Naruto Trading Card Game: The Platoon Mechanic Revealed

Another game mechanic not found in the Naruto Rulebook is the explanation of Platoon ninja. Platoon ninja are when two specific ninja team up on the same card for some extra power and effects. Platoon ninja were introduced in the fourth set of the Naruto Trading Card Game, Revenge and Rebirth, and since then there have been a number of platoons added to the game. These cards are special in the fact that they include two ninja in the picture rather then just one, and carry on the attributes of both ninja pictured.

Platoon ninja are placed into play much like the growth effect, but a few special conditions apply. You must have one of the ninjas pictured on the card in play in order to deploy a platoon, both ninja cannot be in play when you deploy a platoon featuring both of those ninja, you must pay the entrance cost of the platoon ninja, and just like growth, the ninja that was in play before the platoon was deployed is sent to the chakra area. No growth coins are added to a platoon ninja after it is placed in play.

Ninja platoons are in most cases a lot more powerful then the individual ninja they replace. For instance the Naruto and Gamabunta Platoon are a 9/0 healthy and an 8/0 when injured, and come this platoon comes into play on turn 6. This is in high contrast to Naruto's weak 0/0 healthy stats and Gamabunta's turn 7 or 8 entrance cost. Also Platoon ninja have extra attributes that come from each ninja in that platoon. For instance, Might Guy and Kakashi platoon have both the Taijutsu and Genjutsu combat attributes. They also carry both the fire and lightning symbols, and have the Sharingan Eye characteristic.