Beastly Mage

#8 N-511 Shino Aburame [Insect Warrior]

And now we're onto #8, and honestly this is why #9 is on the list, that and his best friend Kiba [MBC], but that was an older card, so let's get onto this one, shall we:

T0 HC0 Wind Leaf/Genin/Male/Growth/Mental Power: 1 2/1 0/0 CA: Insect Set 12 rare

Shino is for the most part considered an under stat'd ninja for T0, but honestly, he's pretty solid in my opinion. Mental Power: 1 is pretty useful with Pressure and a few other cards, and insect is...in block, it really doesn't do much for the card. But the main reason this card sees play isn't it stats, so let's check it's effect, shall we:

[Insect Warrior]

When this Ninja is put into play, put 1 Ninja Blade coin (symbolizing an Insect coin) in play with the following "[Power 0/0 (Healthy and Injured status)][Valid: This Ninja cannot be the user of Jutsu cards. This effect cannot be negated.]"

A free ninja is huge, and even with Choji [I] being played, it's still a big advantage. It helps with swarm, defense, and really anything thing else early game, and with growth, you can get this effect off more than once, which is really nice. This card can really help you dominate the early game, or help with a missed drop.

Limited: 5/5 Just perfect if you draft them. Constructed: 5/5 Just perfect no matter what Block: 5/5 They're legal, run them Art: Even a nice art job...this is a really good card/5

Stay tuned for tomorrow, as we unveil one of my fav squads!

Hey everyone, today we have the #8 card of 2009, Shino Insect Warriors.

Now this is a fantastic card. I am actually embarrassed to say that I completely forgot to put this card on the list of top 10 cards of 2009 (not because I consciously decided to. I just completely forgot about it).

Shino's stats are decent at a 2/1, 0/0. However, he is understated compared to other Turn 0's like Sasuke, Naruto, Choji, and Konohamaru. He makes up for this however by having a fantastic effect. When Shino is put into play, you get to put a token into play with 0/0, 0/0 stats. He is essentially 2 ninjas in one card. Keep in mind that the bug coin that he puts into play can attack and block. Basically, Shino helps both tempo/rush decks, by putting an extra ninja into play, and he also helps protect against tempo/rush.

Especially these days, with Shikamaru Unwillingness running around, that bug coin has saved its owners plenty of battle rewards. on the flip side, comboing this card with Shikamaru Unwillingness means you are taking even more battle rewards if you can drop shikamaru on turn 2. Overall, a fantastic card.

Oh, and he makes up one of the two ninjas in the squad from yesterday, so there's even more incentive to run him.

The one word of caution is that Choji Infuriation (the most run Choji these days) completely destroys Shino, so be wary of that.

Pojo's Ranking: #8

My Ranking (If I had remembered him): #6

Constructed: 5/5 <---- One of the best turn 0's in 2009, and ever in the Naruto TCG. Run in many decks, and deservedly so.

Limited: 4.5/5 <---- Understatted compared to other ninjas of the same turn, but putting an extra ninja into play can be very helpful here.

Shino Aburame [Insect Warriors]
Ninja Card
Wind
Leaf/Genin/Male/Growth/Mental Power: 1
Entrance Cost: 0 Hand Cost: 0
Effect: When this Ninja is put into play, put 1 Ninja Blade Coin (symbolizing and Insect Coin) in play with the following: "[Power: 0/0 (Healthy and Injured Status)][Valid: This Ninja cannot be the user of Jutsu cards. This effect cannot be negated.]"
Healthy: 2/1 Injured: 0/0

I hesitate to call this the best 0-drop in Naruto, but it's pretty darn close. On your turn-0 you get essentially drop 2 ninjas into play, giving you a definite tempo advantage if your opponent isn't packing a high power 0-drop like a Sasuke or Chouji. Also, if you look closely, the effect triggers when the ninja is put into play, not deployed, therefore, with the correct setup, you could theoretically have 4 ninjas by your turn 1 for the investment of 3 of your cards (2 Shino and one other ninja). Not only this, but it's one of the few 0-drops that can be relevant late in the game, as getting two ninja for the price of one can be just enough of a push to get by your opponent's defenses or shore up your own for long enough to find a way to get back into a game you should have lost. If you are in wind, you should be running at least 2 of this guy, easily.

The only real gripe with Shino, is the 0/0 in injured status, however as a 0-drop ninja hist stats aren't all that important as the game moves along.

Constructed: 4.5/5
Limited: 5/5 (He's amazing here, where higher powered cards aren't seen as often)

Shino Aburame [Insect Warriors]

All right let’s see what we have in the number #8 slot….

Shino Aburame [Insect Warriors] Review

This guy is arguably the best 0 drop ninja in the game. He even went for $7-$10 when he first came out… more than some supers in its time. Now to the review…

When you put him in play, he puts an insect token in play. This can lead to many strategies such as sending both of them out when your opponent still has only one ninja on the field to net a free battle reward. The insect is a free chump and gives you an early field advantage… heck, he’s even good late game since it gives you two chumps with one ninja. He’s also important for being squaded in yesterday’s card.

Limited: 5/5
Constructed: 4.75/5
Art:3/5