Legend of the Five Rings

A collectible card game of samurai clans in a fantasy empire based on medieval Japan.

Designers: John Zinser, Dave Williams (II), David Seay, Mark Wootton, Jeff Alexander, Brent Keith, Bryan Reese
Published by: Alderac Entertainment Group
Editions by: Wizards of the Coast, Five Rings Publishing Group

Legend of the Five Rings is a collectible card game from 1995, set in Rokugan, a fantasy empire based loosely on medieval Japan and Japanese myth. What sets it apart from other collectible card games is Clan loyalty. You build your deck around one of the Great Clans, such as Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Scorpion or Unicorn, and the communities around each Clan are the backbone of the game. Saying you are a Crab player tells people something about how you play. The factions have changed across editions, with Spider, Mantis and an unaligned ronin stronghold among the newer ones, and the story has been shaped by storyline tournaments. It is a game of deck-building choices and long-standing allegiances.

Seven Great Clans with distinct themesCollectible deck building in RokuganClan loyalty as the game's identity

Who it's for

You like collectible card games, a fantasy-Japan setting and the idea of belonging to a Clan.

Not for you if…

You do not want to collect cards or build a deck. This is a hobby that asks for both.

Vibe's take

Competitive and community-driven. You pick a Clan, commit to its style, and play against opponents who have made equally committed choices.