So here we are folks
Kirito dual-wielding, system-breaking poster boy for Sword Art Online
Subaru mentally scarred, emotionally shattered, and somehow still standing thanks to the divine cheat code known as Return by Death
Let’s pit these two titans of totally different genres against each other and see who walks out with more than just emotional baggage
Raw Power
Edge: Kirito
Let’s not sugarcoat it
Kirito has the kind of power that says “physics is optional” and “rules are just loading suggestions”
He slices through enemies like they’re wet paper towels with his Dual Blades and Incarnation magic
Meanwhile Subaru’s version of power is crying a lot then occasionally flexing some ghost hands
Respect the trauma but Kirito’s turning tanks into scrap while Subaru’s still trying to find the off switch on a rabbit swarm
Speed & Reaction Time
Edge: Kirito
Kirito is basically a living lag spike
He’s dodging beams, parrying light-speed attacks, and pulling out clutch reactions like he’s got auto-dodge DLC installed
Subaru’s more of a “dodge it next life” kind of guy
Sure he learns fast after like seven deaths and a nervous breakdown
Technique & Combat Skill
Edge: Kirito
This guy trains like his life depends on it because… well it does
He’s sparring with bosses, rival swordsmen, and people who wear way too much armor
Subaru fights like someone who accidentally picked the wrong class and stuck with it
He’s more likely to trip over a sword than swing it but hey at least he’s great at moral support
Durability & Endurance
Edge: Kirito
Kirito has tanked blade strikes, fireballs, and emotional plot dumps that would knock most people into early retirement
He keeps going with HP in the red like it’s a lifestyle
Subaru meanwhile dies if you sneeze too hard in his direction
Yes he’s emotionally indestructible but physically this guy bruises like a banana
Hax & Broken Abilities
Edge: Subaru
Let’s just be honest
Return by Death is the anime equivalent of “save game and reload until you don’t die horribly”
Subaru’s not winning fights he’s undoing them until he finds the one where Kirito slips on a banana peel and breaks his sword
Throw in some invisible death hands and Cor Leonis and you’ve got one super busted combo Kirito would never see coming
Transformation & Power Scaling
Edge: Kirito
He gets stronger the more dramatic the situation
Turn off the lights and Kirito becomes a walking energy blade
From swordsman to literal system-breaking admin, the dude levels up mid-fight like his own plot gave him a cheat code
Subaru doesn’t really “power up” he just gains more trauma and maybe a new curse or two
Environment & Adaptability
Edge: Kirito
Drop Kirito in any game world and he’s speedrunning it with style
Give him ten seconds and he’s found the terrain exploit, clipped through a wall, and is now dual-wielding boss drops
Subaru needs at least seven deaths, a motivational speech, and a few existential crises before he figures out where the bathroom is
Love the guy but he’s not winning a jungle battle without Google Maps and three retries
Mindset, Plot Armor & Mental Warfare
Edge: Draw
Kirito stays cool under pressure like he’s sponsored by Mentos
But Subaru’s been mentally shattered more times than a dropped iPhone and still crawls back up with tears in his eyes and a plan in his brain
Both are protected by enough plot armor to tank a Gundam blast
One is emotionally stable with high resolve
The other is emotionally destroyed with even higher resolve
That’s a tie if we’ve ever seen one
Strategy, Intelligence & Narrative Control
Edge: Subaru
Kirito is smart
He plans
He adapts
But Subaru plays chess with time itself
Give him infinite retries and he’ll learn Kirito’s diet, sword weight, and whether he’s ticklish
He doesn’t outfight you he outtries you
Every move gets revised until there’s no scenario left where you survive
That’s not strategy that’s narrative domination
Weaknesses & Exploitable Gaps
Kirito: Stuck in systems and physics unless he breaks them but doesn’t do great when emotions get messy or someone fights with the power of bad vibes
Subaru: Fragile like glass slippers in a mosh pit and absolutely dependent on Return by Death to even get through breakfast
If save points glitch out or reset too late he’s locked in a loop of pain
Edge in Exploiting Weaknesses: Subaru
Because if Kirito has a flaw Subaru will find it
Die
Come back
Die again
Repeat until Kirito wishes he had a reset button
Prep Time Scenario
Kirito: Buffs up gears, finds the perfect stats, probably brings snacks
Subaru: Dies seven times to figure out what snacks work best against Kirito
Edge: Subaru
He gets infinite prep until there’s no prep left to do
Dream Crossover Results
Kirito in Re:Zero:
Would dominate your average threat like they were tutorial enemies
But when it comes to witches, curses, and time-looping death spirals he’s playing chess on a checkerboard
Subaru in SAO:
Would die to the first slime
Then come back and solo the entire floor with perfect knowledge
He’d basically turn the death game into a trial-and-error dating sim with survival stats
Final Verdict: Who Wins?
Winner: Subaru Natsuki
Why?
Because Kirito wins fights
Subaru wins stories
He doesn’t need to overpower Kirito he just needs to outlast him
Kirito will cut through every version of Subaru until one shows up with a counter to every move and a comeback line that hits harder than a finishing blow
And that’s the guy who wins
Not because he’s stronger
But because he refuses to let any version of himself stay dead long enough to lose
In the end
Kirito swings the sword
Subaru rewinds the clock
And the fight continues until only one of them has the patience to win it all
And spoiler alert
It’s the guy with the save file
Key Points
- Kirito’s Physicality vs. Subaru’s Hax: Kirito commands overwhelming direct combat power, speed, and durability, while Subaru primarily wields meta-abilities like Return by Death and Authorities.
- Strategic Learning: Subaru’s Return by Death allows him to refine strategies through repeated failures, offering a powerful learning tool, but it doesn’t grant instant skill mastery.
- Transcendent Abilities: While Kirito’s abilities are amplified by virtual mechanics, his Incarnation allows him to manifest willpower-based feats that transcend typical system limitations, making him more than just a “game character.”
- Skill vs. Iterative Knowledge: Kirito is a master swordsman and tactical combatant; Subaru’s proficiency in overcoming challenges comes from iterating through timelines and gaining crucial foreknowledge.
- Mental Resilience: Kirito demonstrates stable mental composure under immense pressure. Subaru, despite enduring extreme psychological trauma, is prone to breakdowns that can be a temporary liability.
- Conditional Narrative Control: Subaru’s Return by Death grants him significant narrative control by allowing resets, but this advantage diminishes if Kirito’s attack prevents meaningful learning (e.g., an instant, context-less death).
- Exploitable Weaknesses: Kirito’s emotional connections are potential vulnerabilities. Subaru’s physical frailty and the secret nature of his ability are his primary drawbacks.
- Contextual Adaptability: Kirito excels at immediate adaptation within a single combat encounter or game system. Subaru adapts by systematically resetting time and learning from iterative failures.
- Power Source: Kirito’s strength is fueled by his will, honed skills, and system mechanics. Subaru’s powers are derived from the Witch of Envy (Return by Death) and the Witches’ Authorities.
- The Iterative Advantage: While Return by Death is a broken ability, it doesn’t make Subaru invincible in a single encounter. However, it allows him to persist and eventually find a winning strategy over multiple attempts, making him exceptionally difficult to defeat permanently.
Fun Facts
- Kirito’s Real Name Origin: Kirigaya Kazuto’s online avatar name “Kirito” is a combination of his family name “Kirigaya” and first name “Kazuto” (Kiri + To).
- Subaru’s Intense Gaze: Subaru’s eyes are often described as sharp or intense, a narrative detail reflecting the profound and traumatic experiences he’s undergone.
- Kirito’s Post-SAO Caution: After escaping SAO, Kirito maintained a high level of caution and awareness, a subconscious habit developed from the death game environment.
- Subaru’s First Authority: Subaru’s Authority of Sloth, “Unseen Hand,” initially manifested primarily to protect Emilia and later developed into an offensive capability.
- Kirito’s Culinary Appreciation: Kirito, despite his initially blunt personality, shows genuine appreciation for high-quality food, especially dishes prepared by Asuna in SAO.
- Subaru’s Summoning Time: Subaru was transported to Lugnica shortly after midnight in his original world, a subtle detail about his abrupt transition.
- Kirito’s VRMMO Versatility: Kirito has extensively played and adapted to numerous full-dive VRMMOs, including SAO, ALO, GGO, and the Underworld, showcasing his exceptional virtual adaptability.
- Subaru’s Language Acquisition: While not explicitly accelerated by Return by Death, his repeated exposures to situations aid his relatively quick acquisition of the local language.
- Kirito’s “Dual Blades” Uniqueness: Kirito received the unique skill “Dual Blades” in SAO because the game system couldn’t categorize his extraordinary speed and skill with a single sword.
- Subaru’s Original World Contact: Before his transport, Subaru’s phone displayed only a single, unanswerable call from an unknown number.
- Kirito’s Dark Repulser Origin: Kirito’s iconic sword, Dark Repulser, was forged by Lisbeth using a rare Crystallite Ingot obtained from a dragon.
- Subaru’s “Nugget” Self-Reference: In earlier web novel versions, Subaru internally referred to himself as “Nugget” at times, reflecting his self-perceived expendability.
- Kirito’s AI Empathy: Kirito frequently forms deep bonds with AI characters (like Yui, Alice, and Eugeo), highlighting his unique empathy that often blurs the lines between human and artificial intelligence.
- Subaru’s Otaku Influence: Subaru’s background as an otaku, knowledgeable in anime, manga, and games, often provides him with unexpected insights and strategic approaches in his fantasy world.
- Kirito’s VR Immersion Depth: Kirito’s prolonged full-dive immersion is so profound that he sometimes experiences brief moments of disorientation or phantom sensations when transitioning between the virtual and real worlds.
