Sokenzan Renegade is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Bushido 1 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) At the beginning of your upkeep, if a player has more cards in hand than each other player, the player who has the most cards in hand gains control of this creature.
Complete guide
Sokenzan Renegade is a unique Mercenary from the Saviors of Kamigawa set that tests your ability to maintain card advantage. While it offers efficient stats for its cost, its loyalty is as fickle as your hand size compared to your opponents. Managing your resources is key to keeping this Ogre Samurai on your side of the battlefield.
A Shift in Loyalty
Sokenzan Renegade features two distinct abilities: Bushido 1 and a conditional control-change trigger. Bushido 1 ensures it becomes a 3/3 whenever it engages in combat, making it a formidable blocker or attacker. However, its second ability is a state-based trigger that checks at the beginning of your upkeep to see if one player holds a clear lead in hand size.
The Upkeep Check
At the start of your upkeep, the game checks the number of cards in every player's hand. For the ability to trigger, one player must have more cards than every other player individually. If there is a tie for the most cards, the ability does not trigger at all. If it does trigger and a player has the most cards, that player gains control of Sokenzan Renegade as the ability resolves.
Common Mistakes
The most frequent error involves ties. If you and an opponent both have five cards in hand, the 'if' clause is not satisfied, and the Renegade stays where it is. Furthermore, the condition is checked both when the ability triggers and when it resolves. If the hand sizes change in response to the trigger such that there is now a tie, the ability will do nothing upon resolution.
Strategic Deployment
Play Sokenzan Renegade when you are confident you can maintain the largest hand or when you can force a tie to prevent it from moving. Because it triggers specifically at the start of your upkeep, you have the advantage of knowing exactly who will control it before you commit to your main phase actions.
Interaction examples
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Samurai', Sokenzan Renegade's upkeep ability triggers twice. If an opponent has the most cards, the first trigger gives them control of the Renegade. Since the Renegade is no longer under your control when the second trigger tries to resolve, that second trigger will fail to do anything because the 'you' in the ability refers to the player who controlled it when it triggered.
Solemn SimulacrumSuppose your opponent has 4 cards and you have 3. At the start of your upkeep, Sokenzan Renegade's ability triggers. If you have a way to sacrifice Solemn Simulacrum in response (such as to another card's ability), its death trigger allows you to draw a card. If this results in a tie where both you and your opponent have 4 cards, the Renegade's ability will check the condition again upon resolution, see the tie, and the Renegade will remain under your control.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Sokenzan Renegade
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If multiple players are tied for the most cards in hand, either when Sokenzan Renegade’s ability triggers or as it resolves, the ability does nothing.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Sokenzan Renegade
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