Character Spotlight: Silver Samurai

Kenuichio Harada is the mutant son of the former Japanese crimelord Shingen Harada. In his youth, Kenuichio mastered the way of the medieval samurai and sought employment as a warrior for hire.

He eventually claimed leadership of Clan Yashida, a powerful group of warriors once led by his father. Allied with the known terrorist, Lady Deathstrike, Harada attempted to establish himself as the “Silver Shogun,” leader of the Yakuza.

Silver Samurai has since had run-ins with many notable heroes and villains — including Daredevil, Wolverine, Viper/Hydra, Spider-man, Nick Fury/S.H.I.E.L.D., Shang-Chi, Black Widow, Elektra, Blindspot, and the Avengers.

The Silver Samurai is a master of Kenjutsu, the art of katana-wielding, as well as an expert in Bushido, the history and customs of the samurai class.

He is a highly skilled grandmaster in a wide array of Japanese martial arts including Jujutsu, Karate Do (hand-to-hand combat), Tantojutsu (knife-fighting), and Kyujutsu (Samurai Archery on and off horseback).

In addition to his incredibly honed Samurai fighting skills, Kenuichio also possesses the mutant ability of Tachyon Field, which enables him to generate a tachyon energy field from within his body. He focuses this energy into his katanas, enabling them to cut through nearly any substance.

The Silver Samurai’s superb slicing skills can be seen in MARVEL SNAP through his effect:

On Reveal: Each player discards the lowest-Power card from their hand.

You could say that this On Reveal effect is something of a double-edged sword. Not only does Silver Samurai eliminate one of your opponent’s cards, but also one of your own!

As such, Harada’s sword mastery is best employed in situations where you want to discard your own low-powered card — such as Wolverine, X-23, or Swarm.

In addition to positively benefiting your own gameplan, Silver Samurai’s effect can sabotage your opponent’s, sometimes causing them to discard a key card while also enabling you to play Stature for just 1 Energy.

Let’s all welcome the master of slice-and-dice Kenjutsu warfare, the Silver Samurai, to MARVEL SNAP!!