From what I see, the way Larcade's hax worked is a clear indication about how Mashima sees magic power levels:I do see the portrayal of Larcade, he stated he was in the top three and had deadly hax (like 80% of other Spriggans), and to me he definitely is in the top five, I just don't see him as top three. But, here's the thing about that, Gildarts or Laxus probably could have resisted his pleasure if they weren't caught off guard by it and was face to face, I see the same scenario with Serena, no way Larcade is putting that man down without a fight. Plus, Serena is a direct counter to hunger, all he has to do is feast on the wind, Sting resisted RIP, I'm pretty sure someone as strong as Serena or Gildarts could resist it as well.
1. Zeref. Affected by his hax, but was just an annoyance to him. Clearly he has the highest MP here
2. Eileen. Affected by hax and nerfed. But still on her legs and can fight.
3. Larcade
4. Gildarts floored
5. Laxus floored
The way Larcade's hax works isn't near instantaneous effect, like timestop or clap hax or mass manipulation. It's a continuous effect, sort of like a channeling spell (which is why Zeref asked him to stop). So if Gildarts or Laxus could've overpowered, they would've done so. Like Eileen for eg, who certainly overpowered it to an extend.
I agree Serena is a direct counter to hunger, which was why I mentioned only pleasure and sleep. Serena has no counters to them.
Sting resisted RIP because of shadow mode. Without shadow mode, he was toast
Yea, I'm assuming he would've mastered shadow mode by now. Or at least comfortable enough with it. Since it's x793Well, if we strictly go by feats and what we were shown, Sting doesn't know how to go into the shadows without help, but, let's assume that he has learned how to do it, that still doesn't mean he beats Brandish just because he can go into the shadows, it'll irk her definitely, and it would certainly give her a tough time, but it won't beat her, and unlike with Larcade, he isn't her hard counter, she can use her magic on him.
And, like I pointed out, Sting could throw attacks at her, but, what's stopping her from shrinking them and rendering them useless? I doubt Sting has higher MP than her, stats and MP are two very separate things, he could have better stats, but I don't see him having enough MP to resist her hax.
What's stopping her?
The fact that WSD Sting >>> Brandish in pure stats. Brandish is Lucy tier in combat. She only held back in using her powers effectively against Lucy.
Sting runs circles around her.
Rough silk defeated the 4th strongest Spriggan in pure stats (yeah, who except August. Eileen and Serena has superior stats? Enough to block every single slash from Kagura with a single finger?). It easily one shots Brandish unless she's in giant form (in which case Sting waits out in shadow form). She isn't fast enough to counter with her hax, or durable enough to tank.
That would be combat speed and stats.To be fair, Brandish isn't stupid, I don't see her going after someone who can resist her magic, but if she were to fight Sting or Skullion, just because they can resist her hax, doesn't mean that they can defeat her, Brandish doesn't have to target her opponents body to be deadly or dangerous, she could use her surroundings, or focus on shrinking/expanding their attacks to defend herself. She's a beast if she uses her magic in the right way.
Skullion and Sting far outclass her in both these categories. For every spell she nullifies with her hax, they land 5 hits on her. Simply because they're far superior in combat.
And her greatest assets - using giant form, or using mass manipulation on mages - is rendered useless against Skullion, Sting and FR.
Unfortunately for Brandish, 3 mages here are one of the few counters to her magic. And Laxus is Laxus.
Add her to any other group and she probably lands a spot in top 4.
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