Kamaitachi are reported to operate in trios that follow a Thief, Fighter, Mage setup: the first one knocks down a traveler with a gust of wind, the second cuts the traveler with its sickle-like claws, and the third applies an ointment that stops the bleeding, leaving the victim with bloodless but inexplicably large and painful wounds. The reasons for this depend on the region, as while some believe that the scars they create on their victims are a part of a competition between them.