Japanese · No. 021

Raijin's Thunderbird

Inspired by: Raijin, the thunder kami with his drums, and the raijū, the thunder animal that comes down with the lightning in Japanese folklore.

Raijin's Thunderbird
It flies out of the drum when the god strikes too hard.
Rarity
Common
Category
Monster
ATK
1300
DEF
900
Level
4
Type
Bird
Element
Thunder
Constellations
Wisp · Crown

The myth

A bird flying out of Raijin's drum is a MYTHENOR creation. Its basis, however, is real. Since the Kamakura period, Raijin has been shown as a demonic figure ringed by drums, which he beats to make thunder. Folklore also tells of the raijū, the "thunder animal", which falls from the sky with the lightning and leaves claw marks on trees. Lafcadio Hearn recorded tales in Izumo of raijū caught and shown in cages. Some local traditions described it with bird-like features; the card gives that idea wings.

Why it has this power

A Common level-4 Thunder Bird with 1300 ATK and 900 DEF: fast and explosive, a spark with wings. Wisp and Crown are the storm constellations it shares with Raijin. It is one of the archipelago's strongest cheap attackers, and the Tengu Feather Fan takes it to 2000.

Did you know

Hearn reports that in Izumo people believed the raijū could not pass through a mosquito net, so families sheltered beneath one during storms.

Connections

  • 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. Raijin — Encyclopedia of Shinto — Kokugakuin University
  2. Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan: Second Series (Project Gutenberg) — Lafcadio Hearn