Benben Tsukumo

Tsukumogami of an Aged Biwa

Stats

Base

Fantasy Rebirth

Health

5500

Agility

1200

Yang ATK

1150

Yang DEF

700

Yin ATK

1450

Yin DEF

850

Races

Foundational Presence Gensokyo God Musician Older Sister Tsukumogami Yaoyorozu no Kami

Element Type Chart

Shunshou

Expand

Shunshou (a Touhou LW original) refers to spring evenings. This is appropriate for Benben who is a tsukumogami of a biwa, a Japanese lute. Benben is endowed with Wood Essence, with the biwa being an instrument made out of wood, and Moon Essence, with her aptitude for adapting to any situation.

The strong and kind Wood Phase resists Water Phase, because water nourishes wood, but it is weak to Metal Phase, because metal carves wood.

The cooperative and indecisive Moon Essence resists the alluring and arrogant Sun Essence, but it is weak to the diverse and uncooperative Star Essence.

Sun

Moon

Fire

Water

Wood

Metal

Earth

Star

Character Shots

Vengeful Spirit Tale

Benben Tsukumo's Spread Shot (a Touhou LW original). In this attack, she plays the biwa while telling a story about vengeful spirits, a priest, and an earless musician. Upon hearing this famous story, you will realize how terrifying vengeful spirits can truly be. However, you will also learn that if you write Buddhist Sutras all over your body, vengeful spirits will be unable to see you.

	Solo	Vengeful Spirit Curse	x6	Yin
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.57 ACC 75% CRI 5%
	Solo	Monk's Tale	x2	Yang	1
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.11 ACC 75% CRI 5%
	Solo	Great Vengeful Spirit Curse	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.11 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Target][Adhesive]20% chance to inflict Delay (acts later in the turn) to Target (1 turn(s)).
	Solo	Heike Vengeful Spirit Curse	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.11 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Sage-Killer] [Mistress-Killer]
	Solo	Heike Great Vengeful Spirit Curse	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: Water PWR 4.11 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Sage-Killer] [Mistress-Killer]
	Solo	Biwa Monk's Tale	x2	Yang	3
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.11 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 20% of Agility

Score Attack

Benben Tsukumo's Focus Shot (a Touhou LW original). Bullets in the shape of a musical staff are shot out in this attack. The biwa was traditionally played by using its own musical notation, so the fact that Benben knows staff notation means that she somehow gained access to this knowledge from the outside world, or that her biwa was still in the outside world until recently. Regardless, it is thanks to this universal language of music that she can so easily play songs together with Raiko and the Prismriver Sisters.

	All	Power of Musical Staves	x3	Yin
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 10.16 ACC 75% CRI 5%
	All	First Line	x2	Yang	1
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.57 ACC 75% CRI 5% [All Targets][Agility▼]20% chance to apply Agility 1 level(s) DOWN debuff to All Targets (2 turn(s)).
	All	Second Line	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.57 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 15% of Agility
	All	Third Line	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.57 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 15% of Agility
	All	Fourth Line	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: Wood PWR 4.57 ACC 75% CRI 5%
	All	Fifth Line	x2	Yang	3
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.57 ACC 75% CRI 5% [All Targets][Agility▼]30% chance to apply Agility 1 level(s) DOWN debuff to All Targets (2 turn(s)).

Character Spell Cards

Available

Limit Break 1

Limit Break 2

Limit Break 3

Heikyoku: Sounds of Jetavana's Bell

Benben Tsukumo's Spell Card. In this attack, she plays a tune inspired by a classic military epic. The Tale of the Heike starts with the sound of Jetavana's bells, which echo the impermanence of all things. A time comes when all those who live in prosperity must fall. The tsukumogami may have taken this as inspiration in regards to Gensokyo's current regime (the sages etc.) in a past incident.

*Pre- and Post- effects assume max level. Effects per level can be viewed here.

Pre-Attack Spell Card Effects

Own Spirit Power 0.75 UP.

Own Focus 2 level(s) DOWN (2 turns). [Additional effect +1 with success rate 20%.]

Post-Attack Spell Card Effects

None

	All	Volume One	x15	Yin
Energy Bullet Element: Wood PWR 3.9 ACC 75% CRI 5%
	All	Volume Two	x4	Yang	1
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.39 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Sage-Killer] [Mistress-Killer]
	All	Volume Three	x4	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.39 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Sage-Killer] [Mistress-Killer] [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 20% of Agility
	All	Volume Four	x4	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.39 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Sage-Killer] [Mistress-Killer]
	All	Volume Five	x4	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: Wood PWR 4.39 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Sage-Killer] [Mistress-Killer] [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 20% of Agility
	All	Volume Six	x4	Yang	3
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 4.39 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 30% of Agility

Music Sign: Malicious Musical Score

Benben Tsukumo's Spell Card. She shoots out vicious bullets in the form of musical staves. Like tsukumogami, musical staves do not have sentience at first. Staves imbued with maliciousness may be a type of kotodama, a spirit that dwells in words, or perhaps they could be like the musical note bullets, where the bullets are the embodiment of sound itself.

*Pre- and Post- effects assume max level. Effects per level can be viewed here.

Pre-Attack Spell Card Effects

Target's Agility 2 level(s) DOWN (3 turns).

Target's Yin DEF 2 level(s) DOWN (3 turns).

Post-Attack Spell Card Effects

None

	Solo	Power of Malicious Musical Staves	x9	Yin
Energy Bullet Element: Wood PWR 9.75 ACC 75% CRI 5%
	Solo	Malicious First Line	x2	Yang	1
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 13.17 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 20% of Agility
	Solo	Malicious Second Line	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 13.17 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 25% of Agility
	Solo	Malicious Third Line	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 13.17 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Target][Yin ATK▼]35% chance to apply Yin ATK 1 level(s) DOWN debuff to Target (3 turn(s)).
	Solo	Malicious Fourth Line	x2	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: Wood PWR 13.17 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Target][Yin DEF▼]35% chance to apply Yin DEF 1 level(s) DOWN debuff to Target (3 turn(s)).
	Solo	Malicious Fifth Line	x2	Yang	3
Energy Bullet Element: None PWR 13.17 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 25% of Agility [Target][Yin ATK▼]50% chance to apply Yin ATK 1 level(s) DOWN debuff to Target (3 turn(s)).

Kenjou - Imperial Palace Inferno

Benben Tsukumo's Last Word (a Touhou LW original). This attack is a manifestation of the resentment that some tsukumogami have. It is apparently based on a story of an old biwa youkai who takes revenge by burning down its former owner's residence. Tools should be treated with care and given a proper send off when they can no longer be used.

*Pre- and Post- effects assume max level. Effects per level can be viewed here.

Pre-Attack Spell Card Effects

Own Yin ATK 2 level(s) UP (3 turns).

Own Agility 2 level(s) UP (3 turns).

Post-Attack Spell Card Effects

None

	All	Imperial Palace Fire	x13	Yin
Energy Bullet Element: Fire PWR 11.25 ACC 75% CRI 5% [All Targets][Firebomb]50% chance to inflict Barrier Status: Burn to All Targets (2 turn(s)).
	All	Imperial Palace Collapse	x5	Yang	1
Heavy Bullet Element: Wood PWR 8.78 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Mistress-Killer] [Self][Agility△]35% chance to apply Agility 1 level(s) UP buff to Self (2 turn(s)).
	All	Imperial Palace Inferno	x5	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: Fire PWR 8.78 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Mistress-Killer] [Sage-Killer] [Self][Agility△]35% chance to apply Agility 1 level(s) UP buff to Self (2 turn(s)).
	All	Blazing Imperial Palace Inferno	x5	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: Fire PWR 8.78 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Mistress-Killer] [Sage-Killer] [Self][Agility△]35% chance to apply Agility 1 level(s) UP buff to Self (2 turn(s)).
	All	Imperial Palace Hellfire	x5	Yin	2
Energy Bullet Element: Fire PWR 8.78 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 50% of Agility [All Targets][Firebomb]70% chance to inflict Barrier Status: Burn to All Targets (2 turn(s)).
	All	Great Imperial Palace Collapse	x5	Yang	3
Heavy Bullet Element: Wood PWR 8.78 ACC 75% CRI 5% [Mistress-Killer] [Slice]DMG scales with ATK in addition to 50% of Agility

Character Ability

Capable of making sounds and performing on her own

Expand

This is Benben and Yatsuhashi's ability as tsukumogami of instruments. Tsukumogami are tools that have attained sentience, so being able to make sounds and perform by oneself could be taken for granted, but since the two of them only became tsukumogami recently, being able to perform without a musician is surely a joy. Benben is especially happy with becoming a tsukumogami as it has made it possible for her to have a sisterly relationship with Yatsuhashi and to talk with various humans and youkai. There was a real risk of the two of them reverting to plain old instruments when a past incident was resolved, but Raiko helped make it so that they could retain their human-like forms.

Nullifies the effects of Barrier Status: Freeze.

When using Graze, own Agility 1 level UP (1 turn).

Character Skills

Secret Song: Youshinsou Lvl 10

CD 6

Own Agility 1 level(s) UP (2 turns). [Additional effect +1 with success rate 80%.]

Own Spirit Power 0.75 UP.

Info

The True and Faithful Willow. This is one of the secret biwa songs that was played in the imperial court. The contents of the song itself are no longer known.

Skill Level		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Agility Level Up
	Value	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
	Rate	0	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	80
	Add	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Spirit Power Up
	Value	0.25	0.3	0.35	0.4	0.45	0.5	0.55	0.6	0.65	0.75
	Rate	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Add	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
CD		6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6

Secret Song: Takuboku Lvl 10

CD 4

Own Accuracy 3 level(s) UP (3 turns).

Info

Woodpecker. This is one of the secret biwa songs that were played in the imperial court. The contents of the song itself has been lost to time.

Skill Level		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Accuracy Level Up
	Value	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	3	3
	Rate	0	30	60	80	0	20	50	80	0	0
	Add	0	1	1	1	0	1	1	1	0	0
CD		5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	4

Secret Song: Ryuusen Lvl 10

CD 4

Own Agility 2 level(s) UP (1 turn). [Additional effect +1 with success rate 80%.]

Own Accuracy 2 level(s) UP (1 turn). [Additional effect +1 with success rate 80%.]

Info

Flowing Hot Springs. This is one of the secret biwa songs that was played in the imperial court. The song itself is a mystery...

Skill Level		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Agility Level Up
	Value	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
	Rate	0	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	80
	Add	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Accuracy Level Up
	Value	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
	Rate	0	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	80
	Add	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
CD		5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	4

Character Characteristics

Tsukumogami Pride

When attacked, DMG from tsukumogami 20% DOWN. [Success rate 100%.]

Reckless Rhythm

When wave starts, target's Agility 1 level DOWN (3 turns). [Success rate 30%.]

The Osaka Barrier

When turn starts, dispels 1 of own Bind or stat debuff. [Success rate 45%.]

Character Change Effect

Speed Link

When switching places with a rear-guard unit, other unit's Agility, Accuracy, & Evasion UP (3 turns).
When switching places with a front-guard unit, inherits part of other unit's Agility, Accuracy, & Evasion buffs (3 turns).

Upgrade Costs

Rank	Coins	Materials
0 -> 1	1000	x10 x20 x10 x10 x20 x10
1 -> 2	2,000	x20 x10 x10 x20 x10 x20
2 -> 3	5,000	x20 x20 x20 x20 x20 x20
3 -> 4	10,000	x30 x20 x20 x30 x20 x30
4 -> 5	15,000	x30 x30 x30 x30 x30 x30

Character Analysis

Benben Tsukumo was released on October 12th, 2021 in "Prayer: Sister String Duet." For more up-to-date analysis, be sure to visit the Official Discord Server.

Tsukumogami are a special type of youkai that come from being possessed by a god, or Yaoyorozu no Kami. For the case of Benben Tsukumo (her last name originating from the short form of tsukumogami), both her and her younger sister Yatsuhashi were instruments from the Outside World before finding themselves in Gensokyo. Upon the events of Double Dealing Character, which unleashed the magical power of the Miracle Mallet, an ordinary biwa (or a wooden string instrument) transformed into the biwabokuboku Benben. While she does not share blood with Yatsuhashi, the two were born at the same time and see themselves as sisters. She utilizes her musical prowess to strike enemies with many quick music scores.

For farming, Benben unfortunately lacks her own skills to have a strong All-targeting Last Word. Her Yin Attack will increase upon using her Last Word, but Agility buffs will not increase her damage until it is boosted by 2 Spirit Power, which Benben cannot reach through her own skills.

For more challenging battles, Benben includes a mix of self-buffing skills and slight utility to provide support. Her three skills give her a combination of Agility and Accuracy buffs, which in total provide herself with 3 to 5 additional levels of Agility and 5 to 6 additional levels of Accuracy. Her second spell card, Music Sign: Malicious Musical Score will decrease one target’s Yin DEF by 2 levels (as well as 2 additional levels from using 2 or 3 Spirit Power), leaving the opponent vulnerable to Yin attackers, including herself. 0.75 Spirit Power can be gained upon use of her first spell card, Heikyoku: Sounds of Jetavena’s Bell, which can be used for her other spell cards or Last Word. Sadly, using Spirit Power for elemental breaks is not tbe best for Benben, as both of her spell cards only provide 1 extra Wood break at 2 Spirit Power, resulting in only 2 Wood breaks for each spell card. Her Last Word, Kenjou - Imperial Palace Inferno, has the potential to increase Benben’s Agility even more when fully boosted, but without any more spell cards to use, the buffs become pointless outside of potentially increasing her Last Word slash bullets’ damage output. 4 Fire breaks accessible from 2 Spirit Power is still a nice ability to have when the breaks are required.

The debuffs Benben can provide are limited to her second Solo-targeting spell card, with the rest of her kit focused on increasing the efficiency and speed of her own playing. She can still provide the support when needed, and does her best to fulfill a medium All-targeting Yin nuke.

The Slicing values on Kenjou - Imperial Palace Inferno are 0%/0%/0%/0%/50%/50%

Story Card Recommendations

(Card recommendations last updated on April 30, 2023)

Spell Card

The Witch of Scarlet Dreams

Overwhelming Firepower

Benben’s second and third skills provide her with at least 5 levels of Accuracy UP already, so you don’t need to use many Story Card slots to boost her Accuracy. More Spirit Power will assist in reaching the secondary effects of Music Sign: Malicious Musical Score and strengthening her Last Word. Anything that raises Yin ATK or is a Yin ATK stat stick will also help Benben’s damage.

Last Word

Thunder Beat

Thunder Beat buffs both Energy bullets and Wood element bullets, both of which are present in Benben’s Last Word. Agility is also given through a stat stick, which slightly buffs the damage of her slicing bullets.

Character Skill Level Up Recommendations

Secret Song: Takuboku should be prioritized first in order to obtain the guaranteed 3 levels of Accuracy UP from level 9. Second, Secret Song: Ryuusen can be leveled up for even more self-support of 2-3 levels of Accuracy and Agility UP. Both of these skills provide their maximum benefits at level 9, with a Cooldown decrease from 5 turns to 4 turns upon reaching level 10. Secret Song: Youshinsou should be saved for last, as only 1 or 2 levels of Agility UP are provided and 0.75 additional Spirit Power isn’t that impressive without any support.

Character Strengths

+Decent All-targeting Last Word with Fire and Wood breaks
+Buffs own Yin ATK and debuffs one enemy’s Yin DEF
+At least 5 levels of Accuracy UP to self

Character Weaknesses

-Below average access to elemental breaks; only 2 Wood breaks per spell card
-Little team support outside of Yin DEF debuffs
-1/3/1 scaling on 1/2/3 Spirit Power hurts damage output when farming

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Benben Tsukumo

Stats

Races

Element Type Chart

Character Shots

Character Spell Cards

Character Ability

Character Skills

Character Characteristics

Character Change Effect

Upgrade Costs

Character Analysis

Story Card Recommendations

Spell Card

Last Word

Character Skill Level Up Recommendations

Character Strengths

Character Weaknesses

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