Aztec · No. 019

Canopy Quetzal

Inspired by: A MYTHENOR creation inspired by the quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), a bird whose feathers were among Mesoamerica’s most valued goods.

Canopy Quetzal
Its tail is worth more than gold. That is why no one touches it.
Rarity
Common
Category
Monster
ATK
900
DEF
700
Level
3
Type
Bird
Element
Wind
Constellations
Feather · Crown

The myth

The quetzal lives in the cloud forests of southern Mexico and Central America. The male has iridescent emerald feathers and a tail that can exceed half a meter. These plumes, quetzalli, were worth more than gold to Mesoamerican peoples: they adorned headdresses, shields and noble costumes, and reached the Valley of Mexico as tribute. That is why the word quetzal came to mean “precious.” The bird does not survive captivity, and plumes were obtained from birds taken in the southern forests.

Why it has this power

A Level 3 Common with 900 ATK and 700 DEF: fragile, like a forest bird. Wind is the air of the canopy; Feather and Crown join its plumage to the royalty who wore it. It is a support card: it pairs with Dance of the Plumes and the Quetzal-Feather Headdress, which strengthen Birds.

Did you know

The quetzal is Guatemala’s national bird, and the country’s currency is called the quetzal.

Connections

  • In Tepin, Veteran of the Flower War's deck
  • In Itzel, Guardian of the Fifth Sun's deck

Where to get it

  • Daily Offering: 0% per pack (Common 64% per card)
  • Welcome Pack: 0.97% per pack (Common 70% per card)
  • Traveler's Pack: 0.88% per pack · 5.2% in the themed pack (Common 64% per card)
  • Bronze Reliquary: 0.86% per pack · 5.1% in the themed pack (Common 62% per card)
  • Silver Reliquary: 0.67% per pack · 4% in the themed pack (Common 49% per card)
  • Golden Reliquary: 0.46% per pack · 2.7% in the themed pack (Common 33% per card)
  • Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.69% of days · 150 gold
  • Craft with card dust: 40 dust
  • Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

  1. El quetzal (Arqueología Mexicana) — Eugenia Pallares
  2. Quetzalcóatl — World History Encyclopedia — Mark Cartwright