Talk:Tanuki Physiology/@comment-25441288-20170523155113/@comment-12448588-20170525085526

I've done a little research into the topic and from what I can tell from stories and legends it goes like this:

Tanuki are MAJOR tricksters that are quite nasty and usually have an agenda that amuses them or gains them something they want. They however do not have nearly as powerful abilities that Kitsune (Huli-Jing, Kumioh, Nogitsune) possess. However, all of the powerful offensive abilities Kitsune (and its compatriots) have does not mean it is 100% superior. In Tanuki stories involving Kitsune it is shown that Tanuki are far better manipulators; tricking the fundamentally more powerful Kitsune to their deaths.

So to fully answer your question: Kitsune are fundamentally more powerful, but Tanuki are typically more cunning. This by no means means Kitsune are not cunning, but elementary wise Tanuki MUST stay ahead of the curve or die. The only thing they have is shapeshifting (possible illusions manipulation) that in all the stories are less powerful than Kitsune.

Hope that helps =]