Koi-Koi Wars in Sakura Wars is a mini-game which you can play the Japanese Hanafuda card game, Koi-Koi. Check out our Koi-Koi Mini-Game Guide to find out more about this feature.
The Koi-Koi Mini-Game is a card matching game where you start with eight cards in your hand, and eight cards on the playing field. You will have 12 suits of four cards each to work with, matching them as you play to collect them. When playing cards, another card will be drawn, and if it matches any other suits in the playing field, you will keep those as well. While you can simply match cards with their appropriate suit, your main objective is to try and collect certain sets. Each set has a specific value of the antiquated Japanese currency, mon. When you manage to collect a set before running out of cards you are given an option. You can either stop and claim their mon points, or you can call Koi-Koi.
Calling Koi-Koi is a gamble, there is the possibiity that you will either increase your winnings or your opponent will take away your set if they obtain a set themselves. This basically means you have the choice of either facing the challenge or stopping for a minor win. Playing it safe is fine but can be a dangerous strategy as it allows your opponent the opportunity to get their own sets. Calling Koi-Koi without gaining another set means your opponent wins. Like many card games the Koi-Koi mini-game relies on a lot of luck to be successful. Being able to recognise seeds, ribbons, and especially the lights and having an understanding of the different sets will enable you to employ strategies that will significantly increase your chances to win in this game. If you collect junk you have no chance and if neither player scores, the dealer wins.
Listed below are the various cards sets that you can collect in the Koi-Koi mini-game along with the amount of mon you recieve for getting them.
Five Lights - 15 mon
All five Light cards. These are the most valuable cards.
Four Lights - 10 mon
Four of the Light cards (excluding Rain Man).
Four Lights - (Rainy) - 8 mon
Four of the Light cards (including Rain Man).
Three Lights - 6 mon
Three of the Light cards (excluding Rain Man).
Boar, Deer, Butterfly - 6 mon
The Boar, Deer, and Butterfly cards.
Poetry Ribbons - 6 mon
The three ribbons with writing on them. Found on Pine, Plum and Sakura.
Blue Ribbons - 6 mon
The three blue ribbons. Found on Peony. Chrysanthemum, and Maple.
Moon Viewing - 3 mon
The Full Moon and Sake Cup cards.
Sakura Viewing - 3 mon
The Curtain and Sake Cup Cards
Any Seeds - 1 mon
Five of the Seeds cards (animals, etc.) +1 mon for each additional card.
Any Ribbons - 1 mon
Five of the Ribbon cards. +1 mon for each additional card.
Junk - 1 mon
Ten of the Junk cards (plain flowers). +1 mon for each additional card.
Sakura Amamiya
Location: Starting opponent.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 8 Mon
Serious Match - 16 mon
Hatsuho Shinonome
Location: Available automatically later on the story.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 10 Mon
Serious Match - 20 mon
Azami
Location: Available in the middle of Chapter 2.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 12 Mon
Serious Match - 24 mon
Anastaisa Palma
Location: Available automatically later on the story.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 12 Mon
Serious Match - 24 mon
Claris
Location: Available automatically later on the story.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 10 Mon
Serious Match - 20 mon
Sumire
Location: During the Final Chapter.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 16 Mon
Serious Match - 32 mon
Kaoru
Location: Win against Claris, also have 50 Mon.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 10 Mon
Serious Match - 20 mon
Komachi
Location: Win against Hatsuho, also have 50 Mon.
Mon: Practice Battle - 10 Mon
Serious Match - 20 mon
Reiji
Location: During Chapter 6.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 10 Mon
Serious Match - 28 mon
Xiaolong
Location: During Chapter 5.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 12 Mon
Serious Match - 24 mon
Yui Huang
Location: Win against Xiaolong, also have 60 Mon.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 12 Mon
Serious Match - 24 mon
Arthur
Location: Available automatically later on the story.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 14 Mon
Serious Match - 28 mon
Lancelota
Win against Arthur, also have 70 Mon.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 14 Mon
Serious Match - 28 mon
Elise
Location: Available automatically later on the story.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 14 Mon
Serious Match - 28 mon
Margarethe
Location: Win against Elise, also have 70 Mon.
Mon:
Practice Battle - 14 Mon
Serious Match - 28 mon
The best way to win in the Koi-Koi mini-game is to give priority to the Chrysanthemum, Sakura, and Moon cards. If you collect these cards you can easily make one of the combinations set to score massive points known as the Light set. It is important that you make sure you do not discard cards that will enable your opponent to create a good set. Once you have collected all of the three cards above aim for cards with animals in them as collecting those will also bring in a lot of mon points.
Check out our Bromide Guide to find out how you can obtain all 110 of these collectable pictures showing characters that appear in the game and in previous entries of the series.
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