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Type
Shao

Shao

Water control leader that cuts 1 attack off an incoming attack every opponent turn for 1 IKZ, keeping cheap blockers and your health intact.

  • 20Health
  • Water Leader
Once/Turn, Response: Pay 1 IKZ: Reduce a leader's or an entity's attack by 1 until the end of the turn.

How to play it

  • Leave 1 IKZ untapped when you end your turn. Hydromancy Gate's refund lets you develop and still keep it open.
  • A 1-attack attacker deals 0 after the cut, so Foamback Crab or Serene Fist, Misaki survives. Damage is simultaneous, so Misaki still hits back.
  • It can target a leader armed with a weapon. Stack it with Water Orb or Moonlit Crane on one attack for bigger cuts.

From The Gate

  • Azuki Tech Talk

    Aquabass

    Shao's ability is cited as the use for the IKZ that Stalking Assassin's Gate Power gives back, alongside holding up Sundering Strike, Mocking Dummy or an extra entity; Shao support is said to make the Assassin hard to remove.

  • Azuki Tech Talk

    Aquabass

    The leftover IKZ after Ed can be held for Shao's ability to protect him, which the author says makes Ed nearly impossible to remove from turn 4 on.

  • Aez's Shao Deck Guide, Q1 2026

    Aez

    Aez finished 15th (4-2) at the 2026 Invitational with Shao, the best of the 7 Shao players, going 3-0 vs Raizan and 1-2 vs Zero.

Watch and read

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Deck lists

Details

Card number
STT02-001
Rarity
Leader
Released in
Starter Deck 2
Illustrator
Pandart Studio
Art based on
Azuki #187
Tournament status
Legal

Printings

Questions

What does Shao do in the Azuki TCG?

Once/Turn, Response: Pay 1 IKZ: Reduce a leader's or an entity's attack by 1 until the end of the turn. Water control leader that cuts 1 attack off an incoming attack every opponent turn for 1 IKZ, keeping cheap blockers and your health intact.

Is Shao legal in tournaments?

Yes. Shao is not banned.

What decks play Shao?

Shao V2 by Aez, Water is Wet by Aquabass, tadpolite · Peoria by tadpolite, zakai · Peoria by zakai, Shao Starter by Azuki, The Quiet Current by MochiBosu. You can play any of them free at IkuzoClash.

Who illustrated Shao?

Pandart Studio, steamboy, Samuel Gildas and Twisted Hand Studio, across its 4 printings.

Similar cards

  • Shao's Perseverance
  • Young Shao
  • Benzai the Sly

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