Tired of the demons versus humans plot? Maybe it’s time for you to give Record of Ragnarok a chance. The anime explores the history of mythologies in the most exciting way. In addition, it shows formidable fights between the Gods and the human race. As of now, five out of thirteen battles have been featured in the anime adaptation. All fights were great in their own way. However, one question still remains, whose battle among all challengers stands out most?
With Record of Ragnarok seasons one and two, fans were able to witness five of the most awaited match. Ragnarok, the ultimate trial between Gods and mankind has featured impressive battle skills and emotional backstories of the challengers. Hence, our ranking is not solely focused on how well the fights were executed, but also on the emotional impact it gave on the viewers.
So as we wait for the other remaining challengers, we have detailedly listed and ranked the current best fights in Record of Ragnarok seasons 1 and 2 just for you!
Spoiler Warning: The rankings of battles contains few detailed explanation on how each battle went. Read at your own risk.
5. An Honorable Death: Thor vs. Lü Bu
WINNER: THOR
Starting off with Thor and Lü Bu. The fight between Lü Bu and Thor was a great way to start the Ragnarok. The battle was a strong introduction to what lies ahead for fans to see. The fight between the strongest human who ever lived and the God of Thunder easily captured the attention of its viewers. Through their fight, they were able to find happiness in each other as they have finally found someone they can call a worthy opponent.
Lü Bu as a child already decided to take the path of becoming the strongest man to ever lived. He traveled and challenged those who claimed to be strongest and was able to cut them all down. After 30 years of fighting, Lü Bu was able to stand on top among all; however, he always became aware that no one was left that can rival his strength.
Knowing you’re the strongest man alive could have made him the happiest. However, Lü Bu eventually got bored as he still hasn’t fought with all his might. Even after mastering his Sky Eater technique, he thought that it was a waste as he won’t be able to use it against somebody else. But, his death wasn’t the end of his journey. Chosen as humanity’s representative, his battle with Thor showed that both of them were the strongest challengers from both parties. The strongest human, fortunately, found his strongest opponent in Ragnarok.
Although they never called out each other as friends, you can sense the bond that they both formed during their battle. It was not only their brute strength that carried this fight but also their smiling faces as they face each other and exchanged fists.
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They may be fighting for completely different reasons, but they were able to gain the respect of each other. However, their battle didn’t last as long as expected. In my opinion, the fight could have lasted more, especially for Lü Bu. Unfortunately, he was unexpectedly decapitated by Thor and faced death with a proud smile. Lü Bu may have lost; however, his resolved and astronomical strength proved that humans can rival the Gods.
4. Wish Granted: Shiva vs. Raiden Tameemon
WINNER: SHIVA
The God of Destruction is one of the most awaited characters to enter the battlefield. He was supposed to fight during the second round but was replaced per Zeus‘ request. The delay was a blessing in disguise for Shiva was able to fight a human that is much more suited to his abilities. Raiden Tameemon is hailed as the greatest sumo wrestler of all time. Born with strong muscles that even his body wasn’t able to contain, Raiden had no choice but to suppress them which limited him from using his full strength. However, this didn’t stop him from striving for victories gaining him the title of History’s Strongest Sumo Wrestler.
The battle of Raiden and Shiva was the final fight for season two. Honestly, if Thor and Lü Bu’s battle was a strong introduction. Raiden and Shiva’s was a strong ending as we wait for Buddha’s fight. Both carried the dreams of others on their shoulders which made them almost equally strong.
Moreover, Shiva was able to grant Raiden’s long wish since he pursued his passion as a sumo wrestler. Due to his immense strength, Raiden always performed best but at the same time instilled fear in his opponents. This didn’t make him happy as it remained him of the kids who were scared of him when he was young. Hence, Raiden decided to continue his passion as a sumo wrestler but was forced to conceal his special techniques in order to not go overboard.
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However, with Thrud as his Volundr, Raiden was able to control his uncontrollable muscles unleashing his full strength as a sumo wrestler. With Shiva losing three of his arms, Raiden’s victory was almost within reach. But, the God of Destruction had more under his sleeve. Raiden’s unrivaled strength pushed Shiva to tap in using his trump card, Tandava Karma. This form of Shiva kept the fire burning for the Gods and burned Raiden’s strongest technique, Yatagarasu.
Raiden and Shivan had a lot of similarities that made it harder to predict who will win. Both challengers possessed brute strength. It’s just that Shiva was stronger than Raiden. Shiva proved that he is indeed deserving to stand top among the 1116 Gods he had beaten. Amazingly until his death, Raiden never once let his knees touch the ground proving his deep love for sumo. Shiva even admitted after the fight that he had the best battle with him, and that humans are such amazing creatures.
3. The Loser’s First Win: Poseidon vs. Sasaki Kojiro
WINNER: SASAKI KOJIRO
The battle between the perfect God and the imperfect human probably featured the most well-written backstory. Having to hear the words greatest loser may have given a hard time for people to trust Kojiro’s capabilities. Many bystanders in the Valhalla Arena questioned humanity’s fate for he was to fight one of the mightiest God, Poseidon. After knowing that God’s challenger for round three is Poseidon. Kojiro walks in and volunteers himself as the human’s next fighter.
Kojiro’s title as History’s Strongest Loser is much more than it seemed. As he continuously loses from a strong opponent to a stronger opponent, he was able to surpass them all. No one knew the true strength of the great swordsman up until his battle with Poseidon.
His swordsmanship skills were impeccable, especially because of his ability to extensively predict and evade his opponent’s move called Senju Musou. Even in the face of adversity, Sasaki always advances, which makes it possible for him to surpass the Tyrant of the Seas. The only thing that pulled this battle down was Poseidon’s emotionless, selfish, and conceited personality. Thankfully, Kojiro was able to carry it all.
The last few moments of their battle were emotional to watch for Kojiro poured all the blood he shed to claim victory and reached the bottom of the deep ocean abyss. Using all the techniques that defeated him in the past, Sasaki Kojiro slayed Poseidon. This battle was the first hope for humankind and the first victory of the greatest loser. Round three of the Ragnarok teaches us that sometimes the path to victory starts with a defeat.
2. The Most Humane Battle: Hercules vs. Jack the Ripper
WINNER: JACK the RIPPER
This battle is currently the most meaningful fight of all. Round four featured a battle between good and evil. Hercules is known to be the God of Fortitude. A Demi-God who is considered the most righteous among all Gods. Although he might have been the representative of the Gods, Hercules does not wish for the extinction of the human race. Instead, he wished to claim victory to persuade Zeus to not go ahead with their plans and offer humankind another chance.
Hence, when Brunhilde decided to put Jack the Ripper as his opponent. Hercules questioned her as Jack the Ripper is known as one of the most notorious criminals in history. Both of them fought in a London-like arena as requested by Jack. Without knowing the truth behind his opponent’s plan, Hercules agreed. However, this London-like arena was a major factor in Hercule’s fall. Jack the Ripper possessed a unique eye known as Soul Power that allows him to see people’s emotions based on colors.
This unique power contributed greatly to how he led his life. Before becoming an infamous criminal, he was a simply contended child. As long as he had her mother, Jack didn’t care less about what the other people said. However, he completely turned his back on humanity when he found out that even his dearest mother was like most of the people he met, sinful and a liar.
In connection, Jack was a great liar himself. Even with Hercules’s Herculean Exodus, the criminal strategically beat him. His ongoing lies during his battle with Hercules led him to his victory. However, their battle isn’t just impressive because of the fight scenes. For his final blow, Jack turned his gloves into a divine treasure and pierced it through Hercules’s body. Even in his dying moments, Hercules stands tall and proud. His immense love for humankind saved the great sinner from falling deeper into evil. In his final moments, he expressed his love for all humans by hugging Jack.
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It was heartbreaking. The result was unexpected. But it was a spectacular filled with emotional battle between two formidable challengers. Since Hercules was loved by both Gods and humans, many didn’t acknowledge Jack’s victory. But as William Shakespeare said after witnessing the battle:
Avert not thine eyes from the spectacle. Beauty is filth. Filth is beauty. And that man is as human as you were I.
William Shakespeare to Jack the Ripper (Record of Ragnarok)
1. The Divine Forefathers: Zeus vs. Adam
WINNER: ZEUS
The father of mankind was Brunhilde’s choice for round two. Knowing that the second representative of humans was Adam, Zeus decided to fight him instead of Shiva. Adam is introduced as File No. 00000000001, the hope of humanity, and the person who hates the Gods most. On one hand, Zeus was known as the God Father of Cosmos. The fight between Zeus and Adam is the most popular one among all the battles in Record of Ragnarok seasons one and two.
The first human to exist amazed all Gods and humans inside the arena for he was able to rival the strength of the strongest Norse God. Adam is a man who portrays selflessness like no another. He is someone who can willingly disrespect even the Gods for the sake of his fellow men. Furthermore, Adam’s Divine Reflection enabled him to evade and recreate Zeus’ attacks.
Zeus wanted to let humans know where they stand. However, Adam gave him the taste of his own medicine by throwing nonstop punches at the formidable God. He may have seemed carefree and disrespectful, but Adam possessed strength like no another because he was created in the own image of God. His undying perseverance made the Norse God unleash his trump card, the Adamas. Due to the power needed to recreate the attack of Zeus’ Adamas, Adam was the first one to overheat between the two of them causing him his life.
Their impressive battle and Adam’s incomparable resolve for the humans were able to reach and touch so many hearts. Up until his last breath, Adam didn’t stop throwing punches.
Hatred? Revenge? I don’t need any of that. There is no reason why. Is there any man that needs a reason to protect his own children?
Adam to Zeus (Record of Ragnarok)
When Zeus asked his true reason why he wishes to save humankind. His answer garnered praise and tears from the human race. Indeed, Adam’s death is currently the most touching one in Record of Ragnarok.
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