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The Clow Cards (クロウカード, Kurō Kādo?) are fictional magical items and characters from Clamp's manga and anime series Cardcaptor Sakura.

In the second half of the series, they become known as Sakura Cards (さくらカード Sakura Kādo).

History

The Clow Cards were created in Hong Kong by the sorcerer Clow Reed. They were the result of a combination of both Eastern and Western magic that formed the basis of an entirely new type of wizardry unlike anything else seen at the time.

To contain the incredible power of the Clow Cards after his passing, Clow Reed locked them into the Clow Book. In addition, he assigned two magical beings (whom he also created) to guard the Clow Cards--Cerberus (represented by a golden, winged lion on the Clow Book's front cover) and Yue (represented by a winged, crescent moon on the Clow Book's back cover). The two guardians watch for anyone who would be capable of becoming the new master of the Clow Cards, with Cerberus, Beast of the Seal and The Selector, being the advocate of the new candidate and Yue, the Judge, passing the final judgment of worthiness.

Role

Each Clow Card has its own personality, ranging from good-natured to mischievous, and its own special powers which are mostly centered around an elemental force or a specific task.

Each Card also has an alternative form used to interact with others. This form varies with each Card but is usually a humanoid often female or an animal. The humanoid Cards are all female except for Time in lieu of the fabled "Father Time." Other forms include regular objects, such as a book, sword, and padlock. At the start of the anime, Sakura Kinomoto accidentally releases the Cards from the Clow Book in which they were sealed. The first half of the series follows Sakura as she recaptures all of the Clow Cards.

In the second half of the series, Sakura has passed the Final Judgment and is declared the new Master of the Clow. As a result, the Clow Cards lose their affinity with Clow Reed. Sakura must realign all of them under her magic, thus transforming them into Sakura Cards (Star Cards in Cardcaptors). These have a pink color scheme as opposed to the red scheme of the Clow Cards.

Sakura is also capable of creating new Cards, evidenced by the creation of the nameless card at the end of the anime (Episode 70).

There are 19 Cards in the manga and 53 Cards in the anime. The original 19 Cards from the manga also have some new abilities in the anime. Also, like most manga-to-anime transitions, the plots are not exactly the same. In this case, the Cards were captured in a different order and also through different plots and tactics.

The Clow Cards fall into three categories: those under a specific sign, those under a specific element, and those created for a task or purpose. Some Cards may belong to more than one category.

Elements: Fire, Earth, Wind, Water
Signs: Sun, Moon
Tasks: Various (i.e movement, levitation, reflection)

Order by transformation

Here the Clow Cards are listed in the order of transformation into Sakura Cards in the original Japanese anime. This order may be different from what is aired in the English dub (where they are called Star Cards after transformation).

火 The Firey
歌 The Song
剣 The Sword
跳 The Jump
翔 The Fly
消 The Erase
力 The Power
甘 The Sweet
錠 The Lock
秤 The Libra
砂 The Sand
声 The Voice
替 The Change
波 The Wave
風 The Windy
駆 The Dash
輪 The Loop
花 The Flower
大 The Big
小 The Little
眠 The Sleep
浮 The Float
泡 The Bubbles
盾 The Shield
影 The Shadow
凍 The Freeze
鏡 The Mirror
霧 The Mist
夢 The Dream
水 The Watery
時 The Time
幻 The Illusion
迷 The Maze
樹 The Wood
雷 The Thunder
灯 The Glow
雪 The Snow
戻 The Return
雨 The Rain
撃 The Shot
静 The Silent
闘 The Fight
嵐 The Storm
雲 The Cloud
闇 The Dark
光 The Light
無 The Nothing


Transformations not shown:

矢 The Arrow
創 The Create
地 The Earthy
移 The Move
抜 The Through
双 The Twin

Clow Cards: A-F

矢 The Arrow
The Arrow is an attack card capable of creating and firing a continuous stream of magical arrows. The arrows appear to strike like regular arrows but are capable of penetrating concrete, and a barrage of them can bend the steel infrastructure of a skyscraper. Arrow is very similar to Shot in their projectile uses, but Arrow is capable of multiple volleys while Shot can only fire single (though faster) shots. Arrow was captured by Sakura during the movie at the school. The spirit later saved her from drowning after the sorceress Soo Yung tries to kill her inside a flooded skyscraper.

Appearance
Arrow's visible form is a small, blue-purplish girl with a pudding basin haircut and two long pigtails. Arrow carries a short bow.

Captured
First Movie
Transformation

Arrow's transformation is not shown in the series.

大 The Big
When used, The Big enables a person or a specified object to grow to giant proportions with seemingly no limits. In the anime, Big enlarges a cat to a size threatening to Sakura and company; however, the cat is still as peaceful while big as it was while a small stray. When Syaoran rushes in to save Meiling after the cat pinned her to the ground, the cat turns its attention to Syaoran and begins licking his entire head. Shortly after it pins him down also and proceeds to rub its cheek all over his body. Sakura, Tomoyo and Kero notice giant plants and find the Big sitting beside a pond, where she makes a fish grow gigantic. Sakura approaches and Big willingly allows herself to be captured, turning everything back to their original sizes.

Sakura later uses Big to become a giant and fight off one of the Create card's many creations (a giant dragon).

Appearance
Big's visible form resembles a very tall woman, dressed like a medieval princess with a two-star pointed hat. Big is almost an exact copy of its sister card, The Little, except for color and height. Clow Reed designed The Big robe to make her looks fit and beautiful.

Captured
Episode 31 (Japanese Original)

Transformation
Big is transformed in Episode 55. When Sakura is stuck in Wonderland, she transforms it in order to return her to normal height (and then some) after Mad Hatter Toya's tea shrinks her.

泡 The Bubbles
The Bubbles is capable of creating bubbles, usually of a soapy nature in order to wash things. According to Cerberus, Clow Reed created The Bubbles in order to bathe him and wash other things. Cerberus seems embarrassed by the fact that Clow Reed created Bubbles specifically to clean him and his clothes.

Appearance
Bubbles's visible form appears to be a free-standing mound of pink bubbles. Bubbles's card form shows a small mermaid with long, thick hair made of bubbles.

Captured
Bubbles's capture is not shown directly in the series, but episode 36 shows that Sakura had captured it over spring break (the time period following episode 35). Bubbles' capture is briefly seen at the start of the second film, during one of Tomoyo's recordings of Sakura's captures. Bubbles' capture features Sakura, Syaoran, Kero and presumably Tomoyo fighting a large tower of bubbles at the school during the night. Its capture is heard, and Sakura presumably got it.

Transformation
Bubbles is transformed when Sakura uses it to bathe Cerberus in Episode 58.

替 The Change
The Change is able to do something involving changing. In case of the anime, Change is able to swap the minds (or bodies) of two people. This swapping can only occur once a day, and if a change is not reverted after some time, it becomes permanent. Syaoran and Keroberos have been victims of Change's ability, resulting in a rather unique day at school and at home, before Sakura is able to reverse their switched minds a day later.

Appearance
Change's visible form resembles a blue chameleon.

Captured
Episode 32 (Japanese Original)

Transformation
Change is transformed in Episode 53 during Sakura's frantic wave of transformations.

雲 The Cloud
The Cloud creates thick clouds all over the sky, also moving them however it pleases. Like Rain, it is not a very combative card. Cloud did not generally cause any problems like Rain did, but it did cause Sakura to come out to capture it when she had a very bad fever. Syaoran and Meiling came along to lend a hand, Syaoran revealing Cloud using his fire element incantation. Sakura captured Cloud with help from Meiling, who lifted the staff for her.

Appearance
Cloud's visible form is very similar to The Rain's. The difference is that the designs on her dress are composed of clouds.

Captured
Episode 39 (Japanese Original)

Transformation
Cloud is transformed in episode 69 when Sakura transforms the last remaining Clow Cards.

創 The Create
The Create is able to give existence to anything written in its visible form, a mostly blank storybook. There is no limit as to what can be brought to life, provided the writer keeps Create opened and filled with ideas. It can also give the writer inspirations. Created life forms can interact with their surroundings, whether benevolent or malevolent. However, its power is only active at night. In the anime, Naoko Yanagisawa (Nikki), after buying Create from its hiding place in a bookstore, writes a story in it about princesses, flying animals, and a dragon. All of the Naoko's characters come to life a short distance away in town. After its capture, Sakura continues to use this card to fight illusionary monsters, both for training and for Tomoyo's video recordings.

Appearance
Create's visible form is a thin brown book with an eight-pointed star-like compass design on the front.

Captured
Episode 31 (Japanese Original)

Transformation
Create's transformation is not shown in the series. However, Create is seen to be transformed in a Video Diary - it is used along with Move to trick Cerberus, with a Lemon cake.

闇 The Dark
The Dark is able to warp space, creating darkness that can isolate and nullify non-magical beings if given enough time (like Erase). Dark is the first card under Yue and is special in that it cannot be physically attacked. Dark can only be defeated by The Light. The Dark interrupted Sakura and Syaoran's play where they were about to kiss, engulfing everyone except Sakura and Cerberus in darkness. Sakura was able to defeat the Dark by releasing the Light from her heart. It was all revealed to be a test and the two cards allowed themselves to be captured.

Appearance
Dark's visible form is a regal woman draped in black with straight ebony hair. On its Card, it clutches a crescent moon in one hand, and a star in the other.

Captured
Episode 42 (Japanese Original)

Transformation
Dark is transformed in Episode 69; Sakura transforms it so that she can transform Light and end Eriol's spell. In the manga, Sakura transforms Dark (together with Light) in volume 11.

駆 The Dash
The Dash is able to run at supernatural speeds for short distances. It can grant this ability to others as well. In the anime, Dash takes shelter at the home of Rei Tachibana (Jessie), one of Tomoeda Elementary's star track runners who takes in Dash after it escapes Sakura's initial attempt at capturing it. Dash helps Rei by speeding up her legs whenever she runs, allowing her to break records and to qualify for a position in the city-wide track meet. Sakura and Syaoran capture Dash prior to the competition, however, but Rei manages to advance to the final round on her own. She had been missing Dash, whom she named Peewee (Hoppy), but gains enough motivation to win the final hundred-meter dash when she sees an image of Dash at the end of the track. The image is not an illusion but Dash itself as summoned by Syaoran.

Appearance
Dash's visible form is a blue, fox-like creature with long rabbit ears.

Captured
Episode 30 (Japanese original)

Transformation
In episode 53, Sakura panics when Cerberus warns her that untransformed Clow Cards will gradually lose their powers and, in response, frantically transforms a small assortment of cards into Sakura Cards. Sakura's magic is still too weak to transform all the remaining cards, however, and she nearly faints after about the seventh card. Unfortunately, the last card she attempted to transform, Dash, had not been completely transitioned. Its being now stuck between two magic sources causes Dash to panic and escape into town, possessing Toya's bicycle in the process. Sakura and Cerberus chase Dash into the park, where Sakura uses The Loop in order to catch up and get close to it. She takes Dash in her arms and calms it until she is able to perform a full transformation.

夢 The Dream
The Dream is able to create all sorts of dreams, including prophetic ones for those with magical powers. Though it is not aggressive or malicious, dealing with it can be difficult, as it is relatively undetectable when one does not know it is nearby. Like with Return, Time can be used to disrupt it.

Appearance
One of Dream's visible forms is a mysterious blue butterfly. Another form is a female humanoid dressed in flowing robes and an elaborate headdress that covers its eyes, perhaps indicating its status as a blind prophet, such as the Greek prophet Tiresias.

Captured
Episode 40 (Japanese Original)

Transformation
In Episode 62, Sakura transformed Dream in her sleep, causing her to have a dream involving Eriol, Spinel Sun, and Ruby Moon at Tsukimine Shrine.

地 The Earthy
The Earthy is capable of considerable property destruction by creating earthquakes and various other geological disturbances. As one of the four elementals and the last card to be captured in both manga and anime, it is perhaps the most powerful of the Clow Cards (except for The Nothing). However, in accordance with the Chinese balance of five elements, it is vulnerable to Wood. Sakura captures it using Wood. This capture finally allows Kero-chan to become Cerberus.

Appearance
Earthy's visible form is a giant serpentine pile of earth and rock. In the manga it appears as the woman depicted on the Card. The woman form is briefly shown in the anime while Sakura is sealing the card.

Captured
Episode 45 (Japanese Original)

Transformation
Earthy's transformation is shown in the anime for the same reason of the manga. In the manga (Volume 9) Sakura transforms Earthy in order to restore a hole made by Eriol at Penguin Park.

消 The Erase
The Erase has the power to make almost anything, including people, disappear. Erase also has the power to erase magical elements, once banishing a pit full of stuffed sheep created by Eriol during one of Sakura's trials. Once something has been erased by Erase it can be returned if the card is captured but, if that person or object is gone for too long, it disappears permanently.

Sakura first encounters Erase in the anime during a school field trip. A "Test of Courage" activity is held at night, where students are grouped in pairs or triples and must traverse a cave with only a candle for light. However, all the students that enter do not return, as Erase has erased them in the back of the cave. Eventually Sakura and Syaoran are the only students remaining. Sakura, after (temporarily) overcoming her fears, makes it to the end of the cave, where Erase laid waiting. After Erase's capture, all the students return to safety, although it erased all of their memories, but Tomoyo was informed by Sakura of what really happened. Erase also uses her jester dress to Erase others.

Appearance
Erase often appears as a bank of grayish fog, but its visible form is a small imp dressed in a yellow-and-white-patterned court jesters outfit. It has a large ruff around its neck with a long hat with two points that trail almost to the ground. On the Card, it carries a cape posed as if to hide something -- similar to how magicians use capes during a magic trick.

Captured
Episode 17 (Japanese Original)
Episode 15 (Full English Dub)
Episode 3 (American Adaptation)

Transformation
Erase is transformed in Episode 52. Sakura used it to erase all the plush sheep that Eriol sent down the hole she was in. In the English dub, Erase is transformed in episode 48. In the manga, Erase is transformed right before Sakura transforms Earthy in Volume 9.

闘 The Fight
The Fight is an accomplished martial artist who lives for the challenge of seeking new opponents for her skills. Calling on Fight allows its caster to gain great fighting skills.

When first encountered in the anime, Fight is haunting the local park, looking for new opponents after having already beaten several of Tomoeda's best martial artists. Knowing that the only way to seal Fight is to defeat her in battle, Meiling Li (herself an accomplished fighter) tries to challenge Fight, but the card's supernatural strength and endurance prove too much for her, and she was defeated. Fight's next target is Sakura, who is both outmatched and outclassed compared to the card, but she fortunately manages to find a way.

In one final attack, Fight charges at Sakura. In a blind panic, Sakura countered by wielding her sealing wand, endowed with the enormous strength of The Power, and crashed it down on Fight's head, knocking the card out cold. Fight most likely suffered the most painful capture of any of the cards.

Appearance
In its visible form, Fight resembles a teenage girl with cropped shoulder length hair and four ponytails, two long and two short. She wears a blue leotard with white trimmings and a pair of blue and white thigh-length boots. Based on this appearance, it has been suggested that Fight is supposed to be Chinese rather than Japanese--a fact that would fit in well with its creator's Chinese heritage.

Captured
Episode 20 (Japanese Original)
Episode 18 (English Dub)
Episode 6 (American Adaptation)

Transformation
Fight is transformed in episode 69 when Sakura transforms the last remaining Clow Cards.

火 The Firey
The Firey is a powerful attack card that is able to set things on fire and to attack using blasts of fire. As an element card under the symbol of the Sun, Firey is one of the cards directly linked to Keroberos. Kero receives a large power boost when Sakura captures it in the anime. In the manga, Firey's capture allows Kero to return to his true form (where Earthy is additionally required in the anime).

Firey is one of the most powerful Clow Cards, not only matching both Windy and Watery in strength but also having a highly aggressive nature that makes it more dangerous than both Cards. To defeat Firey, Sakura combines the power of both Windy and Watery, fellow elemental cards. Because of the brutal nature of its power and the card's rebellious attitude, Sakura rarely uses Firey. However in a fit of anger one night, Sakura unleashes Firey in order to neutralize (in seconds) The Snow.

Appearance
Although in the anime Firey appears to be male, it clearly appears female in the manga when it is first shown (pages 23-25). Firey is a female with shoulder length blond hair, a bare torso, and very long elf-like ears, and has a crown of fire around its head. It also has large orange-feathered wings and could be said to represent a Phoenix. The existence of legs also changes in manga and the anime. In the manga, the pillar of fire exists immediately under what appears to be Firey's waist; whereas in the anime, Firey's body extends considerably further and then the fire appears. Despite the location of the fire, in both the manga (page 36) and the anime, Firey's legs are visible as it is falling after it is defeated by Watery and Windy just prior to Sakura's capture of it.

Captured
Episode 35 (Japanese Original)
Episode 33 (Full English Dub)
Episode 13 (American Adaptation)

Transformation
Firey is the first Clow Card transformed into a Sakura Card. Sakura transforms it in episode 48 when she realizes she must now utilize her own magical ability when summoning the Cards, instead of Clow's.

浮 The Float
The Float, as its name implies, likes to make things float. Float is a mischievous spirit, but it is also quite gentle and was easy for Sakura to seal. In the anime, Cerberus discovers Float when it starts levitating objects in a little girl's room, including the girl, Akane, herself. Kero contacts Sakura via a fax machine, and she arrives in time to seal Float away before it floats Akane above the atmosphere. Akane starts falling as a result, but Sakura uses Wood to cushion her descent.

In the American release of Cardcaptors, the Float Card's capture was never shown. The episode was cut for content due to Cerberus's getting drunk early in the episode. Fans of the show presumed Sakura captured the card between the Power and Erase's capture.

Appearance
Float's visible form resembles a large balloon with white wings.

Captured
Episode 15 (Japanese Original)
Episode 15 (Full English Dub)
Not shown (American Adaptation)

Transformation
Float was transformed during episode 57, when Sakura fell into darkness. It returned her to the floor of the elevator.

花 The Flower
The Flower has a gentle and fun loving spirit, able to create any kind of flower or blossom. However, she sometimes does this a little too enthusiastically, once nearly burying Sakura's school underneath a mountain of flower petals. Though Flower has no offensive capability, Sakura has used it to create bouquets and blossoms as presents for others. Sakura also witnessed Clow Reed using it to fill his garden with flowers when she uses the Return to go back to Clow's time in Episode 68.

In the manga (captured in volume 2), Flower has been used defensively to create a shield of blossoms around Sakura.

Appearance
Flower's visible form is a young lady in a long flowing pink dress, with corkscrew pigtails and a flower pattern on her forehead. On its card, it appears to be holding a large blossom.

Captured
Episode 10 (Japanese Original)
Episode 10 (Full English Dub)
Not shown (American Adaptation)

Transformation
Flower is transformed in Episode 54. Sakura used it to create flowers to include in her birthday present for her great-grandfather.

翔 The Fly
The Fly is the first Clow Card captured using Sakura's sealing wand. It has since become Sakura's most used card. When activated it adds large wings to the end of the sealing wand that allow Sakura (and at least one passenger) to fly. After its transformation into a Sakura Card, Sakura is able to use Fly's wings herself (they grow out of her back), allowing her to keep the sealing wand free to use with other cards. This event occurred when Eriol possessed a teddy bear and expanded it to great heights, and Sakura needed to use both Fly and Sword to defeat it.

In the anime, Fly is captured using Windy. In the Manga, Fly is hurt and then coaxed into returning to its card form by Sakura, without using any cards.

Fly is first seen in volume 1 of the manga.

In the second movie, Fly is one of the remaining five cards that Sakura has in her possession, and the third one that she uses against the Nothing. Sakura uses Fly to chase the Nothing around the amusement park, but when she and the Nothing directly confronts each other, the Nothing easily steals Fly from Sakura, leaving Sakura with only two cards left-the Shield and the Nameless Card.

Appearance
Fly resembles a giant white bird with a long neck and short beak.

Captured
Episode 1 (Japanese Original)
Episode 1 (Full English Dub)
Note: Like The Windy, capture of The Fly is only shown in the United States as a flashback during episode 16.

Transformation
Fly is transformed in episode 51 of the anime. This transformation is never screened in the United States because of scene deletions.

凍 The Freeze
The Freeze is able to freeze things, emit ice as a weapon, and lower the temperature of a localized area to freezing point (and possibly beyond it). It is very crafty when using its abilities in combat, such as attacking with frozen glaciers or attacking targets from behind with pillars of ice. In the anime, Freeze lowers the temperature to freezing point inside a skating rink where Sakura's class has taken a field trip. In addition to the freezing temperatures, everybody except for Sakura, Syaoran, and Kaho Mizuki is magically frozen in ice. While Ms. Mizuki hides (the reason is left unsaid, but it is implied that she wants to let Sakura and Syaoran deal with the card on their own), Sakura and Syaoran are left to battle Freeze on the rink as it swims through the ice as if it were water, with them eventually overpowering the card and Syaoran becoming the Freeze's master.

Appearance
Freeze's visible form resembles a giant goldfish-like creature seemingly composed of ice.

Captured
Episode 33 (Japanese Original)

Transformation
In Episode 60, Sakura used Freeze to stop some animated penguin statues.