User blog comment:TsurugiFan16/MSPD: Inazuma Debaters!/@comment-5954191-20130710121506

My opening plea:

Stats
Kinako's stat sheet is quite overwhelming. She has an advantage in GP, TP, Technique, Block, Catch, Stamina and Lucky. All of those are crucial for an Libero. Catch seems useless, but I'll come later to that. Fran only has an advantage in Kick, Dribbling and Speed. While Dribbling and Speed should not underestimated, Kick is not that important, as a Libero is still a defender.

Hissatsu
Yakimochi Screw is weaker than Floral Despair (100x1.2 = 120; 130x1=130) by only 10 points in terms of power and also has a higher TP consumption. However, it is a Long Shoot and deals more Shibire Damage. Even if it gets blocked, the mission of the shot is successful. It will drain the defender's and goalkeeper's TP and deals Shibire Damage. Fire Tornado TC is the icing on the cake. Strongest Fire Shoot in the entire game, also gets powered by STAB (200x1.2 = 240) and deals a decent amount of Shibire Damage. Even if Kinako's Kick might be not that high, but with Fire Tornado TC she gets things done.

Kinako also possess Sky Walk, underlining her value of a Libero. With a Power of 140, she surely can pass through opponents and thus can foment the attacking process of the team.

Kinako's Mochi Mochi Kinako Mochi is stronger than Magical Flower (130x1.2 = 156; 140x1 = 140) but at the same time weaker than Fran's Air Bullet (160x1.2 = 192). However that should not deprive Mochi Mochi Kinano Mochi prowess. It's a Shoot Block which comes handy in many situations, especially for an Libero, and gets backed up by Kinako monstrous Block stat, something that can't be said Fran's Air Bullet.

At last Fran has the skill which allows her to recover faster from lost battles, something that really is good, but she would've been better off with an Dribble Waza.

Keshin
Kinako got a perfect fit. Amaterasu makes Kinako's abilities shine even more. While Amaterasu is not as strong as Chaos, it gets backed up by Kinako's block stat. As a Libero is moving up and down Hi no Inori will come in handy. Chaos also gets the job done, but as it is a DF Keshin, it hasn't the same impact as Amaterasu with Kinako. The more powerful could help, but I see a slight advantage for Kinako.

Mixi Max
Master Dragon aswell as Kuroi Bara boost their capabilities in which they're already good in. Kirakira Illusion is the strongest Wood Block Waza in the game, Keshin no Setsuyaku! reduces the cost of Kourin no Ya and thus can use it more and lengthens the longetivity of her Keshin. Technique Plus 30 further boost her stats and raises the success rate of her techniques.

Kuroi Bara gives her Black Ash and Chaos Meteor which are stronger than Magical Flower but not as strong than Fire Tornado TC. They also don't have an attribute (LS, SB) which limits their use, but are still threats that should be acknowleged. TP Plus 30 makes her TP close to Kinako, but still has 4 TP less. Nevertheless it just powers her up in the striking department, which is not the main aspect of a Libero.

Potential
The true question is: Who is the better Libero? According to Wikipedia:

"The libero is a more versatile type of centre-back who "sweeps up" the ball if an opponent manages to breach the defensive line. His position is rather more fluid than other defenders who man-mark their designated opponents. [...] the sweeper may be expected to build counter-attacking moves, and as such requires better ball control and passing ability than a typical centre-back, his talents are often confined to the defensive realm.

If we transfer this info to the IE universe, the important stats are GP, TP, Block, Dribbling and Stamina. The parameters for their positions are:

DF :
 * Kick←→Catch
 * Dribble←→Lucky
 * Technique←→Block
 * Speed←→Stamina

FW :
 * Kick←→Technique
 * Dribble←→Block
 * Catch←→Lucky
 * Speed←→Stamina

If we add focus on Block, Dribbling and Stamina we get the maximum stats for each category. Kinako's Block would be 173+113+63 (freedom stat) = 349, her Dribbling 105 + 103 = 208 and her stamina would be same as we don't want to take a loss in her speed.

Unfortunately the concept does not work with Fran as if we train her Block her Dribbling gets lowered and vice-versa. Only her Freedom stat, 54, could be used as training method.

Conclusion
Under these aspects, Fran is not able to perform as well as a Libero than Kinako. Kinako is better in nearly every aspect and thus does perform better as an Libero. Her balance in her stat sheet, makes her play more "fluid" and with her hissatsu she is able to phaze her opponents, marking her value as a Libero.

"Once you eliminate the impossible... whatever remains must be the truth. ...No matter how improbable it may seem." - Godot.