General & Others This is a question for the forum at large

[Johnny B. Decent]

Unlike most Shonen where villains who get surpassed stay that way, we've seen people return and get stronger. Crocodile being the shining example.

So, even if an arc villain loses to the Straw Hats, it doesn't necessarily mean they are automatically weaker then later villains.

Like I don't think it's too controversial to say Mr. 1 could fight Diamante on even grounds.

 

[Ven437]

Blackbeard vs Fruitless Top Tiers is a pretty clear matchup based thing

Why does hakiman Shanks chase after DF merchant BB like a bad ex-gf and bring his entire crew over as back up?

 

[Kōri no kokyū]

Do you think matchups matter between top tiers? Do you think top tiers have different personalities which leads to different states of mind when they fight? I think they do.

For me top tiers like Shanks and Akainu are more the no nonsense type of top tiers who go in for the kill especially when for example an opportunity presents itself ( WB weakening) or his crew is in danger ( what happened with Kidd).

I feel like top tiers like Mihawk for example wouldnt act bloodlusted from the start and wont take advantage of a top tier showing weakness.

But I digress. I would love some thoughts on the matter, this isnt a thread dissing or bashing any top tiers line of thinking or way of fighting. This has nothing to do with powerlevels but mindset.

I always took Akainus behaviour in Marineford for example as that of the Terminator, he had one job to do and he will do it at all cost. There is no time for testing the enemy, honor or any of that bullshit. I think other Admirals would behave differently from him like Aokiji if Im not using the pirate side,etc.

@Elder Lee Hung Im looking for your thoughts the most because I read your talk on Sentinels profile and I agree with you a lot ,matchups matter. But I also think the top tier fighting in question matters as well as they arent carbon copies of each other and have wildly different personalities which imo is refreshing in a Shounen series.

Oda can do whatever with any character lol.
He is the author.

 

[Cozy Sofa]

It's easier in my mind to imagine how match up matters if you try to pick between YC2-YC4 characters. The DFs are less broken so it becomes more of a case of match ups. All we know is that Snack is last, lol. In no order at all, it's a pick 'em between many of these fighters below and I believe styles would make fights.

Vista in my eyes could not hope to take out Jozu due to bad match up but I could see Moriah win that one while I could see Vista taking out Moriah.

Jozu
Jack
Smoothie
Cracker
Jinbei
Sanji
Vista
Burgess
Queen
Moriah
Morley

 

[HA001]

Strongest haki wins

 

[BlackLegFring]

Yes, match ups matter. It’s something that I’ve been preaching since the early days when people were trying to act like titles placed one group of top tiers over another.

In story, the plot naturally matters the most. When discussing hypotheticals though, match ups have to be considered.

 

[Bad English]

Ice, cold, same thing in Aokiji’s context. He freezes things is the point. All of his attacks literally start with “ICE”

So you think snow fruit would be able to stand the same against Magu magu if Aokiji wielded it instead of Hie?

It's actually easier to freeze magma than fire, because magma is liquid and fire is plasma

 

[Yo Tan Wa]

On surface yeah, like someone said above BB fruit supposed to give him advantage. Luffy against Enel, or pre ts fights.
Ace doing fine against Aokiji-but getting donut by Akainu in one move.

But at the end of day i agree, will power and status mattsrs more to Oda. Shanks lost his arm, but Oda says he didn't lose much strength. Characters will be however strong he wants them to be aka will power and strength.
Akainu vs Aokiji should've been much more in favour of Akainu due to df advantage but Oda represented them near equals.

To sum it up, in background fights/portrayal based fights it'll be true to what Oda wants them to be even if through sheer will power, but in flashed out/all out fight he may consider matchups etc in consideration. Personality to some extent as well.​

 

[Loki D. Terror]

If we are taking CIS and character personality in a fight then yes.

But in battledome debates until mentioned otherwise such things don't matter much.

As far general match up advantages , yes they do matter.

Kizaru has matchup advantage against Big mom.

Kaido/Akainu/BM have matchup advantage against Greenbull.

Logia admirals have an advantage against fuji.

Kizaru does better against law than BM.

BM doesn't better against Kaido than Kizaru as BM's endurance will make Kaido work harder where once he tags Kizaru, much fewer attacks should be needed to put him down.

 

[Dragon777]

Ice, cold, same thing in Aokiji’s context. He freezes things is the point. All of his attacks literally start with “ICE”

The difference Is that Aokiji can produce ice, but can also "freeze" things touching them or at distance. He can "suck" the heat out of them.

Monet couldn't because she wasn't cold, but only snow. She could only produce snow.

So you think snow fruit would be able to stand the same against Magu magu if Aokiji wielded it instead of Hie?

No, because Magu Magu was the peer of the Hie Hie, while the snow fruit was inferior to that.

 

[park_min young]

To the nerds they matter but the reality is it’s not as much as you think. Otherwise, Kaido low diffing another top-tier is genuinely possible if you microanalyze it for example lol. He has the most complete set we have seen, other top-tiers won’t nearly be as complete of a fighter as him.

Portrayal is king.

 

[BoaHancocksHusband]

Why does hakiman Shanks chase after DF merchant BB like a bad ex-gf and bring his entire crew over as back up?

cuz he's not urouge

 

[Garp the Fist]

Nah

Matters for us debating it

In series Oda will have who he wants to win, win. Even if at a seeming disadvantage.