MtG: 15 Best Kamigawa Neon Dynasty Cards for Standard

The first new Magic: The Gathering set of 2022 is the returning Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty. Just like the very first Kamigawa set, this one focuses on Ninja and Samurai creature types, and adds a ton of enchantments and artifacts.

The new set utilizes heavily the Vehicle artifacts that may become a huge part of the upcoming season. Wizards of the Coast also introduced the Mechs, special creatures that are designed in mind with the Vehicle synergies.

On top of that, the set introduces a new cycle of legendary lands that have a huge potential in all formats. But this guide focuses mainly on standard, listing all the top 15 MtG cards from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.

The Wandering Emperor

Here is an example of a very dangerous planeswalker, simply due to the fact that it has Flash and an exile ability. You can also instantly improve the stats of your blocker, or simply use it as a combat trick with the first and second active abilities.

Rarely do we see that all planeswalker abilities can benefit the game, but The Wandering Emperor clearly has the chance to become a real meta staple. You will see it in various white decks, both midrange and control, so don't sleep on it.

Lion Sash

This card has been compared heavily to Scavenging Ooze and understandably so. The effects are very similar except that Lion Sash doesn't generate any benefit from exiling non-permanent cards.

It is still a great card that can protect itself using the Reconfigure ability and attaching itself to another creature.

Lion Sash will be excellent against decks that are heavy on creatures, especially small ones, as there is going to be a lot of feeding and growing happening in that case.

Mechtitan Core

The activation cost on Mechtitan Core is quite steep at 5 mana, including the need to sacrifice other artifacts. The benefit is actually totally worth it, as you get an immensely powerful creature, you protect your other artifacts, and they come back in case your 10/10 token blows up.

The best part is that the token has Lifelink, which requires only one hit to really get back into the game. This card can be a real game savior, so be patient with it, and the results will amaze you.

Otawara, Soaring City

The new cycle of legendary lands from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty is truly awesome. They are highly useful in a variety of archetypes, and Otawara, Soaring City looks to be one of the best in the bunch.

The Channel ability is incredible, which allows you to remove almost any permanent type of card from the board, and protect your own when its needed. The card even allows you to reduce the cost of this ability, which isn't that necessary, when you're looking for a way to defend yourself.

Kaito Shizuki

The new Kaito planeswalker is clearly going to see play only in one type of deck, and that is Dimir Ninjas. But it will be the anchor of that archetype, and everyone will want it in at least a couple of copies.

The fact that it makes an unblockable creature opens up so many possibilities for pumping and attacking. Then, you can draw a card, and create another unblockable token, which will surely make your opponents salty.

Boseiju, Who Endures

Boseiju is another fantastic legendary land from the new cycle, and this one is an excellent removal tool for artifacts, enchantments, and lands. Since it is legendary, players probably will not include too many copies of it in their main lists, but two should be the best number in most cases.

Many Magic: The Gathering players consider it to be the best land in standard right now, so it's no wonder that it's getting such high traction from the community.

Weaver of Harmony

An enchantment lord with an ability to copy other effects is unusually powerful for a 2-mana card that is not even legendary.

What makes it really strong is the ability to copy Saga chapters, effectively turning it into another copy of such staples like Binding of the Old Gods, Harald Unites the Elves, Waking the Trolls and others.

The lord effect is also very useful, especially in a set such as Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, which is so heavy on enchantment creatures.

Disruption Protocol

Cheap counterspells are always going to be popular no matter what. This one requires you to tap an artifact, which is not a problem at all, but then you can cancel any type of spell you wish.

There are plenty of vehicle artifacts in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, so bringing this down to two blue mana won't be much of a hassle. This will also find place in the Ninja tribal decks that will want to counter bigger threats later on in the match-up for 3 mana.

You Are Already Dead

Taking into account that this card costs only 1 mana, draws you a card, and is an instant spell makes it one of the best, if not the best, common cards in the entire Kamigawa set.

This will be played in all black aggro decks in standard simply due to the cheapness of it. This will be especially useful in Ninja tribal lists that will want an effective cantrip in multiples.

Rabbit Battery

A creature and an equipment that has Haste and gives one? Excellent!

It also costs only 1 mana, which is again fantastic for aggressive red decks that want to deal as much damage early on as possible.

Technically, if this card stays on board, any of your creature coming into play will have Haste. That's why playing it as equipment is much more beneficial than the creature.

It also makes the Boros Equipment deck much more playable, especially after the recent standard rotation.

Reinforced Ronin

A repeatable Shock effect on a creature with an ability to cycle itself is a great deal for just 1 mana. This would be a great companion to Rabbit Battery in red aggro decks.

This can also repeatedly trigger artifact synergies, which can be a nice way of utilizing the return effect.

Reinforced Ronin plays out like Shatterskull Charger from Zendikar Rising, but is a lot cheaper. Both could be played in the same deck for some relevant aggro synergies.

Reality Heist

Vehicle archetypes will have a blast playing with Reality Heist, especially if you find ways to generate treasure tokens. The way it works is that you can count the tokens for paying the colorless mana, and then sacrifice them to pay for the colored mana.

It also synergizes with blood tokens from the Innistrad sets, making it really easy to reduce the cost on Reality Heist. In either of those cases, this card will find its place in all "artifacts matter" lists this season.

Spell Pierce

The infamous Spell Pierce is back in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty!

The last reprint could be seen in the Ixalan, and now it's getting around once again to the joy of all blue tempo players. Since there are going to be plenty of tempo decks, involving Ninjas and Samurais, this little spell will be of great value to many of them.

Players can still use Jwari Disruption, but Spell Pierce cost only 1 mana and taxes opponents for 2 mana, which is a much better deal.

Containment Construct

This artifact is very similar in effect to Conspiracy Theorist from Strixhaven set. But it's also colorless, which makes it a great addition in almost any deck that wants cheap card advantage.

It obviously synergizes perfectly with the Channel mechanic, which triggers the discard effect, and lets you recast the same card from the graveyard.

The only drawback of Containment Construct is the low toughness, which makes it really easy to remove, if left unprotected.

Moonsnare Prototype

A cheap mana producer that is hard to remove and taps both artifacts and creatures is simply fantastic.

Also, don't sleep on the Channel removal effect, which can be a legit way out in many different situations, including game saving ones, when you're being attacked by a lethal creature.

Moonsnare Prototype is simply another great example of excellent common card design in this new set.

Those are the best 15 cards in MtG's Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty set. In addition to this list of the best Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty cards for standard, be sure to check out our other MtG guides and card lists here.