Let’s start with the basics: Recruitment Cost and Limit. The Limit for Kitsune is set at 1, with a Cost of 16 points, making her an affordable addition to your lists. However, the restriction on multiples is intentional and serves a purpose. Kitsune falls under the Mystic Class, which enhances her spellcasting capability, providing a slightly higher Morale (M) value compared to Intelligence (INT).

Now, let’s analyze her stats. While her offensive capabilities (OFF and DEF) are quite low, with ARM and HP both at 1, she compensates with a solid SPD of 6, INT and AG of 14, and a M stat of 15. Though her M stat may not seem particularly high within Soga, it is more advantageous for spellcasting. This indicates that Kitsune’s role is not as a frontline fighter but rather as a mobile utility piece, and this assumption proves correct.

Kitsune possesses the skill Charm I, a powerful ability that can potentially negate opponents’ Reactions to her Actions. Additionally, her Traits package, which includes Vigilance and Acute Senses, makes her particularly adept at dealing with Shrouded and hidden threats. On the battlefield, Kitsune supports your party by positioning herself where she can provide the best helping “paw”.

Her equipment further emphasizes her support role. Kitsune has no weapons; instead, she wields a drum that allows her party to ignore Morale penalties, which can be situationally advantageous. However, her primary utility comes from her three available Spells.

Purification is Soga’s only answer to various Enchantment Spells that opponents might cast on your models, as well as a means to remove most negative effects from models. The Spell’s effect, which damages models with the Undead Trait, will become increasingly relevant with the release of Northern Wind, further enhancing the Kitsune’s utility.

Next, Burning Resolve is arguably the main reason to include Kitsune in your lineup. This Spell allows a model that has already spent its AP to regain one, making it exceptionally powerful when applied to strong fighters like Onitaoshi or Clan Champion. It enables you to execute more Activations in critical areas with your most formidable models.

Lastly, Flare acts as her panic button if things go awry. Although it has a Burn II and Sweep II Effect with a short RCH of 3, making it challenging to utilize effectively, it can be devastating if it catches multiple enemies in its Area of Effect.