This issue, we bring you two more deck designs, each proven to be winners in tournments. We open with a Phoenix Enlightenment Victory Deck.

This nameless deck designed by Terry Doner was proven under fire when it won a multiplayer tournament in December 1996. Here's how the deck works, in Terry's own words:

"The object of this deck is to get the Rings out as fast as you can. I've only had success with it in multiplayer games. The Ring of Earth is the first priority. Use a Walking the Way if you have to, but get it out if attack decks go after you. If you have the time, go for the Hammer of Earth and help defend someone else's province - then play the Ring of Earth. If things are hectic, then go get the Iron Citadel and cast it. Remember, if you go this route, get all the money you can first (especially the School of Wizardry).

"The Ring of Air is the easiest with this deck. With the innate shugenja abilities flying around this is not a problem.

"The Ring of Water is the hardest. You have to go into a battle and win. This is not easy with a Phoenix deck. That is what the Ambush, Sneak Attack, Night Battle, and Deadly Ground are for. If you are under attack, play Night Battle. Then use Isawa Tomo to move enemy units out of the battle until you have an advantage (maybe use a Shout or two to insure this). Once you have that, play Superior Tactics and a Deadly Ground.

"The Ring of Fire needs the Mantle of Fire to work, unless you have Isawa Tsuke and Kuni Yori out. If your opponent is low on cards in his hand, use Kuni Yori and make him discard. Then, challenge one of his highest Chi Personalities with Isawa Tsuke. You play the one card first that Tsuke is allowed, and your opponent either strikes or goes into fits because he has no cards to play - or no cards that he wants to play.

"The Ring of Void works with either Kuni Yori or just by playing normally. This deck isn't designed to keep cards in your hand.

"The main thing to watch out for is not to play each ring as the chance occurs. The moment your opponents figure out what you're up to they will come after you. Try to play 2 or 3 rings in one turn. Your opponent will know what you're up to but need a turn or two to do anything about it. That means you get one more turn to finish the Enlightenment win."

Phoenix Deck by Terry Doner

3x Silver Mines
3x Corrupied Silver Mines
3x Small Farms
x Plains of Otosan Uchi
3x Jade Works
1x School of Wizardry

Return of Fu Leng
Inheritance
Chrysantheum Festival

3x Isawa Tomo
3x Isawa Osugi
1x Isawa Tsuke (inexp.)
1x Nameless One
3x Kuni Yori
1x Earth Dragon
3x Moshi Wakiza

2x Ambush 2x Block Supply Lines
2x Brash Hero
2x Deadly Ground
2x First Shout
2x Focus
2x Iaijutsu Duel
2x Night Battle
1x Oath of Fealty
3x Refugees
1x Ring of Air
1x Ring of Earth
1x Ring of Fire
1x Ring of Water
1x Ring of Void
2x Second Shout
2x Sneak Attack
2x Superior Tactics
1x Third Shout

1x Iron Citadel of Fu Leng
3x Walking the Way
1x Hammer Of Earth
1x Drum of Water
1x Mantle of Fire
3x Naginata
1x Ancestral Sword of the Phoenix

Next up, we have an interesting Naga deck from Nik Olah

Nik found that this deck performed well in one-on-one tournaments, especially against the notorious Lion Speed Decks.

"Hawks & Falcons & Sanctified Temples are to handle refusing Iaijutsu Challenges and the occasional Breach of Etiquette if I get ahead in honor," writes Nik.

"The Price of War slows down other decks more than mine. I have lots of cheap personalities, and pay the 2 less gold to force them out nearly all the time. The Dragon players I was up against relied on getting the honor for putting personalities into play."

Nik also spiked the deck with the Doom of the Crane and Doom of the Dragon cards since they were the most common Clans in the tournament.

"Early in the game, I have to be more defensive. Late in the game I'm the military powerhouse. I use a pretty big dynasty deck, but I force all my personalities into play, and never pay full cost unless I can't spend the gold on something else.

"With this deck, don't be afraid to discard anyone with a high gold cost early on. Later in the game, you have enough gold to do anything."

Naga Deck by Nik Olah 2x Bushi Dojo
3x Forest
1x Hawks & Falcons
3x Jade Works
3x Market Place
3x Pearl Bed
3x Pearl Divers

3x Ports
1x Sanctified Temple
3x Small Farm
3x Stables
1x Farmlands

1x Plains of Otosan Uchi
1x Doom of the Crane
1x Doom of the Dragon
1x Dragon Sword is Broken
1x Glimpse of the Unicorn
1x The Price of War

3x Balash
1x Bayushi Kachiko
2x Isha
1x Kaiu Kensu
3x Naga Shugenja
3x Naga Warlord
1x Qamar
1x Qarash
1x Ramash
3x Shagara
1x Shahadet
3x Shosuro Taberu
1x Shuten Doji
2x Soshi Bantaro
2x Toku
3x Another Time
3x Arrows from the Woods
3x Block Supply Lines
3x Breach of Etiquette
3x Deadly Crounds
3x Entrapping Terrain
3x Naga Bowmen
3x Naga Bushi
3x Naga Spearmen
1x Armor of Earth
2x Jade Arrow
1x Spear of the Naga
1x Touch of Death
1x Wind Born Speed

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