Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery IncarnateHow it works & interactions with other cards

Gathering Ki and Flipping

Cunning Bandit tracks your magical activity through ki counters. Each time you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, a triggered ability allows you to put a ki counter on it. Unlike many other flip cards, the transformation happens at the beginning of the end step if the Bandit has two or more counters. Note that the flip is optional; you can choose to keep it as a Bandit if you want to accumulate more counters before transforming into Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate.

Azamuki's Treachery

Once flipped into Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate, the creature becomes a Legendary Spirit and gains a powerful activated ability. By removing a ki counter, you can take control of any target creature until the end of the turn. Because this is an activated ability, you can use it multiple times in a single turn as long as you have the counters to pay the cost, effectively dismantling your opponent's board state during combat or for a final push.

Timing and State

It is important to remember that flipping a card does not make it a new object. Any counters remaining on Cunning Bandit stay on Azamuki, and its tapped/untapped status remains the same. The check for flipping occurs only at the beginning of the end step. If you cast your second Spirit spell during an end step, you will have to wait until the next player's end step for the flip trigger to occur.

Interaction examples

Double the Discipline

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Human' chosen, casting a Spirit spell will cause Cunning Bandit's ki ability to trigger twice. This allows you to reach the required two counters for flipping with just a single spell. Once flipped into Azamuki, choosing 'Spirit' for the Throne would not double the activation of stealing a creature, as that is an activated ability, not a triggered one.

Stealing Utility

Solemn Simulacrum

You can remove a ki counter from Azamuki to take control of an opponent's Solemn Simulacrum. While you control it, you can attack with it or use it as a blocker. If the Simulacrum dies while under your control, you (the controller) will be the one who gets to draw a card from its triggered ability, even though you do not own the card.