Never thought I’d see the day when I would talk about a sports anime, and it’d be about the intricacies of the power dynamics. Listen, I am one of those fans who only enjoys the genre for the wholesome friendship and cute boys galore. I am not ashamed to admit that my first foray into it wasn’t something serious like Slam Dunk. Nope, I’m a proud member of the ‘Bring Yuri! On Ice back, MAPPA!’ gang. But I will say, Blue Lock? It’s shaping up to be something different.

With a host of characters and none of whom seem to want to work together, there are a lot of talks about which one of the characters has the best ‘weapon’ so far in the series. I want to say it’s Noel Noa, the main striker of the French National Team, with the oddly apt weapon of ambidexterity. Strikers are the heavy hitters of the team so naturally; it’s going to be one of them. But what if we go beyond the professional leagues?

Blue Lock centers mostly around the participants of the extremely harsh Blue Lock Training program. It’s where trainees and novices come in, to hone the power of their ego and be shaped into the best version of themselves. Naturally, that results in some powerful strikers that develop sick moves to help them in the field. So, if we consider only the new kids vying for a spot on the Japanese National team, we can narrow down who has potentially the strongest weapon in their vicinity. And from there, it becomes much easier to discern.

After that, it’s pretty much a tossup between our two ‘rivals’: Yoichi Isagi, the protagonist, and Rin Itoshi, the second lead. Between the two of them, there is a lot of competition and potential to become the best Strikers in the teams they are in. However, out of both, who has the best weapon in Blue Lock? That is what we are here to discuss in a segment of Lore Analysis – where we take a close look at the mythos of trending manga and anime to see what we can find!

Isagi Yoichi – Skills: Spatial Awareness + Direct Shot (Flow State)

As the primary protagonist of the entire series, it would be pretty weird if Isagi didn’t have an ace up his sleeve. When he starts, he’s a mild-mannered kid who doesn’t stand out or play on the offense. And in Blue Lock, that attitude doesn’t cut it.

So, as the manga goes on, Isagi transforms. He adapts to the high-intensity competition going on around him and turns out to be the most evolved character out of everyone. He happens to be a Playmaker, as in someone who can map out how the match should go and then acts accordingly. They put a heavy focus on their team’s offense, making sure to take passes that ensure goals through a mix of technique, ball maneuvering, and tactile strategizing.

With his weapon, Spatial Awareness, all of that becomes infinitely more laser-accurate. Isagi plans out the ideal play that grants him maximum opportunities through his Spatial Awareness. This allows him to view the football field and the players on it like a board, and from there he maneuvers everything along. With his now immaculate footwork and skills, he leaves open enough chances for the other players to pass the ball neatly and leave him open to make the highest-scoring goals.

Despite Blue Lock being about the power of the individual, it’s Isagi’s skills as someone who can make teamwork that makes him such a formidable opponent.

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Rin Itoshi – Skills: Spatial Awareness + Kick Accuracy + Puppet-Controlling)

I mean, Rin isn’t exactly the best novice player in the series for nothing. Even Jinpachi Ego regards him as the current No. 1. A huge part of it is his legacy.

His brother happens to be Sae Itoshi, a prodigy in football and the best player in all of Japan. And so, you can guess the sibling rivalry here is off the charts. Rin was almost single-minded in his pursuit of surpassing his brother and then eventually becoming the best Striker in the world. But after the Blue Lock Eleven VS Japan U-20 match, he let go of his anger and became the top-ranked player in Japan.

The thing is that not only does he have the same Spatial Awareness as Isagi, but he also has a heightened technique and physical skills to complement it. He’s a powerhouse on his own, being able to command and puppeteer his teammates into the perfect positions to make goals.

Best Weapon: Rin Itoshi!

Honestly, if we just talk about the Blue Lock Eleven, there is no doubt that Rin Itoshi and his version of Spatial Awareness are a deadly combination.

After the Third Selection, that much was pretty much evident. Now, it’s just up to Isagi to catch up!