Tlacatecolotl, the Owl-Man

The myth

Tlacatecolotl, “owl-man,” was the most common Nahua name for the harmful sorcerer. The owl was a bird of the underworld and ill omen, and the sorcerer, according to historian Bernard Ortiz de Montellano, could cast spells that lodged in the victim’s body as bits of bone or obsidian, removable only by another specialist. After the conquest, friars used the word tlacatecolotl to translate “devil,” changing its meaning. It is worth remembering that many ritual specialists were respected healers, not witches.

Why it has this power

A Level 5 Uncommon with 1700 ATK and 1400 DEF: a dangerous sorcerer, better at attack than defense. Darkness and Moon are the night he flies through as an owl; Fox, malice. He gains +700 from the Ritual Turquoise Mask, an equip for Spellcasters and Deities.

Did you know

Sixteenth-century friars translated “devil” as tlacatecolotl, and the term thus entered Christian texts in Nahuatl.

Connections

• In Citlali, Priestess of the Stars's deck
• In Yolotl, Mistress of the Mirror's deck

Where to get it

• Campaign drop: Citlali, Priestess of the Stars (Valley of the Fifth Sun) — grade S: 17% · grade A: 17% · grade B: 17% · grade C: 13%
• Campaign drop: Yolotl, Mistress of the Mirror (Valley of the Fifth Sun) — grade S: 20% · grade A: 20% · grade B: 20% · grade C: 20% · grade D: 20%
• 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. Magia medicinal azteca (Arqueología Mexicana) — Bernard Ortiz de Montellano
2. Digital Florentine Codex (Historia general de las cosas de Nueva España) — Bernardino de Sahagún and Nahua collaborators; Getty Research Institute