Touhou Ability Card Revision Thread – Part 1: Unconnected Marketeers and 100th Black Market

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Hello,

This CRT serves as the first part of a broader effort to properly implement the Ability Card system into relevant Touhou Project profiles. This revision draws heavily from this comprehensive blog created by me and other supporters, which offers an in-depth explanation of the mechanics and lore behind Ability Cards as introduced in Touhou 18: Unconnected Marketeers and expanded upon in Touhou 18.5: 100th Black Market.

The blog includes a detailed index of every known Ability Card from these two games and outlines how they function both narratively and mechanically. This thread will use that information to correct and expand the existing presentation of Marisa Kirisame’s arsenal of Ability Cards on her profile, while also assigning relevant Ability Cards as optional equipment to all characters listed in the blog.

As a precautionary note, this is only Part 1 of the full revision. Touhou 19: Unfinished Dream of All Living Ghost introduces some new cards and even mechanics that affect Animal Spirits, for which we currently lack updated documentation. Because of this, a Part 2 CRT is planned for the future to handle Touhou 19’s additions separately.

For now the objective of this CRT is as follows;

1. Updating Marisa Kirisame’s profile to reflect accurate Ability Card information.
   
   
2. Cataloging and distributing the Touhou 18/18.5 Ability Cards to all characters mentioned in the blog as optional equipment. This may take some time.
   
   
3. Establishing a foundation for how Ability Cards should be treated across the verse.

The following profiles will be affected by this revision as well (feel free to point out the ones I've missed, if any)

Character Page​	Status​
Alice Margatroid	Updated
Aya Shameimaru	Updated
Byakuren Hijiri	Updated
Chen	Updated
Chimata Tenkyuu	Profile N/A
Cirno	Updated
Clownpiece	Updated
Eika Ebisu	Updated
Eiren Yagokoro	Updated
Eternity Larva	Updated
Fujiwara no Mokou	Updated
Flandre Scarlet	Updated
Hecatia Lapislazuli	Updated
Hina Kagiyama	Updated
Hong Meiling	Updated
Iku Nagae	Updated
Junko	Updated
Kanako Yasaka	Updated
Kasen Ibaraki	Updated
Koishi Komeiji	Updated
Komachi Onozuka	Updated
Kosuzu Motoori	Updated
Kogasa Tatara	Updated
Kutaka Niwatari	Updated
Marisa Kirisame	Updated
Mamizou Futatsuiwa	Updated
Medicine Melancholy	Updated
Megumu Iizunamaru	Profile N/A
Mike Goutokuji	Profile N/A
Minoriko Aki	Updated
Momoyo Himemushi	Profile N/A
Narumi Yatadera	Updated
Nazrin	Updated
Nemuno Sakata	Updated
Nitori Kawashiro	Updated
Patchouli Knowledge	Updated
Reimu Hakurei	Updated
Reisen Udongein Inaba	Updated
Remilia Scarlet	Updated
Rumia	Updated
Saki Kurokoma	Profile N/A
Sakuya Izayoi	Updated
Sanae Kochiya	Updated
Satori Komeji	Updated
Seiga Kaku	Updated
Seija Kijin	Updated
Sekibanki	Updated
Shion Yorigami	Updated
Shou Toramaru	Updated
Suika Ibuki	Updated
Suwako Moriya	Updated
Tenshi Hinanawi	Updated
Takane Yamashiro	Profile N/A
Toyosatomimi no Miko	Updated
Tsukasa Kudamaki	Profile N/A
Urumi Ushizaki	Profile N/A
Utsuho Reiuji	Updated
Wakasagihime	Updated
Yachie Kicchou	Profile N/A
Youmu Konpaku	Updated
Yukari Yakumo	Updated
Yuyuko Saigyouji	Updated

 

[Chariot190]

"Reimu, take a look! What do you think this is?"
"This looks like a card with a drawing of that idiot on it......?" "Try holding it." Marisa Kirisame handed Reimu Hakurei a card with a drawing of Cirno."
That's ******* mean.
Anyway having read all that shit, 99% seems good, 0.5% being just shit I'd have listed it differently but it's minor so no point arguing about it. The other 0.5% is
"Transmutation via Offensive Jeweled", I'm not seeing transmutation there? It just sounds like huge **** off gamma beams that can **** up the planet? Elaborate?
Marisa having them all as standard equipment should be having them all as optional equipment instead. She might own them, and she might have them readily available, but that doesn't mean she always has them on her at all times, like in the upcoming title I doubt she's gonna boot up the game with the whole ass kit even if she owns them at home if she does ignore this. This ultimately doesn't change anything, it just makes it a option.
And lastly, I could be wrong, probably am, I just wanna make sure so we don't have a Venom Snake or Pokemon situation (I haven't played any since the game after Wily Beast so I'm a tad behind, as in haven't played these personally to just know off hand). For characters BESIDES Marisa, is there a cap or limit to how many they can have at a time while playing? Like hypothetically, 6 cards, two of each, or something? If so note that for others. If not, well then it doesn't matter and I agree.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

"Reimu, take a look! What do you think this is?"
"This looks like a card with a drawing of that idiot on it......?" "Try holding it." Marisa Kirisame handed Reimu Hakurei a card with a drawing of Cirno."
That's ******* mean.

Baka baka
Baka baka
Baka baka

"Transmutation via Offensive Jeweled", I'm not seeing transmutation there? It just sounds like huge ** off gamma beams that can ** up the planet? Elaborate?

It affects the earth (as in the ground, rocks, minerals, etc), not the Earth (the planet itself). For clarification, It's a property of the Pagoda's laser that can turn earth into jewels.

She might own them, and she might have them readily available, but that doesn't mean she always has them on her at all times, like in the upcoming title I doubt she's gonna boot up the game with the whole ass kit even if she owns them at home if she does ignore this. This ultimately doesn't change anything, it just makes it a option.

In 18 and 18.5, Marisa's motive was to collect all the cards, and even in 18.5, she’s shown carrying some on her person. That said, treating ability cards as standard equipment would likely apply specifically to her post-100th Black Market key. I wouldn’t be opposed to indexing them as "with preparation" either - defeating Chimata is the very reason a new key was considered in the first place, alongside the stat amps she gets from cards.

And lastly, I could be wrong, probably am, I just wanna make sure so we don't have a Venom Snake or Pokemon situation (I haven't played any since the game after Wily Beast so I'm a tad behind, as in haven't played these personally to just know off hand). For characters BESIDES Marisa, is there a cap or limit to how many they can have at a time while playing? Like hypothetically, 6 cards, two of each, or something? If so note that for others. If not, well then it doesn't matter and I agree.

For characters BESIDES Marisa, is there a cap or limit to how many they can have at a time while playing? Like hypothetically, 6 cards, two of each, or something? If so note that for others. If not, well then it doesn't matter and I agree.

Gameplay-wise, in Unconnected Marketeers, you're limited to 3–4 cards at the very start, and the number you can acquire depends on how much money you earn. In 100th Black Market, Marisa can carry up to 27 cards and use them all simultaneously. Cards of the same kind are sold in sets of three, and that cap is not exceeded.

In both stories, characters are shown selling cards in bulk and hosting large-scale card market events. There’s no strict in-lore limitation on possession either - evidence suggests that characters typically own several dozen cards at once. So the ability to just, have and use them all at once is there for sure.

 

[Chariot190]

It affects the earth (as in the ground, rocks, minerals, etc), not the Earth (the planet itself). For clarification, It's a property of the Pagoda's laser that can turn earth into jewels.

That's fine then, make it clearer tho.
The description atm doesn't exactly convey "it transmutes shit into gems" and sounds more like nuclear apocalypse stuff.

In 18 and 18.5, Marisa's motive was to collect all the cards, and even in 18.5, she’s shown carrying some on her person. That said, treating ability cards as standard equipment would likely apply specifically to her post-100th Black Market key. I wouldn’t be opposed to indexing them as "with preparation" either - defeating Chimata is the very reason a new key was considered in the first place, alongside the stat amps she gets from cards.

Well that's exactly what I mean. She had some, but not all right?
She does own these things, but she doesn't exactly have them ALL on her at a given time outside of that specific case.
Prep should be fine tho, same with optional equipment (and in standard just note "various cards" instead).

Gameplay-wise, in Unconnected Marketeers, you're limited to 3–4 cards at the very start, and the number you can acquire depends on how much money you earn. In 100th Black Market, Marisa can carry up to 27 cards and use them all simultaneously. Cards of the same kind are sold in sets of three, and that cap is not exceeded.

In both stories, characters are shown selling cards in bulk and hosting large-scale card market events. There’s no strict in-lore limitation on possession either - evidence suggests that characters typically own several dozen cards at once. So the ability to just, have and use them all at once is there for sure.

Idk, I'd personally list it as up to having 27 unique cards at once, or whatever the ingame limit is. If that's the shown cap.
Like there's no lore for why they can't have more, but also no real lore saying they CAN have more either on their person.
Hell it could be as simple as just lugging around anything past 27 is obnoxious so they don't usually maybe they don't got enough pockets.

At the very least I'd recommend putting a note saying it might be, or it might not be and it's vague and just have it as an optional match thing OP can decide to have the ingame cap or not.

 

[Speedblitzer50]

The blog looks fine, good job

 

[Chariot190]

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

Subjective Reality via Sheep You Want to Count (Doremy Sweet's ability to clear the stage. Described as: "As soon as you obtain it, you clear(?) the stage", with the Marisa's card comment making it seem like Marisa woke from a bad dream she was having. The question mark in the middle of description and how you can still get new Ability Cards does make it seem like it wasn't that much of a dream: "Yuck, I'm totally drawing the short straw this time. Ain't no way I can clear the stage at this rate..." "BUH! Woah, it was all a dream? That sure was surprising...")

How exactly would this work in a versus scenario? Is it even realistically combat applicable?

I’m asking because I think I’ve already seen this ability used in other versus debates.

 

[StrymULTRA]

How exactly would this work in a versus scenario? Is it even realistically combat applicable?

I’m asking because I think I’ve already seen this ability used in other versus debates.

As somebody who got PTSD over this with the supporters saying that the user just wins without elaborating much this is a mutual feeling tbf.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

snip

I'll reply later in the week I prommy...

Work has been demanding my attention.

How exactly would this work in a versus scenario? Is it even realistically combat applicable?

We know that Doremy’s ability to manipulate dreams was used to “clear” the stage. The obvious outcome was that upon using the card, Marisa was unharmed and went on to “fight” the end-boss - who could have been Sakuya, Reimu, Suika, or another character, depending on the preset bosses for each stage - hence why it's labeled as Subjective Reality. And you can obtain Sheep You’d Want to Count on any stage in 18.5.

As for whether it’s combat-applicable: I’d say yes. In a versus sense, an opponent would need to demonstrate that they can resist Doremy’s ability to control dreams, since that’s the ability utilized and contained in Sheep You’d Want to Count.

We also know that using Information Manipulation (Type 1) knowledge can erase Ability Cards, as evidenced by the Blank Card (which, in-game, erases all ability cards in your possession via Chimata's abilities). Similar hax might work, but it would depend on the specific versus scenario.

 

[StrymULTRA]

We know that Doremy’s ability to manipulate dreams was used to “clear” the stage. The obvious outcome was that upon using the card, Marisa was unharmed and went on to “fight” the end-boss - who could have been Sakuya, Reimu, Suika, or another character, depending on the preset bosses for each stage - hence why it's labeled as Subjective Reality. And you can obtain Sheep You’d Want to Count on any stage in 18.5.

You know you could've made this easier in saying that the thing works like Plot hax, right?

Just like Plot hax bullshits the user's way to victory despite it making no sense otherwise, this would be similar if I got it right.

Also I wanna make it clear that it should NOT be treated as a passive like some others were claiming here as otherwise how would a story even go lol

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

Also I wanna make it clear that it should NOT be treated as a passive like some others were claiming here

Yeah, I agree with this.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

You know you could've made this easier in saying that the thing works like Plot hax, right?

Just like Plot hax bullshits the user's way to victory despite it making no sense otherwise, this would be similar if I got it right.

Ehh. Semantics aside I try to stay true to what the source material says best I can - but fair point. And also yes you have the right of it.

Also I wanna make it clear that it should NOT be treated as a passive like some others were claiming here as otherwise how would a story even go lol

Yeah I agree with that sentiment.

It’s meant to be an activated ability with an instantaneous effect. The game goes out of its way to show whether an ability card is being used on-screen and SYWTC is one of those - and when it's not, most of the cards are considered ‘passive’ in the sense that just having them triggers their effects (and most of these cards aren't nearly as haxy as SYWTC).

Admittedly I can empathize with the frustration. I apologize if I have contributed to that in the past.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

bump

 

[Tuxidoe_Redo]

What does bump mean

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

bump

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

bump

 

[Shmooply]

No clue how I missed this thread, but I agree.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

bump

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

Bump

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

bump

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

Oh btw I agree with the thread too.

 

[Apex_Predator_GX]

OP seems reasonable to me.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

Still awaiting staff input!

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

Bump

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

Master Bump

 

[Apex_Predator_GX]

Bump

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

Fantasy Bump!!!

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

We're past the two month mark on this and I've messaged at least 6+ Admins/Mods to evaluate insofar. Hope this thread gains momentum sooner than later.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

Clownpiece day is near...

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

We are still waiting ong

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump Sign ~ Eternal Thread

 

[ExcelsisBerny]

Touhou is so powerful that all the staff members are terrified.

We must ask Eirin for help.

 

[Apex_Predator_GX]

Touhou is so powerful that all the staff members are terrified.

Agree.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

I'll do a cartwheel if this gets evaluated in a month before Touhou 20's release.

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

 

[Wonder_of_Fantasy]

Bump

 

[ActuallySpaceMan42]

Don't know Touhou very well, so I'll keep out of the other stuff. These are the only abilities I found issues with, the rest seem good.

• Clairvoyance via Money Comes and Goes On its Own (Nazrin's ability that gives money. Described as: "It gathers up all the stuff lying around the area. The so-called asset liquidation item. Similar to Nazrin's own ability to dowse for treasure.)\
  • Seems more like telekinesis or something.
• Soul Absorption, Memory Manipulation, Power Absorption, Sealing, & Information Analysis via Ancient Magatama (Misumaru Tamatsukuri's ability to make a magatama appear on each side. They erase bullets coming directly from either side of you. According to the Unconnected Marketeers Omake, magatama are refined Izanagi Objects capable of capturing a small part of one's soul. In doing so, one may also gather and seal a person's memories and abilities, or discern their intentions.)
  • Feel like this would be Power Mimicry as well.
• Limited Earth Manipulation via Keystone of Endurance (Tenshi Hinanawi's ability to throw a keystone, which acts as a shield and erases bullets. It's a reliable stone that can erase a considerable number of bullets.")
  • Is throwing a rock Earth Manipulation?
• Clairvoyance via Money Comes and Goes On its Own (Same as before. Nazrin's ability to give you 50 ~ 100 Funds or Bullet Money depending on if it's sold through legitimate means (card market) or illegitimate means (black market) respectively.)
  • Like the other one, can someone elaborate?
• Passive Durability Negation & Limited Power Nullification via Beauty of Destruction (Flandre Scarlet's ability to destroy enemy bullets with your magic circle. Once your magic circle is deployed, enemy bullets that overlap it will be destroyed. *Can be purchased more than once. Destruction count increases with multiple copies.)
  • I can understand Power Nullification, but where is the Durability Negation coming from?
• Resurrection & Limited Resistance to Death Manipulation via Money is the Best Lawyer in Hell (Eiki Shiki's ability to nullify a death by spending your Bullet Money. Described as: "If you get hit with 300 or more Bullet Money on hand, you can spend it all and come back to life! Depending on how much money you've got, you can return to the mortal realm. That's right! The most corrupt people in Gensokyo are the Yama!")
  • Not sure about the Death Manipulation.