Aztec · No. 043

Caiman-Warrior of the Sacred Lake

Inspired by: A MYTHENOR creation inspired by the caiman or crocodile, cipactli, first day sign and animal of the earth’s creation.

Caiman-Warrior of the Sacred Lake
Half warrior, half caiman, wholly hungry.
Rarity
Common
Category
Monster
ATK
1200
DEF
1200
Level
3
Type
Beast-Warrior
Element
Water
Constellations
Moon · Leviathan

The myth

Crocodiles and caimans held a central place in Mesoamerican thought. Cipactli, “crocodile,” is the first of the twenty day signs of the ritual calendar, and in several myths the earth was made from the body of a great reptile floating on the primordial waters. The Olmecs, almost three thousand years ago, were already carving the “earth crocodile” breathing rain clouds from its mouth. There is no caiman warrior in the myths: the game creates a lake-dweller who is half warrior, half reptile, a distant child of that ancient monster.

Why it has this power

A Level 3 Common with 1200 ATK and 1200 DEF: tough outside and in, like reptile hide. Water is the lake; Moon and Leviathan, the night and the monsters of the deep. It is a material for the Rite of the Primordial Sea, which calls Cipactli — the small caiman helping summon the great one.

Did you know

At Chalcatzingo, Morelos, Olmec-style reliefs show a crocodile breathing out clouds from which raindrops fall.

Connections

  • In Cuauhtli, Lake Hunter's deck
  • In Tepin, Veteran of the Flower War's deck

Where to get it

  • Comes in every duelist's starter deck.
  • Campaign drop: Cuauhtli, Lake Hunter (Valley of the Fifth Sun) — grade C: 13% · grade D: 13%
  • 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. Animales de la creación: cipactli (Arqueología Mexicana) — Manuel A. Hermann Lejarazu
  2. Orígenes y simbolismo de la deidad del viento en Mesoamérica (Arqueología Mexicana) — Karl A. Taube