| Raiden | |
|---|---|
| |
| Series | Metal Gear |
| Age | 35 (2018) |
| Birthday | c. 1983 |
| Sex | Male |
| Species | Unknown |
| Height | 5’10” (1.78 m) (Jack)
6'0" (1.83 m) (Raiden) |
| Weight | N/A |
| Alignment | Chaotic Good |
Jack, more commonly known as Raiden, is a cyborg ninja from the Metal Gear series of video games, developed and published by Konami.
| “ | I am lightning... The rain transformed. | „ |
| ~ Raiden |
Backstory[]
Jack was born in the country of Liberia during a Civil War. After his parents were killed, Jack was adopted by Solidus Snake, who trained him to be a child soldier. His high kill count during the war earned him the nickname "Jack the Ripper". After the war, an adult Jack joined FOXHOUND, a special forces unit, and was given the codename Raiden. While with FOXHOUND, he teamed up with Solid Snake to stop the mobile fortress Arsenal Gear and Solidus, who was running the project on the Big Shell oil rig. Sometime later, Raiden was kidnapped by a group called the Patriots and transformed into a cyborg ninja, eventually joining a military security group called Maverick to put his new abilities to good use.
Powers & Abilities[]
- Cybernetic Enhanced Physiology: After becoming a Cyborg, his overall strength, speed, agility, and endurance had increased to superhuman levels.
- Enhanced Strength: The exoskeleton can also bulk up to enhance the strength of Raiden, similar to Solidus Snake's exoskeleton. Allowing him to swing two Gekko with little effort by the wires and was even able to temporarily block Outer Haven. His strength was also enough for him to effortlessly pry open a gate with his bare hands. His strength, although greatly benefiting him, can also get him into big trouble, a notable instance of this was when he arrived at Solis, where he accidentally (and unknowingly) wrecked the front gate's electronic lock. He was strong enough to not only parry a modified Metal Gear RAY unmanned unit's blade, but also to lift it up by the blade and throw the RAY a great distance,
- Enhanced Agility: agile enough to springboard across several HEMP missiles towards the RAY unit, as well as jump up to the RAY unit's blade after throwing it a great distance in a small period of time. He later pulled a similar feat with the much larger Metal Gear EXCELSUS. His abilities were likewise improved after his second cyborgification, to the extent that he joked that he wouldn't need any of his eyes to take down any of Desperado's cyborgs if ambushed.
- Enhanced Durability: Raiden was also capable of surviving falls large enough to kill any ordinary person, as evidenced by his falling down into the cityscape of Denver, although Boris implied that this was largely due to luck.
- Electricity Inducement: His cyborg body appears to conduct electricity or he seems to be highly resistant to it as when he is separated from his H.F Blade the lightning seems to stop. During the attack on Outer Haven, he also appeared amidst several lightning strikes that killed several FROGS.
- Master Hand to Hand Combatant/Martial Artist: His training with Solidus suggested some emphasis in melee combat. His fighting style seems to be comprised of Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Capoeira, Judo, Jujitsu, Krav Maga, and Aikido. He was able to fight against Vamp during their final fight, even when disarmed and had two throwing knives lodged in his forearms he was still able stand on equal grounds with him. He also fought against the nano-machine enhanced Senator Armstrong, a former college football player and Navy soldier, in hand to to hand combat managing to push him back with his strikes and even managed to use a grappling technique to throw him back a couple of feet away.
- Sword Mastery: His training with Solidus suggested emphasis in bladed weapons, his sword fighting style is a self taught form of Kenjutsu. He fought and defeated his former mentor Solidus Snake in a sword fight during the Big Shell Incident. During the Guns of the patriots Incident, he fought against the knife master, Vamp, even stabbing through himself to gain the upper hand and he later fought multiple FROGS with his arms missing. During the attack on the prime minister, Raiden was able to slice apart a Metal Gear RAY and duel against Jetstream Sam, though lost due to the latter's better swordsmanship. After getting a new cyborg body, Raiden managed to defeat the advanced LQ AI robot Blade Wolf. He was able to fight and defeat every member of the Winds of Destruction including Mistral, Monsoon, Sundowner, and won in his rematch against Jetstream Sam due to his new enhancements.
- Knife Mastery: Raiden is also highly skilled in using knives in combat. His knife fighting style seems to be a mix of Tantojutsu and Kali. He was able to duel Vamp, a "wizard with knives", in a knife fight even managing to wound him several times throughout their confrontation. He could also use his combat knife in conjunction with his sword for dual welding maneuvers reminiscent to his former mentor Solidus Snake. He is even capable of attaching his knife to his foot for more unorthodox attacks against his opponents. He is also skilled at knife throwing such as when he saved George from a robot by taking it down with a single throwing knife.
- Master Marksman: Raiden is adept with a variety of guns, from small arms to surface-to-air missiles.
- Master Acrobat: Even before his cybernetic enhancements, Raiden was capable of pulling off agile maneuvers.
- Military Training: Due to his harsh childhood, training from Solidus and the Army's virtual training, his mental state and capacity were well suited to combat operations behind enemy lines.
- Expert Tracker: Raiden is also skilled at being attuned with nature, also known as scouting, which he gave Solid Snake pointers in it when contacting him about in South America.
- Stealth: As a soldier, Raiden is trained in stealth tactics.
- Blade Mode: Raiden can enter a "Blade Mode," drastically increasing his reactions and combat speed to the point that his surrounding time seems to slow down, allowing him to make incredibly fast and precise slashes before his opponent can respond.
- Ripper Mode: A state that Raiden entered during the World Marshal Incidents. The name was derived from "Jack the Ripper," a nickname Raiden earned during his time as a child soldier in Liberia. It is Jack's other, very violent personality gained by his experiences as a child. After entering Ripper Mode, Jack becomes much faster and stronger, and his fighting style becomes more ruthless. By deactivating his pain inhibitors and losing himself in his Jack the Ripper persona, Raiden enters a more powerful mode known as Ripper Mode. While in Ripper Mode, Raiden's physicality gains a large boost, to the point where he can easily kill cyborgs with one swing of his sword.
- Zandatsu (斬奪 - "cut and take"): A unique technique used by Raiden to extract fuel cell electrolytes from enemy cyborgs and unmanned weapons. By targeting their weak points in Blade Mode, Raiden can grab their power cores and recharge his fuel cells and health instantly.
Equipment[]
- High-Frequency Blades: Raiden weapon of choice is a high frequency blade. The blade is reinforced by a powerful alternating current and resonating at extremely high vibration frequencies. This oscillation weakened the molecular bonds of anything it cuts, thereby increasing its cutting ability allowing it to cut through almost anything. Throughout his career, Raiden has used four different swords. The first is an ninjato or chokuto sword used by Mr. X given to him by Solid Snake. The second was carried by him as a cyborg which resembled a tactical version of a ninja style sword. After a new upgrade cyborg body, Raiden received a new HF Blade from Maverick which resembles a modernized katana though this sword was broken during his fight against Senator Armstrong. The final sword he used was Jetstream Sam's VT7 high-frequency blade known as the "Murasama" which he acquired after defeating Sam. It is a katana that glows red due to HF tech. The original blade dates back to the 16th century and originally belonged to Sam's father.
- Murasama: A Murasama blade altered with high-frequences/HF technology that was originally owned by Sam Rodrigues, though he gave it to Raiden after he defeated him. It is much sharper than the original HF Blade, as it was able to slice through Senator Armstrong's hardened body, while the HF Blade couldn't.
- L'Etranger: Mistral's weapon, a polearm made out of Dwarf Gekko arms that can be used for rapid attacks, switching between its normal polearm state and a whiplike weapon.
- Dystopia: One of Monsoon's twin sai, Dystopia, can be used as a thrown weapon or as a sort of makeshift EMP grenade that can short out enemy cyborgs.
- Bloodlust: Sundowner's twin blades, which can be put together to be utilized as a pair of giant, lethal shears. Lacking Sundowner's immense strength, Raiden cannot use them as fast, but their capability makes them incredibly powerful in combat.
- Knives:
- Combat Knives: After becoming cyborg, Raiden carried two combat knives on his person resembling the Yoroi Toshi from Warren Thomas. One next to his sword and another on the inside of his right calf. After gaining a new cyborg body, Raiden stuck using only one knife next to the scabbard on his back which resembled his high frequency blade.
- Throwing Knife: Raiden used this throwing knife to destroy a robot attacking George.
- Firearms:
- Heckler & Koch Mark 23 Phase 2 Prototype: Raiden used this handgun as his sidearm of choice during the Big Shell Incident given to him by Solid Snake. He would carry this gun in his holster when he became a cyborg, though never used it and discarded it after receiving his new cybernetic body.
- M4A1: Raiden picked up this assault rifle used by Solid Snake during his first encounter with Vamp.
- Heckler & Koch PSG-1: Raiden used this sniper rifle to cover Emma across the oil fence.
- FIM-92 Stinger: Raiden used this missile launcher to fight AI controlled Metal Gear RAYs.
- Grenades:
- Chaff/Jam Grenade: An electronic attack device that deploys countless metal strips along with an active jammer to temporarily disable radio communications and electronic equipment such as cameras, radar, missile guidance, and lock-on systems as well as stun AI controlled weapons and early model Cyborgs
- Electromagnetic Grenade: A disposable electronic attack device that emits electromagnetic pulses for a limited time, disabling any UGs and Cyborgs in the area. Because recent-model UGs and Cyborgs immediately shut down all circuitry when an electrical surge is detected, no permanent damage is done.
- Cybernetic Bodies: Raiden had two cybernetic bodies. One was white and clear resembling the exposed muscles of a human body which came equipped with a retractable visor and head protection. He also had elevated pieces on his feet, near his heel portion. These act as grips for his HF blade, in the event that he attempted to use a break-dance-like maneuver to cut up enemies. Raiden's cyborg body during this time appears to be pressurized in some manner, as shown during the two occasions in which he fights Vamp, when knives are propelled out of his torso, as well as when he disengages his visor. The other was a black tactical armored exoskeleton with curved spike on the forearms and shoulders. This one could energized itself with the electrolytes of other cyborgs.
- Soliton Radar: A highly advanced radar system that utilizes electromagnetic waves originating from living beings to map out the location as well as provide live info of the position and field of view of enemy soldiers. It also can detect ghosts.
- Anti-personnel Sensor: A small personal device that can detect the heartbeats and electromagnetic fields of nearby lifeforms.
- Solid Eye: A device worn like an eyepatch that grants him night vision and a capacity for binocular sight, though not at the same time. It allows Raiden to make out footprints easily and determine the emotional and mental states of others by recording their body temperature, heart rate, and sweat secretions.
- Codec: A highly advanced real-time communications system. Raiden's Codec is nanomachine based, allowing him to communicate through his nanomachines while remaining silent.
- Electrolyte Pack: A container of the molten carbonate electrolytes used to power military cyborgs' fuel cells, it can be used to restore Raiden's Fuel Cell Gauge immediately.
- Repair Nanopaste: Substance used by UGs and Cyborgs to recover from sustained injuries akin to how an average human regenerates from wounds but at a much faster rate. It can be used to restore Raiden's Life Gauge immediately.
Feats[]
Strength[]
- Held back a giant submarine with one arm.
- Flung around Gekkos with ease.
- Parried a Metal Gear RAY's massive sword before throwing the RAY with one hand.
- Threw Metal Gear Excelsus, which weighs hundreds of thousands of tons.
- Punches a massive robot dog into the air.
- Tore off Metal Gear Excelsus' giant sword, parried one of its blows with it, and used the weapon to slice Excelsus up at blinding speeds.
Speed[]
- Can dodge and deflect bullets with ease.
- Ran up and down walls.
- Kept up with Vamp.
- Deflects FTE throwing knives from less than 10m away.
- Kills a man before he can shoot the boy he's holding, who was 10-15m away from him.
- Dodged and hopped across missiles.
- Kept up with a speeding train on foot.
- Made multiple cuts while raindrops were frozen still (11% the speed of light)
- Shreds a moving helicopter blade so quickly that it appears almost stationary.
Durability[]
- Survived being crushed by Outer Haven.
- Tanked being thrown through a building.
- Laughed off being stabbed through the stomach.
- Survives being shot with missiles and RPG's.
- Fell from a helicopter flying above skyscrapers and lived.
- Took a beating from Armstrong.
- Can survive large plasma blasts and being being stepped on giant robots.
- Treats having his arm cut off as a minor inconvienence
- Withstood a punch that destroyed Metal Gear EXCELSUS.
Skill[]
- Defeated Jetstream Sam, a master swordsman.
- Can wield his sword in his feet and mouth.
- Mixes break-dancing into his fighting style.
- Defeated Solidus Snake.
- Defeated Senator Armstrong and crushed his heart.
- Helped bring down the Patriots.
- Defeated Desperado & World Marshall.
Weaknesses[]
- Limited Fuel Supply: Blade and Ripper Mode both run on the same fuel source, and using them for too long will make it run out quickly. The only way to replenish fuel is too absorb it from enemy machines or cyborgs.
- His Left Arm: Raiden's left arm contains memory storage data and other important data. If cut off, Raiden will experience PTSD and memory loss.
- Emotionally Unstable: Due to his time as a child soldier, Raiden is not very stable emotionally. He is prone to outbursts of homicidal rage.
- Ripper Mode´s Insanity: While in Ripper Mode, Raiden gives into his homicidal tendencies, driving him insane until he stops using it.
Fun Facts[]
- Raiden has had three different cyborg bodies.
- Raiden's head is his only organic part left. The rest of him is mechanical.
- Has had his arm cut off on 2 different occasions.
- Raiden appeared twice in the popular internet series DEATH BATTLE!