Whether it’s a natural disaster that brings about the end of all life on the planet, or mankind’s own weaponry being the catalyst that wipes them out, it’s safe to say that there’s no end to the number of ways the apocalypse can begin. And with these changes, there will inevitably be someone who sets out to help those in need. Whether it’s by defending the planet, saving the last of humanity, or dedicating their lives to ending what created the apocalypse, one thing’s certain: they will stop at nothing to accomplish their goals, even if they gain some scars or lose a limb in the process.
Future Gohan, the sole survivor of the Z-Fighters.
And Baiken, the Lone Samurai from Guilty Gear.
I’m Br3ndan5, and I’ll be analyzing their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win a DEATH BATTLE!
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Future Gohan
Age: 23
Height: 5’9
Weight: 134 lbs
Occupation: Martial Artist, Mentor
First Appearance: Trunks The History – The Lone Warrior (August 11, 1992)
Themes:
Feats:
Pre-History of Trunks:
-As a child, survived Vegeta and Nappa’s attack on Earth, ultimately playing a role in the former’s defeat
-Withstood Frieza torturing him
-Was the only survivor of the Z-Fighters after the rest had been killed by androids 17 and 18
-Achieved the legendary form of Super Saiyan after the Z-Fighters’ deaths
-Trained by himself for 13 years with the intent of taking down the androids
History of Trunks:
-Began training Trunks in the hopes that they’d be able to beat the androids together
-Fought against 17 and would’ve beaten him if 18 hadn’t intervened
-Saved Trunks from being vaporized
-Protected Trunks when the androids bombed the Super World theme park, albeit at the cost of his left arm
-Fought the androids one last time, ultimately dying after they bombarded him with a heavy barrage of ki blasts
-His death gave Trunks the final push to becoming a Super Saiyan
In the Age 764, peace had begun to return to Earth. The Saiyan warrior Goku had slain the tyrant Frieza and his father, King Cold, ensuring that their empire would no longer thrive. Unfortunately, this peace wasn’t destined to last. Two years later, Goku would be one of many victims to die of a lethal heart virus, and the world would then erupt into chaos thanks to Dr. Gero, a scientist who had worked for one of Goku’s oldest enemies, the Red Ribbon Army. With Goku dead, Gero decided that the time was ripe to take vengeance upon the world and unleashed two of his greatest creations, Androids 17 and 18. Unfortunately for Gero, the two androids (who are actually cyborgs) proved unwilling to listen to his orders and rebelled against him, killing the old man in the process.
With nothing better to do, the androids began terrorizing the world, earning the attention of the Z-Fighters. As they fought against the androids, Gohan left the battlefield and, with the help of his friend Bulma, began searching the world for the Dragon Balls, seven mystical orbs that they believed could help them save the world. Unfortunately, the Dragon Balls had been rendered unusable thanks to the incompetence of the Pilaf Gang, and it would stay this way with the death of the balls’ creator, Kami.
With the deaths of his friends now rendered permanent, Gohan’s rage would hit its peak, allowing him to break through his mental barriers and achieve the legendary form of Super Saiyan. As the last remaining member of the Z-Fighters, Gohan would dedicate the next 13 years of his life to fighting the androids, but no matter how hard he tried he could never defeat them. During this time, he would befriend Trunks, the half Saiyan son of Bulma, and (at Trunks’ request) started training him. On several occasions, he would attempt to encourage Trunks to obtain Super Saiyan as well, but to no avail.
Eventually, while fighting the androids in a theme park, Trunks would be rendered unconscious while fighting 18, forcing Gohan to carry him to safety and hide. This plan would work until the androids decided to bomb the park in the hopes of driving them out. Although he was able to save Trunks, it would come at the cost of losing his arm in the resulting blast.
Despite this handicap, Gohan would continue training Trunks, even getting him to nearly go Super Saiyan at one point. After this attempt, the two would notice Pepper Town being attacked by the androids. Trunks attempted to convince Gohan to let him join, and although he seemed to accept at first, Gohan chose to knock him out in order to prevent the boy from dying. Despite knowing he stood no chance, Gohan rushed into battle, ready to battle the androids one final time. Though he held his own for a bit, the androids eventually managed to overpower him, leading to his death. While the world may have lost a hero that day, it would soon gain another, as Gohan’s death would serve as the catalyst for Trunks to push through and finally achieve Super Saiyan.
Strength:
-Knocked Trunks away with a kick to the chin
-Traded blows with 17
-Knocked Trunks out with a chop to the neck
-Kicked 17 with enough force to send him crashing through a building
-Slammed 18 into a roof hard enough that the building’s windows were blown out
Speed:
-While sparring, avoided multiple hits from Trunks
-Avoided ki blasts and multiple blows from 17
-Intercepted a blow from 18
-Avoided multiple strikes when 17 and 18 tag-teamed him
Durability:
-Shrugged off multiple blows from 17
-Was smashed into a store window by 18
-Survived a brutal beating from 17 and 18
-Survived Super World being bombed, though it left him with a scar and an amputated left arm
Personality:
-Due to the apocalyptic future he lives in, Future Gohan is more serious and aggressive than his naive, awkward, and laidback present counterpart
-Is shown to be internally pained and mentally stressed after years of challenging the androids alone
-In moments of peace, Gohan is shown to be much more calm and cheerful, often enjoying life for what it’s worth and even suggesting that others do the same
Weapons and Equipment:
Senzu Beans:
-Mystical beans that possess great healing properties
-When consumed, they fully restore his energy and physical health
-Are capable of healing impalement and broken bones
-Keeps them in his pouch, though he only has one or two on hand due to their limited supply
Techniques:
Ki:
-A form of energy in the Dragon Ball universe
-Created from Future Gohan’s own life energy
-Formed using three elements: vigor, courage, and mind
-Uses it for the following techniques
Flight:
-Self-explanatory
Zenkai:
-A genetic trait that is shared by all Saiyans
-Allows the user to recover from injuries at a faster rate and grow stronger, with the latter being caused when they either heal from a near-death experience or endure a great struggle while fighting
-Upon healing, a Saiyan’s body will “learn” from the experience, allowing their instincts and natural resistances to greatly improve
-The more severely he’s damaged, the greater the zenkai will be
Ki Blast:
-An energy wave of ki
Kiai:
-Future Gohan places ki into his hand as he strikes the air, creating a powerful shockwave that strikes opponents from a distance
Invisible Eye Blast:
-A kiai fired from the eyes
Super Explosive Wave:
-Future Gohan charges ki inside of himself before forcing it to explode outward in the form of a massive energy sphere
-Can increase its AOE by outputting more ki from his body, resulting in a variant called “Ki Explosions”
Super Afterimage Strike:
-Future Gohan moves around the battlefield while using afterimages to distract his opponent
Instant Rise:
-Future Gohan rapidly ascends through the air, moving so quickly that he seems to teleport
-Used as a way to avoid oncoming attacks
Wild Sense:
-Future Gohan dodges an attack by moving swiftly before countering with a punch or kick that sends the opponent to the ground or into the air
Down Burst:
-Future Gohan fires an energy sphere to the ground, creating a smokescreen that blinds the opponent
Intercept:
-Future Gohan blocks his opponent’s attacks before quickly moving behind them. When they turn to face him, he delivers a powerful kick to the chin
Sonic Rush:
-Future Gohan kicks his opponent away before teleporting behind them to deliver a chop, followed by a hook and a sweep kick. He then finishes by kicking them into the air before slamming them back down with an elbow strike
Masenko:
-Future Gohan places both hands above the head, one in front of the other, with the palms facing the opponent and the fingers going in opposite directions. He thrusts his hands forward, calling out “MASENKO-HA!” as he fires a beam of yellow or white energy
Hyper Masenko:
-A stronger, larger variant of the above
Kamehameha:
-A powerful ki blast fired from both hands after being charged between the user’s palms
One-Handed Kamehameha:
-Future Gohan performs several backflips to distance himself from the opponent. After doing so, he charges ki into his hand, slowly chanting the technique’s name before thrusting his arm forward and firing a blue beam
One-Handed Kamehameha mk. II:
-Same as the above, but upon firing it Future Gohan pours more energy into the beam, increasing its power and prolonging the amount of time he can fire it
Fierce Combination:
-Future Gohan strikes a fighting pose as he charges at the opponent and kicks them into the air. He then flies past them before roundhousing and punching them away. Before they can travel any farther, he grabs them by their ankle and shouts “Die!” as he flies downward, slamming them into the ground. Finally, he backflips away and shouts “Watch it!” before firing a Kamehameha
Tenma Defense:
-Future Gohan charges his ki, using it to summon a large white barrier that either knocks opponents away or deflects attacks
Solar Flare:
-Future Gohan places his hand close to the center of his face with the fingers spread toward his eyes. He then calls out the technique’s name as a white light flashes outward, blinding everyone in the surrounding area
-Mainly used to gain the upper hand, make a hasty retreat, or set up a more complicated attack without fear of interruption
-Never used on screen, but in the Dragon Ball Super manga Trunks says that Future Gohan taught him this move
Special Beam Cannon:
-Future Gohan raises his index and middle finger to his forehead and begins charging ki between them. After a few seconds, he points them forward, producing two thin beams, one being straight and the other coiled around the first
-Capable of drilling through its target, and it will explode against them should they prove too durable to pierce
Power up to the Very Limit:
-Lets Future Gohan regain all of his ki while also providing a slight increase to all of his stats
Forms:
Super Saiyan:
-Multiplies his base power by 50x
-Evidenced by his hair and aura becoming gold, while his eyes turn green
-Obtained after witnessing the deaths of the other Z-Fighters
Weaknesses:
-Despite his strength, he’s nowhere near as powerful as his present counterpart
-Lacks the use of his left arm, which greatly hinders his abilities in combat
-Has a limited supply of Senzu beans
-Has a finite amount of ki
-Super Saiyan drains him of his energy the longer he uses it
-Senzu beans have limits to what they can heal, as they can’t cure diseases or regrow severed limbs
-The Future Trunks arc rendered his sacrifice worthless
(“You know you can’t win! You can’t destroy what I really am! Even if you manage to kill this body, someone even stronger would surface and take my place! Not one death will go unaccounted for, not one!”)
Baiken
Alias: The Lone Samurai
Age: Unknown, but should at least be a little over 170
Height: 5’4
Weight: 100 lbs
Occupation: Samurai, Guardian to Kum Haehyun (Xrd REV 2)
First Appearance: Guilty Gear (May 14, 1998)
Themes:
Feats:
General
-Survived the destruction of her village when she was a child
-Trained herself in swordsmanship so she could hunt down Asuka R. Kreutz (AKA That Man) for his role in destroying her village
Guilty Gear
-Entered the Second Sacred Order Tournament in order to seek out That Man and get revenge on Justice, the Gear responsible for Japan’s destruction
-Though she was eventually forced to retreat after Justice overwhelmed her
Guilty Gear Xtra
-Briefly fought with Ky Kiske, with the battle ending inconclusively due to interference from Tyr
Guilty Gear X
-Nearly killed Testament and Dizzy, only choosing to let them live because she was more focused on finding That Man
Guilty Gear XX
All Paths:
-Defeated I-No, Robo-Ky, Zappa, Bridget, and Anji Mito
Path 1:
-Defeated I-No (again) and Potemkin
-Managed to locate That Man, but was unable to kill him
Path 2:
-Defeated a brainwashed May and Robo-Ky (again)
-Learned of the Post-War Administration Bureau’s existence after defeating Robo-Ky
Path 3:
-Defeated I-No and Anji again
-After defeating Anji, chose to spare his life in exchange for all of his knowledge on That Man
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus
All Paths:
-Defeated Potemkin, Robo-Ky, and I-No
Path 1:
-Defeated Johnny, May, Jam, Eddie, and Anji
-Reluctantly began traveling with Anji
Path 2:
-Had a brief spar with a suppressed Slayer, which ended inconclusively
-Defeated A.B.A, Venom, Chipp Zanuff, Justice, and I-No (again)
-Killed I-No and became an infamous serial killer
Guilty Gear Isuka
-Defeated Leopaldon, a Megadeth class Gear
-Megadeth class Gears have enough power to wipe out an entire civilization
Guilty Gear Judgment
-While searching for a bar, saved a village that had been overrun by monsters
-Destroyed a living three-headed pillar
-Mercy-killed a woman who had been forcibly fused to a giant plant monster
-Killed a giant, mutated wolf
-Killed Inus, the king of the Underworld
-Murdered Judgment, a sorcerer who had absorbed Inus’ powers
Guilty Gear Dust Strikers
-Killed Gig, a massive insectoid Gear
Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2
-Defeated Answer, the personal assistant of Chipp
-Swore her life to protect Kum Haehyun
-During an attack on the Colony, defended Haehyun alongside May and Answer
The year was 2073. Thanks to the efforts of the scientist Asuka R. Kreutz, also known by the confusing alias of “That Man,” the long-abandoned Gear Project had finally begun to make progress toward advancing evolution. By combining the DNA of various species with the cryogenically preserved cells of his deceased friend Aria Hale, Asuka had managed to create Justice, the first complete member of the Gears, a race created by combining the best aspects of multiple species.
Unfortunately, this progress would soon hit a snag thanks to the efforts of a being known as the Merciless Apocalypse, who would harvest Justice’s DNA and unleash it upon the nation of Japan. The Gear cells would mutate most of Japan’s population which, when combined with the spacial anomalies known as Information Flares, led to the infected becoming incredibly dangerous and unstable Anti-Matter Gears. The Information Flares would begin to merge reality with the Backyard, another dimension that would disintegrate both the body and soul of whatever enters it. Realizing this, Asuka would be forced to activate Justice and use her Gamma Ray to destroy Japan, an act that he would regret for the rest of his life.
Those who survived the nation’s destruction would be placed under the care of the United Nations and placed in special colonies. Unfortunately, these were still vulnerable to attack, as Justice would show when she commanded her Gears to lay waste to one of the villages. One of the few survivors of this massacre would be Baiken, a child who had witnessed the bloody deaths of her parents and friends after having her left eye gouged out and her right arm severed. Amidst the flames of her village, she could see the silhouette of That Man, and she would swear vengeance upon him and his creations. From that day forward, Baiken committed herself to learning the ways of swordsmanship and began collecting a series of tools for one purpose: to hunt down That Man and the Gears so she could make them pay for what they’d done.
Strength:
-Her sword strikes are strong enough to send a giant, mutated wolf crashing through a metal wall
-Can slice a washitsu house and its surroundings in half with one strike
-Is able to effortlessly lift and slam someone into the ground with enough force that they spin through the air multiple times
-Keep in mind that she’s able to do this to the likes of Bedman, who weighs 1,468 lbs (counting his bed), and Potemkin, who weighs 2,672 lbs
-Sliced through a massive Gear arm
-Traded blows with Ky, who has been able to match Sol blow-for-blow
-Her strikes are strong enough to nearly kill Testament and Dizzy
-Traded blows with Zappa, Bridget, Anji, Potemkin, I-No, May, Robo-Ky, Eddie, A.B.A, Venom, a suppressed Slayer, Chipp, and Answer
-Destroyed Robo-Ky
-Stabbed I-No to death
Speed:
-Kept up with Justice, who can move at MFTL+ speeds
-Kept up with Zappa, Bridget, Anji, Potemkin, May, Robo-Ky, Eddie, A.B.A, Venom, a suppressed Slayer, Chipp, and Answer
-Escaped a collapsing lava pit in the span of a few seconds
-Managed to escape a collapsing castle within seconds
-Has been shown to match Ky in speed
-Ky has been able to keep up with Sol, who is vastly superior to Jack-O’
Durability:
-Survived the loss of her right arm and having her left eye gouged out when she was a child
-Shrugged off multiple attacks from Zappa, Bridget, Anji, Potemkin, I-No, May, Robo-Ky, Eddie, A.B.A, Venom, a suppressed Slayer, Chipp, Justice, and Answer
-Took hits from Ky, who has clashed with Sol numerous times
Skills:
Expert Swordsmanship:
-Despite being self-taught, Baiken’s expertise in swordsmanship has allowed her to repeatedly go toe-to-toe with Ky, a veteran soldier and commander of the International Police Force
Weapons Mastery:
-Has incorporated various weapons into her fighting style (See “Weapons and Equipment” below)
Personality:
-Is aggressive, brash, impulsive, and antisocial, motivated solely by revenge with a strong desire to kill That Man
-Post XX, she’s noticeably mellowed out, becoming more expressive toward others and less obsessed with pursuing That Man
-Rather foul-mouthed, often cursing violently when irritated or angered
-Holds an intense hatred toward Gears due to their role in her family’s deaths
-Has occasionally expressed pride in her heritage, though she hates how people treat the Japanese like a special race
-Is willing to accept the consequences of her actions and has condemned herself to damnation for her sins
-Has a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later
-Will violently threaten anyone who attempts to obstruct her goals, including children
-Enjoys drinking sake
Katana:
-Strong enough to cut through most Gears without issue
-Is extremely durable, being able to hold up in multiple clashes with Thunderseal, a blade charged with electricity
-The only visible damage it’s taken was a light chip after failing to cut through Dizzy
-Implied by Slayer to be sentient, with a strong desire for bloodshed
Demon Tools:
-A group of weapons Baiken hides within the sleeve of her severed arm
-Consists of a Japanese mace, a feudal cannon, a bladed fan, a chain rope, a grappling hook, a claw, and a spear
Powers:
Ki Manipulation:
-Can manipulate the ki in her body and use it to fire massive, short-range energy blasts
Magic:
-Baiken can use magic to summon tatami mats (See “Moveset” below)
Immortality:
-Seems to possess some type of immortality, as she’s been alive ever since the destruction of Japan, which occurred over a century prior, yet hasn’t visibly aged past her 20’s or 30’s
-Though she can still be physically injured or killed
Tatami Gaeshi:
-Baiken uses magic to summon a tatami mat near her and proceeds to stomp on it, smacking any nearby opponents and sending them flying
-Can also be used in the air, though the mat will almost immediately drop to the ground
Youshijin:
-Baiken thrusts an anchor into the ground with enough force that it comes back up almost immediately after
-Mainly used to deal with aerial opponents
Zakuro:
-Baiken pulls out a giant bladed pinwheel that spins several times, skewering anyone who gets close
-Can only be done diagonally
-Used to counter aerial opponents
Azami:
-Baiken holds her blade in front of her in a defensive position, allowing her to block enemy attacks
-Is able to block multiple attacks at once
-Can also be used in midair
Kuchinashi:
-An upward slash followed by a trail of pink energy
-Mainly used as a followup to Azami or Suzuran
Mawarikomi:
-Baiken dashes behind her opponent
-Followup to Azami or Suzuran
Sakura:
-A straight jab coated in pink energy
-Followup from Azami or Suzuran
Rokkonsogi:
-Baiken dashes forward, slashes at the opponent, and appears behind them
-Followup from Azami, Kabari, or Suzuran
Yashagatana:
-Baiken unveils a shotgun from her sleeve and fires it
-Can be used after Azami or Suzuran
Tsubaki:
-Baiken moves forward as she performs a midair spinning slash
-Used after an aerial Azami
Ouren:
-Baiken leaps across the stage and somersaults past her opponent, slashing them across the back
-Used after a midair Azami
Kikyou:
-Baiken slashes downward
-Mainly used in midair. If used on the ground, Baiken will leap forward before performing the move
Kabari:
-Baiken throws out a grappling claw to grab her opponent from afar and reel them in
-As seen above, she can also perform it diagonally
Tetsuzansen:
-In Accent Core R, Baiken thrusts her katana through the air and follows up with a spinning diagonal slash
-In Xrd, Baiken stomps on the ground, releasing a small pillar of pink energy
-Can be used as a followup from Kabari
Himawari:
-Baiken rushes toward the opponent, grabs them, leaps through the air, and drops them headfirst with enough force that they spin through the air multiple times
-Mainly used as a followup from Kabari
Suzuran:
-Baiken rushes forward, holding her sword in a defensive position and its hilt in her mouth as she does so
Youzansen:
-Baiken spins through the air, slashing with a giant bladed fan as a trail of sakura petals fall behind her
-Mainly used in midair. If used on the ground, Baiken will leap into the air before performing the move
Force Breaks:
Baku:
-Baiken pauses for a brief moment before smacking the opponent with one of three different types of kanji, each having a different effect:
-Sakura (桜) prevents them from dashing, backdashing, or jumping
-Tsuki (月) makes them enter a counter-hit state that increases the amount of damage they receive
-Tsuru (鶴) prevents them from blocking Baiken’s next attack
-Each effect lasts for about 14 seconds
Triple Tatami Gaeshi:
-Baiken stomps on the ground, this time summoning three tatami mats that simultaneously smack the opponent away
Overdrives:
Tsurane Zanzuwatashi:
-Baiken stomps on the ground before delivering an underhanded upward slash and a low sweeping slash. She then swings her blade through the air as the image of a moon bearing the kanji for Heaven, Earth, and man suddenly appears. Once it appears in full, she finishes with a final, energy-charged slash
Metsuda Kushoudou:
-Performed after a successful Azami or Suzuran
-Baiken turns around, her back facing the opponent as she fires off several grappling hooks that slam them into the air and latch onto an object behind them. She then reels herself forward, performing an iaijutsu quickdraw slash on the airborne opponent
Instant Kills:
Tate Shunmaku:
-Baiken crouches for a brief moment before dashing past the opponent and sheathing her sword. The opponent is then launched through the air as their body is slashed multiple times
Garyo Tensei:
-In Guilty Gear XX, Baiken rushes toward the opponent. Should she make contact, she will cut through them before sheathing her blade, revealing that they have somehow teleported to a room. After several seconds, the opponent’s blood splatters on the wall as they lifelessly fall to the ground
-In Guilty Gear Xrd, Baiken cuts through the opponent as they teleport inside of a washitsu house. The sliding doors then close behind her and the opponent. After a fish hops through the garden’s pond, the doors become splattered in the opponent’s blood as both the house and its surroundings are sliced in half. Baiken then sits cross-legged and lights her pipe
-Interestingly, some of Baiken’s dialogue after completing this move suggests that the opponent is still alive, though it’s likely they’ve been left heavily injured
Weaknesses:
-Has an extremely short fuse
-Is somewhat stubborn
-Lacks the use of her left eye and right arm, though this doesn’t seem to affect her in battle
-Fighting style heavily relies on combos and focuses on defense over offense
-Possesses few ranged options
-Some of her Demon Tools (like the grappling hook, claw, or mace) can be rendered useless in certain environments
-Has a chronic smoking habit
-Suffers from PTSD over Japan’s destruction
(“Winning and losing doesn’t mean a thing. I’ll survive, and I’ll keep fighting… Until I find That Man.”)
Brendan’s Versus Battles 