Kusari-Gama

Kusari-Gama was released in 2004 as part of the Champions of Kamigawa expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set was heavily influenced by Japanese folklore and mythology, shifting the game's aesthetic away from Western high fantasy toward a distinct Eastern-inspired atmosphere. This artifact represents a specific historical weapon, the kusarigama, a chain-and-sickle tool utilized by samurai and ninja, rendered here as an equipment card that grants combat versatility.

The card's illustration was provided by artist Ron Spencer, known for his long-standing contribution to the game’s early visual identity. Spencer employed a dynamic, high-contrast style intended to emphasize the weapon's lethal range and erratic movement in combat. While the card is often remembered for its unique triggered ability that punishes blocking creatures, it is considered a classic example of the 'Equipment' mechanic introduced in the earlier Mirrodin block, adapted to fit the thematic constraints of the Kamigawa plane.