@Seven777 I'd just add that Gray is obviously way smarter than Natsu yeah, but Erza herself isn't too shabby here. I'd say she's as smart as Gray to be honest. SHe proved to be pretty quick thinking in battle, for instance when she was able to determine Midnight's weaknesses in OS arc. That would have been a difficult task for anyone else.
She could be, tbh ive always considered her one of the smartest characters. Like when on Galuna island Natsu and co. had no idea why the Demons werent turning back into humans, while Erza already had the whole thing figured out. However Gray uses his intelligence in battle far more frequently, so i credit him more for it. Erza does it on occasion like with Midnight as you said, but not as often, though she was stronger than Gray preskip so perhaps she just didnt need to.
Wank doesn't mean hype only it means favoritism over all. I said "besides" it means "expect for". GOI were totally a wasted potential and got excluded from the arc to let fairy tail shine. Juvia didn't get any favoritism from Mashima this arc she got reduced for shipping purposes only, Lucy as a main character along with Natsu should get equal treatment like Natsu but the fact is Gray and Erza shined more than her. Gildarts didn't get any favoritism he didn't do any significant accomplishment yet he only got his reputation. The same can be applied on Jellal as well. That being said, You worded like Mashima do that for Natsu only so don't try to change your tone.
Oh? Is that what it means? Then i was completely right anyway, Mashima does wank Natsu in every sense of the description you gave. I dont know how you can say Mashima favors the GoI when he had God Serena solo them. Or Juvia who did pretty much nothing, or Lucy who did the same, or Sting who was underdog his whole fight, no idea why you brought up those characters if wank really means what you said it does.
Oh and how exactly am i changing my tone? I literally said "i hate to admit" Natsu is getting wanked. You trying to say im a hardcore Natsu fan? Cause thats the only explanation for why a person would "hate to admit" something negative about a character.
Erza is a tanky mage thanks to her amours and arguably smart like Gray but that doesn't make her win any fight she can't fight Natsu for long time she may last longer than Gray tho. Gray on the other hand, He wasn't wining against END, His traps weren't useful as you think. He was creating traps and Natsu just undo them or dodge without getting any damage he was just stalling to get more time. The fact is Natsu was getting stronger by the time and was getting the upper hand, If the fight meant to be death battle. Natsu obviously was getting out as the winner even with a disadvantage.
EDIT: Wining chance is 70% for Natsu at least.
as for Gray/Erza 20~30% at best.
Of course it does, Flame Empress cuts Natsu's attack power
in half. Plus she's faster, smarter and more skilled. Natsu's only chance is overpowering her head on, and seeing how she blocked a punch from his END form, bare handed, with no armor/weapon. I highly doubt Natsu could easily overpower Flame Empress armors defenses or Erza's skills. Me giving him a 60% chance was too generous.
Gray's traps werent working? Do we read the same manga? I'll lay em out for you.
Gray makes the most of getting punched in the face by secretely planting homing Ice Crystals to target Natsu
Natsu gets tripped by Gray.
Natsu crashes into Gray's wall like an idiot
Natsu gawks at Gray while he traps Natsu in a cage to set up his next attack
The only one of Gray's traps that didnt work was the homing ice crystals, thats 3/4, pretty fricking decent. So yeah, Natsu was getting more powerful, but thats because he's fricking END, thats whats meant to happen. Gray wasnt losing, he was winning, it was only thanks to END's enormous store of power that he kept coming back for more and the more END transforms, the more effective Gray's DeS magic will probably be. Who knows if END can even get tired, but human Natsu sure as hell can, and thats who Gray is fighting in this scenario, so yeah, 50/50 chance at winning.
Laxus is extremely overrated here. Natsu one shotted Enhanced Neinhart which is > Ajeel
One shotted Dimaria which is > Wahl
I'd say Natsu easily above him.
Lol at this, Laxus murder stomps Natsu, there is a reason Azir crapped his pants at Laxus but just laughed at Natsu.
This is Azir's reaction to Natsu
This is Azir's reaction to Laxus
At best Natsu is on the same tier as MBP afflicted Laxus,
at best. Because we heard straight from Wahl that even while afflicted by MBPs, Laxus is top tier within Fairy Tail.