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Arcane Rushed › Dealer guides › Saya

🗡️ Saya guide: Ninja / Shadow cards, heroes and builds

Saya is the Ninja / Shadow dealer in Arcane Rush. This page covers how Saya wins, its 4 play styles and all 108 cards across its 20 families, plus 40 heroes and 4 relics. The planner above builds the best Saya loadout from the cards you own.

How Saya wins

The engine

Ambush units enter mid-combat and scale off your HAND — the more (and bigger) the units waiting in hand, the larger they land. Revive brings your key attackers back for a second go, and Stealth protects them until they strike.

The game plan

Keep your hand stocked with high-stat units, then deploy Kunoichi Twinblade via Ambush to gain DMG equal to your whole hand's DMG — and Revive replays it. Buff cards in hand to inflate every Ambush payoff.

Positioning
  • Ambush units deploy mid-combat from reserve, so their board slot matters less — the priority is a FULL hand of fat units to feed them.
  • Stealth carries (Kunoichi Twinblade) are untargetable until they strike; a back slot keeps them safe right up to the hit.
  • Front row: one durable body to buy time for your Ambush entries to land.

Saya play styles 4 lines

AmbushAmbush units and their payoffsKey cards: Whirling Raijin, Iron-Grip Ambushido, Saya's Chosen, Purr-fect Phantom, Waylayer Lotus, Shinobro Alliance, Tekko Master, Shuriken OfferingHeroes that feed it: Yaguchi Oota, Daichi Sensei, Gladiator Drak, Tekko-sama, Kenshin Oniblade
Hand BuffBuff the units waiting in your handKey cards: Whirling Raijin, Nightclaw Posse, Phantom Invoker, Shinobro Alliance, Shadybunny Alpha, Mentor Oni-chan, Ambushido AftershockHeroes that feed it: Musashi Yasuo, Akali Kitsune, Daisuke Wada, Vargul Boneweaver, Yaguchi Oota
Board BuffBuff the units on the boardKey cards: Saya's Fist, Shuriken Savant, Pouncing Nightclaw, Iron-Grip Ambushido, Ephemeral Shade, Shanubros, Sensei Oni-chan, Purr-fect MavenHeroes that feed it: Hobo Hudson, Takumi Stormreaver, Gladiator Drak, Yaguchi Oota, Tekko-samaRelics: Fury Strike Gloves
InfiniteUnits that summon other units, from your hand or at random, in one chainKey cards: Purr-fect Phantom, Sensei Oni-chan, Shanubros, Shadybunny Paragon, Saya's Deep-Squat Disciple, Waylayer Lotus, Phantom Invoker, Tekko ReaperHeroes that feed it: Yaguchi Oota, Gladiator Drak, Tekko-sama, Lady Snowshade, Master Owlbert

Every Saya card by shop tier

Shop tier 5

Tekko

  • Tekko Assassin Rare 7/7 — Kickstart and Death: Summon a unit from your hand.
  • Tekko Infiltrator Epic 7/7 — Death: Summon 2 units from your hand.
  • Plate-Stacker Tekko Epic 7/7 — Stealth. Play: Capture an ally with Ambush and give it half my DMG. If there's none, get 1 instead.
  • Tekko Reaper Legendary 7/7 — Kickstart and Death: When you have space, summon a unit from your hand.
  • Tekko Master Legendary 7/7 — At the start of combat if I am in your hand, when you have space summon me. Ambush: Deal my DMG randomly split across enemy units.
  • Tekko Phantom Legendary 7/7 — Avenge(2): Summon a Ninja from your hand.
  • Drop-Set Tekko Legendary 7/7 — Stealth. Play and Attack: Capture an ally with Ambush and give it half my DMG. If there's none, get 1 instead.

Saya's

  • Saya's Disciple Rare 12/6 — Ambush: Give your Saya's Disciples everywhere +5 DMG, then give me First Strike and Stealth.
  • Saya's Harbinger Epic 12/6 — Ambush and Slay(1): Give your Saya's Disciples everywhere +7 DMG, then give me First Strike and Stealth.
  • Saya's Push-Up Prodigy Epic 12/6 — Ambush: Trigger a different ally's Ambush ability. Death: Summon a Ninja from your hand.
  • Saya's Chosen Legendary 12/6 — Multistrike. Ambush and Slay(1): Give your Saya's Disciples everywhere +10 DMG, then give me First Strike and Stealth.
  • Saya's Shadow Legendary 12/6 — Ambush and Slay(1): Double my DMG, then give me Stealth.
  • Saya's Fist Legendary 12/6 — Ongoing: When a Ninja is summoned in combat, give me +5/+5 permanently and a random keyword.
  • Saya's Deep-Squat Disciple Legendary 12/6 — Ambush: Trigger a different ally's Ambush ability and gain half its DMG. Death: Summon a Ninja from your hand.

Shadybunny

  • Shadybunny Rare 10/4 — Ambush: Give +4/+3 to your units in hand.
  • Prime Shadybunny Epic 10/4 — Ambush: Give +6/+4 to your units in hand and on the board.
  • Flex-Appeal Shadybunny Epic 10/4 — Kickstart: Destroy the Ninja ally to my left and replace it with a Personal Trainer when you have space.
  • Shadybunny Paragon Legendary 10/4 — Ambush and Death: Give units in your hand +5/+3 and when you have space summon a unit from your hand.
  • Shadybunny Haretrigger Legendary 10/4 — Kickstart and Avenge(2): Give a Ninja in your hand Revive until next turn.
  • Shadybunny Alpha Legendary 10/4 — Ambush: Give me and a random unit in your hand +3/+3 permanently for each Ninja in your hand and on the board.
  • Front-loaded Shadybunny Legendary 10/4 — Kickstart: Destroy the Ninja ally to my left and give half its DMG to your units, then replace it with a Personal Trainer when you have space.

Nightclaw

  • Nightclaw Rare 5/8 — End Turn: Give +4/+4 to allies for each Ninja you summoned last combat. (Summoned: 0)
  • Lurking Nightclaw Epic 5/8 — End Turn: Give +4/+4 to allies and units in hand for each Ninja you summoned last combat. (Summoned: 0)
  • Nightclaw Posse Legendary 5/8 — Taunt. End Turn: Give +8/+8 to your units and +4/+4 to units in hand for each Ninja you summoned last combat. (Summoned: 0)
  • Descending Nightclaw Legendary 5/8 — Death: Summon a Ninja ally with Ambush that you summoned this combat and give it my stats.
  • Pouncing Nightclaw Legendary 5/8 — Kickstart and Avenge(1): Give an ally Ninja First Strike until next turn and give your units +5/+5 permanently.

Kunoichi

  • Jade Kunoichi Rare 3/3 — Ambush: Gain stats equal to the stats of a random unit in your hand.
  • Emerald Kunoichi Epic 3/3 — Ambush: Gain stats equal to the stats of the strongest unit in your hand.
  • Flawless Kunoichi Legendary 3/3 — Ambush: Gain stats equal to the total stats of units in your hand.
  • Intrepid Kunoichi Legendary 3/3 — Ambush: Summon a copy of myself. I'm summoned last.
  • Kunoichi Twinblade Legendary 3/3 — Revive. Ambush: Gain DMG equal to the total DMG of units in your hand.

Shop tier 4

Scarlet

  • Scarlet Bladedancer Rare 3/5 — Play: Discover a Ninja. (1 left!)
  • Scarlet Dervish Epic 3/5 — Play: Discover a Ninja and give it First Strike. (1 left!)
  • Scarlet Equalizer Legendary 3/5 — Play: Discover a different Ninja of your Shop Tier and give it First Strike. (1 left!)
  • Scarlet Echo Legendary 3/5 — Death: Summon a Ninja and get an exact copy of it.
  • Scarlet Ruse Legendary 3/5 — Death: Summon an exact copy of a unit with Ambush from your hand.

Shuriken

  • Shuriken Thrower Rare 8/4 — Ambush: Deal half my DMG to a random enemy.
  • Shuriken Volley Epic 8/4 — Ambush: Deal half my DMG to 2 random enemies.
  • Shuriken Savant Legendary 8/4 — Ongoing: When a Ninja is summoned in combat, give allies +4/+4 permanently.
  • Shuriken Offering Legendary 8/4 — Ambush: Give half my stats to 2 random allies.
  • Shuriken Rising Legendary 8/4 — Ambush: Deal my DMG to 2 random enemies.
  • Gym-Rat Shuriken Legendary 8/4 — Revive. Ambush: Capture a different ally to gain its DMG and attack immediately. (1 left!)

Oni-Chan

  • Oni-chan Rare 3/8 — Ongoing: When you summon a unit in combat, give +2/+2 to Ninjas in hand.
  • Leaping Oni-chan Epic 3/8 — Ongoing: When you summon a unit in combat, give +4/+2 to your Ninjas in hand and on the board.
  • Mentor Oni-chan Legendary 3/8 — Ongoing: When you summon a unit in combat, give +2/+1 to your Ninjas in hand and on the board for every Ninja in your hand.
  • Sensei Oni-chan Legendary 3/8 — Ongoing: When you summon a Ninja in combat, give it +3/+3, then improve this by +3/+3 everywhere.
  • Tempest Oni-chan Legendary 3/8 — Ongoing: When a Ninja is summoned in combat, give it Taunt and half of my DMG.

Raijin

  • Raijin Warrior Rare 4/4 — While I am in your hand, I gain +2/+2 when you summon a Ninja in combat.
  • Raijin Spark Epic 4/4 — While I am in your hand, I gain +3/+3 when you summon or play a Ninja.
  • Whirling Raijin Legendary 4/4 — Ambush and Attack: Give allies +4/+4 permanently for each unit with Ambush in your hand and on the board.
  • Raijin Surge Legendary 4/4 — While I am in your hand, I gain +2/+2 for each Ninja in your hand when you summon Ninja.
  • Raijin Thunder Legendary 4/4 — Ambush and Death: Give Ninjas everywhere +4/+4 until next turn and improve this by 4/+4 everywhere.

Shop tier 3

Shinobros

  • Shinobros Common 2/5 — Kickstart: Give +3 DMG to Ninja everywhere until next turn.
  • Shinobro Crew Rare 2/5 — Kickstart and Death: Give +3 DMG to Ninja everywhere until next turn.
  • Shinobro Gang Epic 2/5 — Ongoing: When you summon a unit in combat, give +2 DMG to Ninja everywhere.
  • Shanubros Legendary 2/5 — Kickstart: Summon a Ninja. Ongoing: When you summon a unit in combat, give +3 DMG to Ninja everywhere.
  • Shinobro Alliance Legendary 2/5 — Play and Ambush: Give your units in hand and on board +2/+2 permanently and improve this by +2/+2 everywhere.

Undercover

  • Undercover Assailant Common 3/3 — Play: Give an ally +5/+5.
  • Undercover Agent Rare 3/3 — Play: Give an ally Stealth and +5/+5.
  • Undercover Collector Epic 3/3 — Play: Give an ally Stealth and return it to your hand. (1 left!)
  • Undercover Mastermind Legendary 3/3 — Play: Give different allies in my row Stealth and return them to your hand. (1 left!)
  • Undercover Reaper Legendary 3/3 — Stealth. First Strike. Avenge(2): Gain the DMG of allies that died this combat.

Kabukiller

  • Kabukiller Common 6/2 — Death: Summon a Ninja from your hand.
  • Kabuslayer Rare 6/2 — Death: Summon the highest DMG Ninja from your hand.
  • Kabuboss Epic 6/2 — Death: Summon the highest DMG Ninja from your hand. It attacks immediately.
  • Kabutitan Legendary 6/2 — Death: Summon the highest DMG Ninja from your hand and give it a random keyword. It attacks immediately.
  • Kabukingpin Legendary 6/2 — Taunt. Death: Summon a plain copy of a different Ninja in your hand and give it half of my DMG.

Ambushido

  • Ambushido Common 5/4 — Death: Give a unit in your hand +2/+1.
  • Ambushido Ripple Rare 5/4 — Ambush and Death: Give a unit in your hand +3/+2.
  • Ambushido Skimmer Epic 5/4 — Ambush and Death: Give a unit in your hand +3/+2 and First Strike.
  • Ambushido Echo Legendary 5/4 — Ambush: Give Revive to a different Ninja until next turn. (1 left!)
  • Ambushido Aftershock Legendary 5/4 — Ambush and Death: Give a unit in your hand First Strike, and units in your hand +3/+3.
  • Iron-Grip Ambushido Legendary 5/4 — Ongoing: When a Ninja attacks, give allies +4/+4 permanently. Repeat for each time you triggered Ambush this combat.

Shop tier 2

Zen

  • Zen Common 1/4 — Play: Get a Ninja.
  • Zen Script Rare 1/4 — Play and Ambush: Get a Ninja.
  • Zen Code Epic 1/4 — Play and Ambush: Get a Ninja and give it Stealth.
  • Zen Protocol Legendary 1/4 — Play and Ambush: Get a Ninja and give it First Strike.
  • Zen Insight Legendary 1/4 — Play: Get a Ninja of your shop Tier. (1 left!)

Waylayer

  • Waylayer Common 3/1 — Death: Summon a Ninja with Ambush and set it's stats to 3/1.
  • Hidden Waylayer Rare 3/1 — Death: Summon a Ninja with Ambush.
  • Waylayer Acolyte Epic 3/1 — Death: Summon a Ninja with Ambush and give it First Strike.
  • Waylayer Lotus Legendary 3/1 — Kickstart and Death: Summon a Ninja with Ambush and give it First Strike.
  • Waylayer Vanguard Legendary 3/1 — Ongoing: When you summon a unit in combat, give +3 DMG to Ninja everywhere until next turn.

She-Nobi

  • She-nobi Common 1/1 — Play: Give your units +2/+2.
  • Skilled She-nobi Rare 1/1 — Play and Ambush: Give your units +2/+2.
  • She-nobi Operative Epic 1/1 — Play, Ambush and Death: Give your units +2/+2.
  • She-nobi Master Legendary 1/1 — Avenge(1): Gain +4/+4.
  • She-nobi Elite Legendary 1/1 — Play and Ambush: Give a random Ninja First Strike and your units +3/+3.

Phantom

  • Phantom Common 2/4 — Kickstart: Summon a unit in your hand.
  • Phantom Call Rare 2/4 — Kickstart: Give a unit in your hand +1/+1, then summon it.
  • Phantom High-Five Epic 2/4 — Death: Give a unit in your hand +2/+2, then summon it.
  • Phantom Invoker Legendary 2/4 — Kickstart and Death: Give a unit in your hand +3/+1, then summon it.
  • Phantom Strike Legendary 2/4 — Kickstart: Summon a Ninja of your Tier, it attacks immediately.

Shop tier 1

Purr-Fect

  • Purr-fect Ninja Common 2/1 — Attack and Ambush: Give me +1/+1.
  • Purr-fect Infiltrator Rare 2/1 — Attack: Give me +1/+1. Ambush: Improve this by +1/+1 everywhere.
  • Purr-fect Asssassin Epic 2/1 — Attack: Give me +2/+2. Ambush: Improve this by +2/+2 everywhere, then give me Stealth.
  • Purr-fect Maven Legendary 2/1 — Attack: Give me +4/+2. Ambush: Improve this by +4/+2 everywhere, then give me First Strike.
  • Purr-fect Phantom Legendary 2/1 — While I'm in your hand, summon me at the start of combat. Ambush: Gain +2/+1 and improve this by +2/+1 this game.

Straw Hat

  • Straw Hat Common 1/2 — Death: Deal 3 DMG to an enemy.
  • Straw Hat Wanderer Rare 1/2 — Death: Summon a different Ninja and set its stats to 111.
  • Straw Hat Warrior Epic 1/2 — Death: Summon a different Ninja.
  • Straw Hat Ronin Legendary 1/2 — Ambush and Death: Deal 2 DMG to all enemies.
  • Straw Hat Outcast Legendary 1/2 — Death: Summon a Ninja with Ambush.

Shade

  • Shade Common 3/1 — First Strike.
  • Bloodied Shade Rare 3/1 — First Strike. Attack: Gain +2 DMG.
  • Time-Tested Shade Epic 3/1 — First Strike. Kickstart and Attack: Gain +2 DMG.
  • Sudden Shade Legendary 3/1 — First Strike. Kickstart: I attack immediately.
  • Ephemeral Shade Legendary 3/1 — First Strike. Kickstart and Attack: Gain +2 DMG for each Ninja ally.

Saya heroes 40

Crimson HayateCommon PassiveKickstart: Give your front row units +2 DMG.
Kaito YamiCommon PassiveThe first time an enemy unit is summoned in combat, deal 1 DMG to it.
Musashi YasuoCommon PassiveAvenge(3): Give a random unit in your hand and board +1 DMG.
Takumi StormreaverCommon PassiveAfter an ally attacks, give another ally +1 DMG.
Yui ShadowfanCommon ActiveGive a unit +1/+1.
Akali KitsuneRare PassiveAfter you add a unit to your hand, give your units +1 HP.
Chihomi ScarletRare PassiveNeutrals cost 1 less.
Daichi SenseiRare PassiveAfter (10) of your units die in combat, get a plain copy of one of them. (4 left!)
Daisuke WadaRare PassiveWhen you play a unit, give units in your hand +1/+1.
Fearsome WandererRare PassiveKickstart: Give your strongest ally a random keyword.
Gai OzakiRare PassiveKickstart: Give your back row units +1 DMG for every 2 Coins spent last turn.
Hana UchitaRare PassiveStart Turn: If you control units of 3 or more different Tiers, gain 2 Coins.
Hobo HudsonRare PassiveAfter an ally kills an enemy, give it +1 DMG permanently.
Lamia StriggRare ActiveDestroy an ally and gain 2 Coins.
Master OwlbertRare PassiveWhen you summon a unit in combat, give it +4 DMG.
Ren OnikiriRare ActiveGive an ally First Strike.
Ryu MusashiRare PassiveWhen you upgrade the Shop, give your strongest unit +5 DMG.
Shao LinRare PassiveWhen you upgrade the Shop, give Barrier to a random ally.
Straw Hat JinRare PassiveEnd Turn: Give your 2 weakest units +2 DMG.
The YojimboRare PassiveWhen you sell a Golden unit, get 2 Coin Spells. (1 left this turn!)
Vargul BoneweaverRare PassiveKickstart: Give a unit in your hand +4/+4 permanently.
Ichigeki HachimanEpic PassiveDouble the DMG of the first ally that attacks and give it First Strike.
Kenshin OnibladeEpic PassiveKickstart and Avenge(3): Give your strongest unit First Strike and Stealth.
Kiko SatoEpic ActiveGive units in your front row First Strike until next turn.
Lady SnowshadeEpic PassiveWhen you summon a unit in combat, give it +3/+1 and Taunt.
Rin ShadowstrikeEpic PassiveKickstart: Give your back-right unit Stealth and double its DMG.
Ronin AkikoEpic ActiveChoose an ally. Give it "Kickstart: Gain the DMG of your strongest unit and Stealth " until next turn.
Sakura ChikaraEpic ActiveChoose an ally. Give it "Kickstart: Gain the DMG of your strongest unit" until next turn.
Scroll Merchant KinEpic ActiveMake an ally Golden. (Once per game)
Shinobu T. TakedaEpic PassiveWhen you upgrade the Shop, get a Fortunate Son.
Tekko-samaEpic PassiveWhen you play or summon a unit, give two allies stats equal to its Tier.
Tengu YoshiEpic PassiveThe first time you sell a unit each turn, get a unit from any Tier lower than it.
The Great LurkerEpic PassiveWhen you upgrade the Shop, increase your maximum Coins by 1.
The Yokai HuntressEpic ActiveTransform a unit into one of the same Tier but of a different faction.
Yaguchi OotaEpic PassiveThe first time an ally dies each combat, summon a plain copy of it with Taunt.
Black Lotus YumiLegendary ActiveChoose a unit to return to your hand. Increase the cost by 1 every time you use it.
Countess RinakoLegendary PassiveYour first ally to die each combat is Revived with the same DMG.
Gladiator DrakLegendary PassiveKickstart: When you have space summon a unit from your hand.
Oni-manLegendary ActiveChoose a Shop unit. Make it Golden until next turn. (No triple reward)
Shizuka YoshidaLegendary ActiveChoose a unit. Discover a unit of its faction.

Saya relics 4

Tiger ClawShop tier 2After (2) turns get 5 Coins. (1 use left!)
Gate of DiscoveryShop tier 3After (1) turn get a unit of your most common faction. (2 uses left!)
Fury Strike GlovesShop tier 4Get a spell: Discover a unit, give it Multistrike. (1 use left!)
Oni SpiritShop tier 5Kickstart: Your front-left unit captures the ally to its right.

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