User blog comment:Wassboss/Religion vs Science: Mevolent's Officers vs Armstrong's Lieutenants/@comment-27334870-20160102073841

'Dargoo Faust's [REDACTED] Edges: Magic and Mysticism ... Science and Technology!'

Team Members: Segregated by Position/Identity

I) Leader: Metal Gear Rising has it's fair share of absurdly powerful villains, with Armstrong being pretty damn near, if not at, the top. While most leaders only get off on their abilities to command and control their team, Armstrong has shown time and time again that he can put out more than all of the individual components of his team. Mevolant, on the other side, seems like the much more versatile and and agile of the two, which means he may be able to combat Armstrong effectively if he can avoid the vast majority of his attacks. The one problem: Armstrong's ridiculous durability. It took Raiden all of his firepower and then some to actually harm Armstrong, with some of his most powerful punches and slices (Which, mind you, can cut through friggin' skyscrapers) could barely scratch the guy. I have a hard time thinking that Mevolant is going to be able to, with all of his attack power, actually do much harm towards Armstrong. When it comes to his weakness of 'boot up time', I think that his teammates can buy him enough time to get at his full strength. Ripping off heads is cool, but it's going to take alot more than that to take down Armstrong. Although, if the rest of Mevolant's team dominates, Armstrong will probably be weakened enough after this battle to be defeated. Problem is, though, Vile might get some other ideas if Mevolant's out of the picture. Also, I consider Armstrong a slightly better leader, as he doesn't have to control certain members by force, and most of his team are on board ideologically, if not for different reasons. [Winner- Desperado Enforcement]

II) Second-In-Command: Not every biological component a cyborg's bodies has been switched out, but enough has been to where I think the Red Hand won't be completely effective. I think it'll cause a large amount of pain and suffering, but not complete death. Defensively, Serpine has some options, but behind his magic, one shot could either cripple him or take him down completely. In one-on-one combat, I think Nefarin could actually defeat Sundowner, as, if he executed a continuous onslaught of magical and Red Hand attacks, Sun won't really comprehend what's going on or how he's being attacked. I think that that initial confusion is what'll cause a victory for Nefarin, especially if Sundowner is playing cocky with his shields again. However, if Sun manages to get any assistance, It'll be a slaughter. The key to Nefarin winning this is a continuous attack stream, not juggling between two/more people. Of note, however, is that Nefarin should have no problem with killing Sam, who is mostly biological. [Winner- Mevolant Officers]

III) Honorable Swordsman: While, in a one-on-one battle, I think there is a possibility of Vengeous winning this fight, the odds are stacked up against him. In the midst of battle, the amount of concentration it'll take to counter or block Sam's attacks will be extraordinary, making the 'rupture' ability useless. Outside of th rupure ability, Vengeous doesn't have much more going for him out of experience, and Sam's far, far superior durability and physicality will just decimate him. However, if Vengeos can get some assistance, and is allowed time to concentrate, he could easily take out a large majority of the other team if out of combat. But, this is my opinion on a 1 v 1 fight between the two. I digress. [Winner- Desperado Enforcement]

IV) Freak: Finally, a member of Mevolant's team that can take a hit! Vile is considerably durable due to his necromancy, almost comparative to Armstrong from what I've read. Honestly, the only thing Monsoon has going for him is his ability to separate his body parts, but that's about it in this comparison. Vile can dish out much more damage, is much more versatile with his teleportation skills, and with the death bubble can severely damage cyborgs like Monsoon and Sundown, or just straight-up kill people like Sam. Only thing I can see being a problem is that Vile isn't that dedicated towards Mavolent's cause (He just wants to cause mayhem), and is only kept in line due to Mavolent's power. And, while Vile might win in the 1 v 1 battle, he might turn on some of his teammates should Mavolent fall in battle. So he's a threat to everyone in the end, and an unreliable asset. [Winner- Mevolant Officers]

V) Femme Fatal: Mistral's a pretty formidable enemy, don't get me wrong, but China's abilities to sow her way around combat will most likely but her downfall. China has many pacifying and contact-to-kill attacks that can, in combination with one another, dispatch not just Mistral but many of her teammates. Again, another problem that comes forward is durability, as almost every member of the DE outclasses their opponent in it out right. But, this is how magic assists in battle. It enhances where the user can't preform well in, and what they excel in. In the case of China, that's messing with and manipulating people, and avoiding combat. I think China'll be able to sow her way around and avoid direct confrontation with Mistral for long enough to strike a fatal blow. [Winner- Mevolant Officers]

X-Factors: At an 89.6-87.6 average, the Mevolant Officers take the cake, barely, majoring in Experiance and Brutality. [Winner- Mevolant Officers]

OVERALL WINNER: THE DESPERADO ENFORCEMENT- "Now, wait, Dargoo, why the hell are you going for the DE, after giving almost all the edges to the Mevolant Officers???!!!" Well, for a couple of precise reasons, actually. I claimed that Armstrong can dish out and take in much more than Mevolant, and would ultimately defeat him. I also claimed that if only ONE other person was to help Sun in his combat, Nefarin would be 'slaughtered'. As per request, I'm factoring how each team functions as, well a team. After what I've read and researched, that's the DE. Vile is also an iffy question, without Mevolent to hold him on a leash. He'll most likely not care much for his teammates, and may attempt to kill a large majority of them (although I can't see him attempting to take on both teams at once), or flee to preserve his own life should things go south. The Mevolant Officers are only really banded together because Mevolant himself, and once he's been thoroughly pummeled by Armstrong much of the glue holding them together will melt away. So, while the Mevolant Officers have better working parts, the Desperado enforcement is a better team.