Demonic Arts

Demonic arts (妖術, yāoshù/yōjutsu) are abilities that allow monsters/demons (妖怪, yāoguài/yōkai) to achieve similar effects to magic using their demonic aura (妖气, yāoqì/yōki) rather than magical energy. These abilities can be general abilities such as transformation or special abilities unique to each species of demons.

General Abilities

All yāoguài/yōkai can use their demonic aura to bolster their physical attributes (strength, durability, or speed), though the level to which these attributes can be boosted depends on the individual’s species and training. Certain yāoguài/yōkai can better capitalize on this ability like vampires and werewolves. The other ability all yāoguài/yōkai have access to is transformation. Yāoguài/yōkai are able to change their physical form to becoming another being (sentient or non-sentient however, they can only copy that being’s physical appearance and not their powers/abilities or memories. Furthermore, yāoguài/yōkai cannot hide their demonic aura with a transformation; thus, they can be detected if their opponent is skilled at sensing spiritual energy.

Species-specific Abilities

Fox spirits

Fox spirits are demons with origins in China, popularized in Japan, and said to possess fox fire (狐火, kitsunebi), a special type of fire constantly emanating from their bodies providing both defensive and offensive capabilities. With proper training to weild the fox fire, the fox spirit will be able to manifest the fire in different forms such as:

• Flame Wheel (火炎車, Kaen guruma) - an attack used by Tamamo-no-Mae and her daughter Karen Matsumoto which takes the form of a spinning ring of fire that charges at the opponent
• Flame Wheel Revised: Conflagration of Heaven and Earth (火炎車改・天壌の劫火, Kaen guruma kai: Tenjō no gōka) - an attack only known to have been used by Tamamo-no-Mae which takes form of a spinning ring of fire that then after coming within range of the opponent and scorches everything in the area

Bakeneko

A bakeneko (化け猫, monster cat) is a popular yōkai in Japanese folklore, and is known for its abilities to speak the human language and shape-shift. When a bakeneko reaches a certain age, it grows larger and its tail splits in two, becoming a nekomata (猫又, forked-cat). These yōkai were said to have gained the powers of necromancy, and had been associated with strange fires and other unexplainable occurrences [2]. The fire used by nekomata, called hellfire (業火, gōka), is a mixture of blue and black or blue and white in color.

Yuki-onna

Yuki-onna is a Japanese yōkai with the ability to create snow and ice at will. Generally, a cold chill emanates from their bodies wherever they go; in certain conditions, this cold air becomes a visible mist.