The reason why nobody forgets Gildarts is because he has shown feats to prove that he is Fairy Tail's strongest. Freed, on the other hand, hasn't shown much and he has quite enough screen time already compared to someone like Kagura.
In regards to fights I wouldn't say that he had more time to show what he can master. After the Battle of Fairy Tail Mashima never really gave the Raijinshuu a chance anymore. Maybe the only exception is Tenrou, which is also a nice example actually because there it has been shown how much respect the Raijinshuu still have (during the fight against Rustyrose). But apart from this one? Where did they really get a chance to fight? It's a shame, ugh.
Not necessarily. S-Class Level is not something that is easy to get to. So far, there has only been 4 S-Class Mages in Fairy Tail, excluding Gildarts. To say Freed is S-Class Level would depend on whether he is a match for those 4 wizards in which he has shown nothing to that extent. Even Team Natsu, who were probably the most qualified among everyone else in the S-Class Trials, were not guaranteed a spot because it's not that simple..
This is what I mean. Apparently Freed and Erza sparred from time to time (which is actually a nice imagination, brotp!!) and she clearly acknowledges his skills, even telling him to go ask Master for the S-Class rank, so he can at least already pick S-Class missions. Now how much time has passed? Probably about
three years, and back then even Master was already surprised by how strong he had gotten. Apart from that he's not only powerful but also smart and quick-witted. So Freed is
definitely on S-Class level, but so is Natsu.
Sure, the Jutsu Shiki is not a combat style magic but in battle, time is limited. There is no such thing as giving someone time in battle because power is not all about attack. There are many other attributes that affect MP like defense, intelligence, versatility, magic capacity/energy, and speed whether it is combat or movement. For me to believe that Freed can take down someone that is on the level of the Wizard Saint would require extensive evidence. I mean Jose Porla, who was barely even the Top 5 had to be taken down by Makarov with Fairy Law.
That's why I said that Jutsu Shiki is definitely not adapted for direct/melee battle. But it is a fact that he could take out anyone if he had time to prepare. Makarov had not a single chance to get out of his rune trap and it was but a simple barrier. Now imagine Freed using the barrier that, for example,
deprives the person trapped inside of oxygen.
This type of magic is what we would consider as a combat magic. I would agree it is strong but at the level of someone like Kagura. Freed's fights have always been quite underwhelming but to say that is is because of the author is kind of unfair. I mean the author has to differentiate between powers and it is reasonable that Freed is not considered as a High Tier Wizard due to his feats. That is like me saying how Macao is weak because Hiro Mashima made him get captured by a fodder and that he has little screen time. There is a reason for that and it is to portray that Macao is just not strong.
Freed's eye magic should be somewhat useful but there is a limit to that. Even the opponents he used it on weren't really that impressive. Similarly, that spell that Freed used on Elfman only looked deadly because it was Elfman who was the target. There is no indication that it could be used as effectively on someone stronger. As far as I'm concerned, Mirajane dominated Freed fair and square. The moment Mirajane got serious, Freed was losing both in CQC and magic.
Hmm no in my opinion it's not unfair at all. Mashima barely gives them any screen time anymore even though they are part of the guild. Thanks to Freed Laxus' plan could work out until a certain point. In the Battle of FT ARC it got clearly stated that they were the strongest team. They were feared and obviously powerful. If they weren't then Laxus wouldn't have spend time with and opened up to them for so long and in comparison to Macao they HAVE shown that they are hellishly skilled.
The spell didn't just look deadly. Elfman, and anyone else who would have been target, would end up being killed because Freed has a
literal death spell. And yes, of course Mira did, but with his type of magic and the versatility it has he could have done way better. He was the villain, he had to lose at some point (this probably sounds dumb, but there are many fights in FT where I think this lmao) and it was good that he lost against someone strong like Mirajane, that was very believable (like y'know unlike for example Rufus vs Gray, judging by skills and all Rufus should still have won the fight imo) and I also think that it was Mira's most powerful fight. After that her fights got less active as well which is a shame. This fight was short but really refreshing and def belongs to my fav fights tbh. But I digress.
The subject I was debating on was the difference in power between Kagura and Freed. Although Freed may have decent swordsmanship, his attacks only took out Fairy Tail fodders. Plus, the fact that Kagura uses a sword too would mean Freed would lose fast. Not only will Kagura probably break his sword, but that same slash will most likely critically damage Freed.
I have to judge the current feats because this thread is the power ranking regarding the Alvarez Arc. But even if I were to count the past feats like I did, there is just no way Freed can match Kagura. I agree that the Raijinshuu is probably one of the strongest teams besides Team Natsu, mainly because there aren't that many but that is exactly my point. Kagura is not much less than Erza, Natsu, or Gray if that and those 3 would definitely annihilate the Raijinshuu.
Don't get me wrong, Freed is not totally weak. He just isn't on the same level as Kagura.
So Rustyrose is 'fodder'? Because that's the one HALF-proper fight he got after the Battle of FT. Like I said, he didn't get the chance to show what he can do whereas Kagura did. And don't forget his accurancy and speed is A+ as well. He has wings. He can teleport, he can reflect attacks and so on and so on. A direct fight between these two would actually be hella interesting. I'm a sucker for swordsusers.
Also, you say you are rating based on what we saw in the current ARC? Um... Then actually Freed has done more than Kagura. The huge ass Jutus Shiki barrier around town and his Absolute Shadow. What was Kagura done in regards to spells, skills? Unfortunately fairly little. But it would be bs to just judge by this ARC because I know that BOTH, Freed and Kagura, are capable of way more than what they got this/the last ARCs.
So yea, all in all I'd say it'd be wrong to say that he is absolutely not on the same level as Kagura. I actually didn't even intend to discuss between the two. All I said is that I would definitely put Freed higher on the list, I didn't say that I would put Kagura lower because she is powerful as heck as well. It's hard to say who would win in certain fights anyway because there are always many different conditions and influences that play a part in each fight but yea, I stand by my words and say that Freed is without doubt one of the most powerful mages FT (guild) has.
.
