Snippet 178
Perspective: Top 10 Best Semblances of RWBY
Genre: Meta
Note: We were going have some salt and pepper with your commentary.
Tags: Top 10 Listing, Semi-Praising
[Cues: RWBY V2 Opening (Instrumental)]
Semblances. Devil Fruits. Quirks. These aspects give characters their superhuman abilities. They are the special flavor to their respective shows. Yeah well, RWBY's spicing has not worked out in its favor even if some of the semblances are pretty damn cool. Despite poor execution or the characters being not so bright in their usage, these powers are a beast in the field.
This is the Top 10 Best Semblances in RWBY.
Here's the ground rules: Every mentioned semblance across the show, comics, and novels are on the table, they will be judged by on effectiveness and usefulness. I won't judge it on basis on how the characters use them. As for how the writers handles them? It will play a minor role. Just be prepared for my personal opinions, silly or not.
So, let's begin!
[Cues: Nujabes – Feather (Instrumental)]
Number 10 – Harriet Bree/Others – Speed Semblances
This would be higher, but Harriet shot it to the bottom by revealing semblances of their type were common which ruined the uniqueness of it. However, who doesn't super speed? The power to blow through things superfast.
Number 9 – Blake Belladonna/Sun Wukong/Flynt Coal – Clone Semblances
Another victim of not being unique, but its effectiveness edged out. Helps that their clone designs are differentiated from each other. However, while useful, it's at the bottom for the crippling weakness of those in the power type, it takes a lot of energy to use. Unless your name is Naruto Uzumaki, you aren't getting much mileage.
Number 8 – Tyrian Callow's Aura Bypassing Semblance
This should be higher on the list, but this semblance has the same issue Emerald's has. It's best used as a surprise. Once the surprise is gone, an opponent will simply do everything in their power to avoid it. If anything, you think Tyrian would use his semblance more often, though. He did not even kill Fiona.
Number 7 – Fiona Thyme's Mass Storage Semblance
I had to mention this one. The usefulness transcends the character. Essentially, they would never have to carry anything. Want to hide a missile, supplies, or people? Go for it. With a semblance like this, you're never without a weapon. Hide drugs or any contraband from the cops or anyone. Too bad, it's not explored much. But, seeing that there's no supposed limit, maybe trap Salem inside.
Number 6 – Glynda Goodwitch's Telekinesis
If you reconstruct buildings and hold down airships, then you got a powerful semblance with a lot of training. Had Carmine and the number not been introduced…this would be higher on the list…maybe top five material. However, we can't truly measure Glynda's power because RT doesn't use her in…well any fights at all aside from the first fight, the food fight, and the Fall.
Number 5 – Neo's Overactive Imagination
Emerald's semblance should take notes. You have illusions, disguises, and a sense of style. This semblance also seems to have something in common with Emerald's…both appear to actually get stronger over the course of the series. A bit of a running issue with all of these semblances, both good and bad is that…the users make them feel stagnant. Neo is one of the few exceptions (Emerald's case is a bit of a breakdown…should not really count).
Number 4 – Pyrrha Niko's Polarity
Ironic, considering Pyrrha's dead and Cinder's not on this list. Pyrrha undoubtedly had one of the best semblances. Considering the average person will have something metallic on their person whether an earring, ring, or necklace….they'd be at her mercy. Weapons? Yoink. The only issue is Pyrrha herself who is way too nice about using it. Look at the insanity Magneto does with this power and imagine if Pyrrrha was not so nice…Cinder would be dead if Pyrrha dropped a tower on her.
Number 3 – The Schnee Family Semblance
A fairy obvious one coming considering everything it offers. Yes, Weiss and Winter are utter jobbers, but I will not deny that their semblances are rather powerful. Which if anything, makes Weiss and Winter look…really bad. You have a semblance that you mix with dust to make glyphs of various effects and lets you summon Grimm you killed. Picture yourself having this semblance and you killed an Apathy Grimm or a Grimm Dragon. Instant win. This semblance would have hit number 1….but there are two that beat it.
Number 2 – Jaune Arc's Aura Amp
It's real bad sign when not all of Team RWBY could not make the cut. The fact that Ruby's at the bottom is a sign at the disconnect. Jaune's semblance like Pyrrha has not been nerf or screwed with by the writers other than Jaune not being allowed to use it. This semblance allows amplification of aura, enhancing others semblances and possibility itself. It stands as a juggernaut being Naruto's mass of energy, healing, and Izuku's One for All without any of the drawbacks. Jaune, if he was a fist fighter with aura techniques, could potentially be Might Gai with a near infinite pool of energy. Not like the writers give it a weakness over than Jaune himself…being well…not too bright in using it. I could argue that even the people who Jaune would admit his semblance earns this spot.
Before the number one spot, a few honorable mentions.
Marrow Amin – His semblance was tempting, but ultimately Glynda's could do the same with less limits. Even then, his semblance makes it impossible for him to lose…so the writers had to nerf him immediately.
Raven Branwen – She should be on this list, but there's the one thing that blocked her. Her semblance's specific rules. Considering her for the number 12 spot because in the hands of a sociable person, that semblance would make for the ultimate search and rescuer.
Cinder Fall – She may be a shit character for me, but her semblance is cool. However, I didn't know how the maiden power influenced how the semblance looks and functions…so I could not put it on the list.
Yatsuhashi Daichi – Oh, definitely. He'd be number 13.
Velvet Scarlatina – Just did not make the cut for me. I will say she's unlucky number 14.
Ruby Rose – I had to cut her out of Bree's spot upon advice that her semblance is beyond speed. Upon checking things over, they were right. Ruby's semblance is odd. It wasn't exactly good enough to get into the list, but…enough to get the number 11 spot.
Number 1 – Marcus Black's Semblance
Picture this. Semblances are a part of your soul, and with a man's power, can be torn from you. Mercury lost his soul to this man, and I had to give Marcus's semblance the number one spot. Despite it basically being a blatant rip off of All for One. [Side note, RWBY has a nasty habit of ripping off MHA…a lot lately.] Now we do not know if Marcus could use the semblances he stole. If he did, this retroactively makes Mercury's combat prowess…off the scale which makes V5 look even worse. By all means, he probably could body most of the cast. Despite this semblance only being mentioned, the impact it showed, and its implications were just enough to win the spot of being RWBY's best semblance.
(A/N: This was a lot easier than the bad list.)