Aztec · No. 023

Two-Headed King Vulture

Inspired by: A MYTHENOR creation inspired by the king vulture (cozcacuauhtli), a day sign of the ritual calendar. The two heads are the game’s invention.

Two-Headed King Vulture
Two heads so as not to miss any feast.
Rarity
Uncommon
Category
Monster
ATK
1600
DEF
1300
Level
5
Type
Bird
Element
Darkness
Constellations
Feather · Crown

The myth

The king vulture, called cozcacuauhtli (“collared eagle”) in Nahuatl, named the sixteenth of the twenty day signs of the tonalpohualli, the 260-day ritual calendar. Being a long-lived bird with a featherless head like an elder’s, the sign was linked to old age and long life. Its patron goddess was Itzpapálotl, the Obsidian Butterfly. Vultures, which clean the fields by eating carrion, were also tied to death. The game gives it two heads, echoing the double-headed serpents of Mexica art.

Why it has this power

A Level 5 Uncommon with 1600 ATK and 1300 DEF: more patience than strength, like one who waits for the battle to end. Darkness ties it to death; Feather and Crown recall the royal “collar” that named it. As a Bird, it gains from Dance of the Plumes and the Templo Mayor field.

Did you know

The cozcacuauhtli sign was associated with the elderly, who asked it for long life.

Connections

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

Where to get it

  • Campaign drop: Tepin, Veteran of the Flower War (Valley of the Fifth Sun) — grade D: 13%
  • Daily Offering: 0.45% per pack (Uncommon 33% per card)
  • Welcome Pack: 1.1% per pack (Uncommon 30% per card)
  • Traveler's Pack: 0.96% per pack · 5.6% in the themed pack (Uncommon 29% per card)
  • Bronze Reliquary: 0.94% per pack · 5.5% in the themed pack (Uncommon 29% per card)
  • Silver Reliquary: 0.96% per pack · 5.6% in the themed pack (Uncommon 33% per card)
  • Golden Reliquary: 0.94% per pack · 5.5% in the themed pack (Uncommon 35% per card)
  • Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.98% of days · 400 gold
  • Craft with card dust: 100 dust
  • Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

  1. El tonalpohualli (Arqueología Mexicana) — Enrique Vela
  2. Aztec Pantheon — World History Encyclopedia — Mark Cartwright
  3. Los guajolotes y los zopilotes (Arqueología Mexicana) — Nicolas Latsanopoulos