Mask of Xipe Tótec

The myth

Xipe Tótec, “Our Lord the Flayed One,” is the god of agricultural renewal, spring and goldsmiths. His festival, Tlacaxipehualiztli, involved the sacrifice of war captives, whose skins were then worn by priests or young men for twenty days. For the Mexica, the act imitated the seed shedding its coat to sprout and the maize changing its husk: it was a rite of regeneration. Archaeologist Claude-François Baudez argues that Xipe was the flayer rather than the flayed. Stone masks with the “skin” over the face represent the god.

Why it has this power

An Uncommon spell that swaps ATK and DEF of every monster on the field, on both sides. It is Xipe’s logic: change your skin and change your strength. It can turn a solid defender, like Coatlicue or the Atlantean of Tula, into an attacker, or collapse the attack of your rival’s offensive monsters, like Mictlantecuhtli.

Did you know

Xipe Tótec was also the patron of goldsmiths, who worked gold.

Connections

• In Cuauhtli, Lake Hunter's deck
• In Citlali, Priestess of the Stars's deck
• 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

• 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. Xipe Totec — World History Encyclopedia — Mark Cartwright
2. Más que el desollado, Xipe era el desollador (Arqueología Mexicana) — Claude-François Baudez