Warden of the Apanohuaya River

The myth

The first obstacle on the road to Mictlán was a wide river, called in some lists Apanohuayan, “where the water is crossed,” and in others Chiconahuapan, “nine waters.” No one crossed it alone: a dog’s help was needed, one that recognized its master and carried him across. That is why a dog was sacrificed or buried with the dead. According to Sahagún the dog had to be yellow or reddish, and it refused anyone who had mistreated it. The “river warden” is a figure created by the game to embody that crossing.

Why it has this power

A Level 3 Common with 900 ATK and 1200 DEF: a guardian, not an attacker — the highest DEF among Common Undead. Water is the river; Moon and Scarab, the night and the passage between worlds. It is a material for the Rite of the Primordial Sea, which calls Cipactli, monster of the ancient waters.

Did you know

Archaeologists have found dog skeletons in human burials at many sites across ancient Mexico.

Connections

• In Cuauhtli, Lake Hunter's deck
• In Yolotl, Mistress of the Mirror'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. Mictlan and its inhabitants (Mexicolore) — Ignacio de la Garza Gálvez
2. Dogs of the Aztecs (Mexicolore) — Dody Fugate
3. El largo viaje al Mictlan y los números 4 y 9 (Arqueología Mexicana) — Eduardo Matos Moctezuma