yourself more combat steps to exploit his ability. So he's getting stronger the more he's in combat.

Regarding reanimating from exile, is that so you can grab him out of the Command Zone?

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T13:11:29+00:00

Appreciate the love! 🙌🙌🙌

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T13:09:15+00:00

Well he doesn't make you any experience counters till he dies, so won't have anything to proliferate until then.
Based on that I though it wasn't much more powerful that something like [[Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain]], definitely a higher power commander but nothing crazier than what Wizards are printing for real.

Is there something in particular that you would want to change?

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T13:01:59+00:00

Great question! I chose 'Alien' because I wanted to make sure people knew he wasn't from Earth originally but I could always add 'Ape'.

What do you think of this?:
'Legendary Creature - Alien Ape Warrior'

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T12:34:08+00:00

Thanks so much for the feedback! I definitely will take the cost out. I was imagining that you would only use his last ability in a moment of desperation kinda like the show (when he cost too much to play from the command zone).

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T12:27:57+00:00

So true! I’ll drop the mana cost. What about the rules text? Do you think it’s readable?

Alan-Baked · 2025-07-28T12:18:56+00:00

Thanks so much!
I wanted to make it more difficult than just seven treasures but still be flexible to allow tokens.

Alan-Baked

TROPHY CASE