Japanese · No. 007

Kurama Lightning Dragon

Inspired by: Takaokami, the dragon kami of rain revered at Kibune Shrine at the foot of Mount Kurama, and the old belief in the raijin, the kami of thunder.

Kurama Lightning Dragon
It falls with the lightning onto the mountain cedars.
Rarity
Common
Category
Monster
ATK
1300
DEF
1000
Level
4
Type
Dragon
Element
Thunder
Constellations
Wisp · Crown

The myth

There is no Kurama lightning dragon in folklore: the card is a MYTHENOR invention. Yet it rests on real beliefs. At the foot of Mount Kurama, north of Kyoto, stands Kibune Shrine, dedicated to Takaokami, a kami the Kojiki says was born from the blood on Izanagi's sword; the name okami points to the dragon guardian of waters. People prayed there for rain, or for it to stop. In Japanese tradition lightning was the manifestation of a thunder kami, and dragons and thunder went together, both bringing rain to the rice fields.

Why it has this power

A Common level-4 Thunder Dragon with 1300 ATK and 1000 DEF: fast and aggressive, built to strike early. It shares Wisp and Crown with Raijin and Susanoo, the lineage of storms. In the celestial cycle Wisp beats Feather, so it punishes the opponent's birds and tengu well.

Did you know

By Kibune Shrine tradition, black horses were offered to ask for rain and white or red ones to ask for it to stop, a custom said to have given rise to the ema votive plaques.

Connections

  • In Kenji, Kamo River Fisherman's deck
  • In Master Suzu of Mount Kurama's deck

Where to get it

  • Campaign drop: Kenji, Kamo River Fisherman (Archipelago of the Kami) — 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. Kuraokami, Takaokami, Kuramitsuha — Encyclopedia of Shinto — Kokugakuin University
  2. Kibune matsuri — Encyclopedia of Shinto — Kokugakuin University
  3. Raijin — Encyclopedia of Shinto — Kokugakuin University