We'll be focusing on Norse Mythology though since this particular card pertains to the world tree that appears in said mythology.
That's not surprising at all since it can be said that the Norse world tree is really quite well-known, probably more so than the other world trees out there.
The World Tree in Norse Mythology is known as Yggdrasil. Yggdrasil is an ash tree, which is supported by 3 main roots. Its branches stretch out to connect the nine different worlds.
The 3 roots of this tree can explain why The World Tree Yu-Gi-Oh! card (#ad) gives you 3 choices on how you can use it, depending on which condition you have fulfilled. If you fulfilled all the given conditions for all three choices, you can choose what you want to do.
The first root of the tree is in Asgard, the realm of the Norse gods. The second root goes to Jötunheimr or Jotunheim, the land of the Frost Giants and Rock Giants. The third root is in Niflheim, the land of the dead or the Norse Underworld.
Let's now take a look at what has to happen first before you can make use of any of the 3 choices offered by this Yu-Gi-Oh! card.
First of all, before you can do anything else, a plant-type monster on the field must first be destroyed. Only then can you place a Flower Counter on The World Tree.
The fact that a plant-type monster has to be destroyed can be linked to how Yggdrasil is also being destroyed. Níðhöggr or Nidhogg is the name of the dragon that gnaws at one of the roots of Yggdrasil, specifically the one that reaches into Niflheim.
When you have at least 1 Flower Counter, you can now activate one of the possible effects of The World Tree by removing said counter.
The first possible effect is how you can choose 1 face-up plant-type monster and have it gain 400 attack and defense until the end phase. This can actually be likened to how one can gain wisdom from Mímisbrunnr or Mimir’s Well.
This well can be found beneath the root of Yggdrasil that is located in Jotunheim. Since it is said that the water in this well is filled with wisdom, it can also be called the Well of Wisdom. Whoever drinks from this well will gain wisdom, but not without paying a price.
The king of the Norse gods, Odin, wanted to gain wisdom so he went to Mimir's Well. In order to be allowed to drink from the well, the price he had to pay was his right eye. He gave up his right eye in exchange for wisdom.
In the same way, The World Tree card allows one of your cards to gain a considerable increase in attack and defense points, but it doesn't come without a price. This is why this effect can only be used on a face-up plant-type monster and why the increase in attack and defense only lasts until the end phase.
The card's second effect can be activated if you remove 2 Flower Counters on The World Tree. Once you do that, you can destroy 1 card on the field. This particular effect can be likened to some of the 9 worlds in Norse Mythology, particularly Muspelheim, which is the realm of fire.
The beings who live here are known as Fire Giants. They were known by many other names, one of which is Rjúfendr, which means 'to break, tear asunder' and 'destroyers of doomsday'.
With the realm of fire being connected to Yggdrasil, it's no wonder that one of the effects of The World Tree Yu-Gi-Oh! card is the ability to allow its user to destroy one card on the field.
Now, let's look at the third and final effect of this card. If you remove 3 Flower Counters, you can choose 1 plant-type monster from your Graveyard, which you can then Special Summon.
This particular effect can be related to another of the 9 worlds, specifically Niflheim, which is the realm of the dead. The ruler of this place is called Hel. One of the Norse stories that she appears in is the one about the death of Balder (also known as Baldr or Baldur), an Aesir god.
When Balder died, one of the Norse gods journeyed to Niflheim to speak with Hel and ask her to allow Balder to be brought back from the dead, which can be likened to how The World Tree card can also do the same. However, this can't be done without paying a price.
Just like how you're required to remove 3 Flower Counters from the Yu-Gi-Oh! card before you can Special Summon a plant-type monster from your Graveyard, Hel gave a condition that must be fulfilled before she would allow Balder to return from the dead.
She said that she would let Balder go only if everyone would cry for him. If even one single thing would not cry for him, then Balder cannot return to Asgard and must continue to stay in Niflheim. Unfortunately for Balder, there was one person who would not cry for him so he couldn't return.
The World Tree card is very useful on decks that make use of plant-type monsters. What do you think of this card?
*Notes:
- Pic is from Amazon.com; link shown above
