Japanese · No. 018

Karasu-tengu Scout

Real myth

Karasu-tengu Scout
Half crow, half monk, wholly trouble.
Rarity
Common
Category
Monster
ATK
1000
DEF
800
Level
3
Type
Bird
Element
Wind
Constellations
Feather · Crown

The myth

The karasu-tengu, "crow tengu", is the oldest form of tengu: a mountain being with a beak, wings and a human body, often dressed like the yamabushi ascetics. In the Heian period, tengu were seen as disruptive spirits who deceived monks and abducted people; in time they became guardians of the mountains and masters of the martial arts. Karasu-tengu serve the great long-nosed tengu, such as Sōjōbō of Mount Kurama. In legend they trained young Ushiwakamaru, the future Minamoto no Yoshitsune, in the Sōjōgadani valley.

Why it has this power

A Common level-3 Wind Bird with 1000 ATK and 800 DEF: a nimble, mischievous scout, not a general. Feather and Crown recall the wings and the service to a tengu king. It is key to two stories: fused with a Warrior it becomes Ushiwakamaru, and it is one of the materials of the Rite of Mount Kurama, which calls Sōjōbō.

Did you know

Kurama-dera temple keeps the tradition that Ushiwakamaru studied Buddhism by day and, by night, learned to fight from the tengu in the Sōjōgadani valley.

Connections

  • Fuses into: + Warrior → Ushiwakamaru, Pupil of the Tengu
  • In Aiko, Dojo Apprentice's deck
  • In Renji, Ronin of the Snowy Roads's deck
  • In Master Suzu of Mount Kurama'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. Tengu — Encyclopaedia Britannica — The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
  2. Kurama-dera: history (鞍馬寺の歴史) — Kurama-dera
  3. Ghosts in Ancient Japan — World History Encyclopedia — Mark Cartwright