DECK PREVIEW
Explore the final composition of BUSHIDŌ's cards.
Samurai
SAMURAI
The discipline of the warrior
For centuries, the samurai held a decisive place in Japan's history, linking the practice of arms with rigorous personal discipline.
Strategy, loyalty and self-mastery shaped a warrior tradition whose influence extended far beyond the battlefield.
BUSHIDŌSAMURAI
Self-mastery
For centuries, the samurai was above all a warrior.
But during periods of greater stability, many broadened their education beyond warfare. They wrote, studied, and cultivated other arts.
Over time, the discipline that had governed combat extended into other areas of life as well.
BUSHIDŌSAMURAI
Katana
He carried it with him, but he was not to act in haste.
The sword obeyed the same discipline as the man.
To draw it was already a decision.
THE GAME
BUSHIDŌ
A samurai could break an oath, but he could not escape the consequences of betrayal.
THE DECK
The game is built from 48 cards: 4 Mandates, 6 Conflicts, 12 Oaths, 24 Strength cards —6 of them special— and 2 Events. Each player pursues a secret Mandate while deciding whom to support, when to swear loyalty, and when to betray it.
THE CLANS
The four clans form a fixed cycle. Each player’s Mandate makes one Principal, one Ally, one Rival and the fourth Neutral.
Fan
Four-petal flower
Bear claw
Three feathers
MANDATES
Each Mandate secretly establishes what every clan means to you: Principal, Ally, Rival or Neutral. That hierarchy determines your final objective.
Fan
Four-petal flower
Bear claw
Three feathers
CONFLICTS
Each Conflict pits two clans against one another. Across the six cards, every possible pairing appears once.
Fan / Four-petal flower
Fan / Bear claw
Fan / Three feathers
Four-petal flower / Bear claw
Four-petal flower / Three feathers
Bear claw / Three feathers
OATHS
The player who contributes most to the winning side may swear an Oath to its clan. Loyalty strengthens that support; betrayal allows a change of sides, but leaves dishonour that must be restored.
Fan
×3
Four-petal flower
×3
Bear claw
×3
Three feathers
×3
STRENGTH
Strength is committed secretly to each Conflict and revealed simultaneously. Eighteen cards are normal; the remaining six have special abilities.
Gusoku
×2
Jinbaori
×2
Kabuto
×2
Menpō
×2
Mounted samurai
×2
Samurai with katana
×2
Samurai with yari
×2
Samurai with yumi
×2
Sashimono
×2
SPECIAL CARDS
Six Strength cards represent historical episodes. When revealed, they may be used for their Strength value or for their special ability, never both.
Okehazama
Nagashino
Sekigahara
Osaka
The 47 rōnin
Shiroyama
EVENTS
Events are played alongside Strength and alter the decisions or resolution of a Conflict.
Assembly
At the end of the Conflict, the player who played it must replace one active Oath with another valid Oath; rivals may do the same.
Shogun’s Edict
During that Conflict, no player may betray an active Oath.
BUSHIDŌ takes only a few minutes to learn, but every game opens new ways to fulfil your Mandate.
RULES · VERSION 1.0
Read the complete rules online or download the manual to keep it.