It’s been a true joy to write about Death Battle here on The Outerhaven. This is a show that has not only “answered” certain “fan questions” about key character clashes, but did so with such creativity and style that it’s downright inspiring. However, for a while, I didn’t know if it would survive the fall of Rooster Teeth. Thankfully, hundreds of fans (including myself) pledged to its Kickstarter in 2024 and brought it back to life. Now, the first true “round” of episodes is done, and I’ll tell you what The Best Death Battle Episodes Of The Indie Era are!
To be clear, I’m ranking all 16 episodes that have come out so far. That means I’ll be doing the four 2024 episodes (that the DB crew admitted was their only “initial goal for the KS campaign”) and all 12 episodes that were released here in 2025, which obviously includes the latest episode. But…before I start…how about a word from our “host” on a certain issue I’m sure some of you will have…
…all good? Did I make myself clear on how these rankings will be handled? Good! Then may “The Best Death Battle Episodes Of The Indie Era” rankings begin! Starting with…
#16 – Hulk vs. Godzilla
Without a doubt, Hulk vs. Godzilla is the most divisive episode of the indie era. Yes, I know ANOTHER matchup is also divisive, but this one tops that. Mainly because the “other episode” is about “how good it is, quality-wise,” whereas HulkZilla is about “Is this a good episode, or is it a bad one?”
This episode was born from the Tournament of Champions that happened in 2023, and when the Kickstarter was launched, the DB team revealed this as one of the stretch goals. We blew past that, and then it was revealed that DevilArtemis was cooking on this one, and that Singular Point would be used alongside other more recent Marvel content…and we were all excited…for a time.
So, why did this episode fall to the bottom of my list? Why is it so divisive? In all honesty…it all boils down to how the battle went.
If you really watch the battle, you’ll see that there actually weren’t as many interactions with Hulk and Godzilla as you might have expected. Base Godzilla gets killed more quickly than I would’ve liked, and with only getting a few shots on Hulk in. Then, Ultima shows up…and they do a time skip.
THAT is what really threw me out of this fight. Every moment after that wasn’t about Hulk vs. Godzilla; it was Bruce Banner narrating how he was going to win the fight. In many ways, it was an antithesis of everything Death Battle does, where they try to highlight that “each side has a shot at winning in the animation,” even if the battle is a stomp. Here, though, they went a much different route to point out why Bruce Banner was the only one who could beat Ultima, and while that made sense to do in the end recaps, it hindered the battle animation itself.
That’s why you see a lot of posts with HulkZilla being either at the top end of fan ranks for the year or at the bottom. Because you either “resonated with it,” or you didn’t. Sadly, I did not, and while the breakdown sections were great (especially the quotes to start out the intro sections), the battle really brought this episode down for me, to the point that I literally felt sad after watching this episode because of how little it “clicked” with me.
#15 – Kratos vs. Asura
…yeah, NOW we’re getting to the other “divisive episode.” The problem with this episode literally comes down to the word “hype.”
Long before the Death Battle Kickstarter, a certain matchup was featured in numerous fan-voted tournaments to see what winners would be guaranteed an episode in the future. In both the original Champion’s Ballot and the Tournament of Champions, Kratos vs. Asura was a finalist and the runner-up for the ToC. Fans made it clear they WANTED this matchup and pictured how cool it would look. When the Kickstarter came out, DevilArtemis did a “teaser” for the fight to indicate that he was game to make it real at last.
This was the first episode of 2025, and many were excited, and then the episode dropped ,and pretty much everyone went, “Huh, that’s it?” I was one of them, and just like with HulkZilla, it comes down to how the animation presented itself.
First, how Kratos and Asura truly “met” was never really explained, and it came off as clunky. Speaking of clunky, the dialogue definitely wasn’t “there” like it should’ve been. Kratos’s line, “You are a monster, no longer…” sounds poetic, but given that Asura made it clear that he cared for Mithra in the fight, why did he think he was a monster in the first place?
Going now to the full-on fight, some of the clashes between Kratos and Asura were honestly…unimpressive, especially with Kratos spamming his spear versus using the Blade of Chaos and the Leviathan Axe, which are far more famous to franchise fans. Every time Asura powered up, Kratos would basically beat him in 1-2 moves.
Even the classic “Asura’s Wrath Punch” sequence wasn’t as cool as many wanted. When you get outdone by Scooby/Courage mimicking the same thing? That’s a problem. Add that to the “padding” that was done in the beginning and the end of the fight, mixed with the oddly done “Alternate Scenario,” and you can see why many were underwhelmed with the fight they had waited so long for.
Now, to be clear, the breakdown sections were incredible. I LOVED how they handled Asura’s section, noting that his “anger was a shield” to protect everyone he loved, and the world in general, and how he was willing to give up his own life so that everyone else could know peace. Also, the VISUALS for the fight were incredible, and I’m glad DevilArtemis was able to use all the models possible to showcase Asura’s wrath…er, power.
In the end, though, it just didn’t live up to the hype.
#14 – Omni-Man vs. Bardock
…Devil Artemis, if you’re reading this, I PROMISE I don’t have an issue with you! You are an incredible animator, and I adore the DAU you’ve created. It’s just…bad luck that you’ve gotten three in a row at the bottom part of the list.
In all honesty, from here on out, there isn’t any “bad episode” or even “divisive ones.” From Omni-Man vs. Bardock onward, it’s all about “ascending levels of quality.” (And yes, I know there is ONE divisive element to this fight…I’ll talk about it, promise…)
To that end, this was the fight that truly welcomed the “indie era” of Death Battle to the world. This fight had been talked about for a long time before it was confirmed, with them even doing a DB Cast on it once. So, the question was, “Would this be a great start to the new independent era?”
Yeah! It was! Sure, there are some small nitpicks to have with the battle animation (which I’ll point out), but DevilArtemis really went artistic with some of the shots…
Adding to that, the dialogue was really fun, as these were two “A-hole Fathers” bantering to one another while trying to kill the one in front of them. My personal favorite line was when Bardock is getting choked out, and he goes, “NO! My sons…need me… I WON’T LET YOU TAKE ME FROM MY WORLD!!!!!!”
Yeah, him going Super Saiyan after that? It hit hard. Not as hard as Omni-Man hit him in the final clash…but you get the idea. Also, “Solid State Invincible” really helped elevate the fight in a fun way, and Brandon Yates doing this as a “sequel” to his previous Omni-Man track was cool, too.
Now, as promised, the one “divisive element” of the episode actually comes from the breakdown, via the “Solar Disk Feat.” I’m not touching that one in-depth, because I felt the team explained it perfectly fine, and it made sense that even IF you included Super Saiyan Bardock in the equation, Omni-Man was just too tough to deal with.
In truth, my only real gripe with the fight was that some of the animation beats didn’t flow as smoothly as other 3D fights on this list. For example, the epic shot of Bardock turning around to see his own tail coming right at him was cool, but then it cut to another shot of him getting hit by that same tail in another direction, and I was confused by that.
Regardless, this was a welcome start to the new Death Battle era, and when it aired (in live format, no less, to certain Kickstarter backers), we were all wondering what levels of greatness would come next…and most of the time…we would not be disappointed.
#13 – Among Us vs. Fall Guys
One of the best parts about Death Battle is that sometimes, real life delivers you a pairing that you didn’t really think about until someone hyped it up a lot, and then, you’re on board. For me, the embodiment of that in the indie era was Among Us vs. Fall Guys. These guys helped a LOT of people out during the pandemic, and when I saw DB fan Larryinwood do his own animation about how the fight would go, I wanted to see it happen for real, as did many others in the community!
It took a while, but we got it as the final episode in 2024, and Larry himself actually got to work on the fight!
Arguably, the best of the episode wasn’t the battle, but the breakdowns of the Imposters and Beans. Seeing Wiz and Boomstick “embrace the madness” of it all and deliver one-liner after one-liner was fun, while also highlighting just how bonkers both games/franchises are. They even did an Among Us “vote session” to kick out Ringmaster!
The fight itself was fun. Starting off on the crewmate’s ship, with one of them immediately getting killed. Then, heading to the Blunderdome, where things got crazy as both sides took “losses” due to the obstacles, only for the Imposter to have been one of the Beans ALL ALONG!!!! For the record, I have proof that I totally called that “swap out” before the episode aired. By the time we get to the climactic ending, and the BRUTAL finish by the Beans…you can see why this was worthy of a fight.
Furthermore, the background track, “Sussy Beans,” can easily get stuck in your head, and is played perfectly with the phases of the fight.
It’s not the greatest thing out there, but it GOT OUT THERE! For many of us in the community, seeing the matchups we want made is more important than how many views it got. In the end, Larry and the Fall Guys got the crown.
#12 – Master Chief vs. DoomSlayer
One of the many promises that the Death Battle Kickstarter made upon getting certain funding was a “rematch episode.” Fans would get to pick one from a group to see which would be “redone” to see if it would incur a different result. Master Chief vs. Doom Slayer was the result of that, and I was personally a fan of how DevilArtemis went full-tilt with the vibe and “aura” that was shown.
What made it really fun was the clever shots that I can honestly say we never really had in a DB before, like having certain first-person shots from Chief’s and the Slayer’s visors. It really made it feel like YOU were in the fight, and not just watching.
And then…there was the DB team’s decision to mock Microsoft (which I loved) and do what the show Secret Level wasn’t allowed to…and have Master Chief and the Doom Slayer kill demons in Hell.
“What the hell just happened?” – Cortana
“Greatness.” – Me (and likely many other fans)
That was just one of many cool moments in the fight, including the Slayer outspeeding a rocket to throw it back at Chief (a reverse of what happened in the original fight), numerous cameos (including Isabelle!) to show that we weren’t the only ones watching the battle, and then…one of my all-time favorite death set-ups.
The shot of Master Chief getting impaled, and we’re watching through his visor as he’s getting reeled in for his demise, while the alarms are blaring and the Slayer is saying “RIP…AND…TEAR!!!!!” was just so good. Oh, and then it capped off with the Slayer being set upon by MORE demons…that you know he killed immediately afterward.
The only reason this episode isn’t higher is that, unlike the last entry I talked about, the breakdowns for both characters weren’t too smooth, especially with an ad that had to be edited out later on. Even still, this was a good choice for the rematch, and it was worth watching.
#11 – Shigaraki vs. Mahito
Allow me to give you a name you’ll be hearing about a lot coming up: Moro. He’s a newer animator on the Death Battle team, but he’s been doing his own thing for a while now, including the beloved “Indie Cross” series that he does himself. Shigraki vs. Mahito was his second animation for the show, and he proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder. In other words…you have to…hand…it to him and his talents. (Get it? Because the powers of these two both have to do with their hands…? I’ll move on…)
If it weren’t for stiff competition, this one could’ve easily been in the Top 10, because it was a lot of fun and showcased just how talented Moro is, even when he’s not sure he could pull something off. The team straight-up asked him if he was “good drawing hands,” and he said, “No,” but did the fight anyway. Bravo, sir.
There’s a LOT going on in this fight, thanks to the hands of both villains (which, again, he had to draw…a lot…), and it was amazing what Moro was able to do to make it “feel right” while also being stunning to witness.
The final interactions between Shigaraki and Mahito were high-level for me, because they both expressed their views on things…with only one of their ideologies being the “true one” in the end. This was a fun episode that would get a “follow-up” not too long after…
#10 – Wile E. Coyote vs. Tom Cat
Sometimes…the Death Battle community surprises you, and when the team did the now-famous “Tournament of Champions,” there was one pick that defied all odds to win the entire thing: Wile E. Coyote vs. Tom Cat. That’s right, as we enter the top ten of “The Best Death Battle Episodes Of The Indie Era” list, it’s time to get LOONEY!!!
I give credit to the animation team for not just making this a clean, hand-drawn battle, but going full-tilt with some of the “Looney Gags” that we all know and love (you know, if you’re old like I am and used to watch Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry on repeat on Cartoon Network whenever it was on).
There were hilarious fourth-wall breaks, there were “speaking through sign” gags that I enjoyed, and the classic “drawing something on stone and someone walking through it like it was real,” it was all on display! We even had this:
Classic.
Even going beyond the “Looniness” of it all, I appreciated the breakdowns a lot, because we got to enjoy some hilarious insights into both franchises, while also giving praise and reverence to God.
You know…CHUCK JONES!!!
No joke, in the prediction series I do for Death Battle, I used the Chuck Jones rules to explain why Wile fails so much, and then the DB team did the same thing! It made me really happy, much like the entire episode itself. Oh, and the “breakdown” of Tom & Jerry Chase? Yeah, that got me to laugh quite a bit.
The fans asked for this episode, the team delivered, and hopefully…this won’t be all, folks, for more Looney matches in the future.
#9 – Joker vs. Giorno
In many ways, I WISH I could put this higher, because IMO, Joker vs. Giorno was the second-best episode of the initial 2024 set. This was actually teased to be the first episode of 2024 before the Rooster Teeth shutdown, but obviously, things happened, and we had to wait a bit. Worth it, though!
This is a perfect example of the show’s writing shining through in both the breakdowns and the animation. We got Wiz and Boomstick poking fun at how anime (game!) Persona is, and the “awkwardness” of a high schooler dating his teacher. Then, in the Giorno breakdown, we got easily one of the best joke sequences in DB history when we found out that Jesus Christ…is a Jojo. CANON!!!
Moving on to the battle, this was fun from start to finish. It had the Persona 5 “Take Your Time” start, then we saw the power of Gold Experience vs. Joker’s Personas, and how the two adapted to what came later.
“Requiem For A Thief,” sung by the incredible Saoirse, alongside the team at Therewolf Media, really sounded straight out of P5, and helped provide impact for many key moments, including this…
Yeah, Joker going back to the room where he “died” with the other Phantom Thieves calling out to him was an epic touch made by one of the main Death Battle editors, DJ Tiki. That part of the finale was his idea, and because he got it put in, the victory of Joker was made all the cooler, because he was never alone, as his friends were always there to support him. Anime…GAME!!!!
Anyway, the ending was really cool, and the use of the P5 text and “win screen” at the end were perfect final touches for an incredible episode.
…oh, and yes, Dio is a dick.
#8 – Ghost Rider vs. Spawn
“Welcome to Hell, Mothaf***er.”
This is another epic example of the show’s writing elevating something well beyond what it may have been perceived as initially. Ghost Rider vs. Spawn was something that had been talked about before, and was another DB Cast in the past, but the trick here was that they had already done Ghost Rider and Spawn before via different episodes, and needed to make it feel different, while also highlighting the epicness of both.
Thankfully, they did that in spades, as not only did they use more recent Marvel Comics lore to expand upon what the Ghost Rider really is, they weren’t afraid to use other wielders of Zarathos to showcase the Rider’s powers and all they have been through. Yes, Johnny Blaze was the focus, but it was more than that here.
As for Spawn, he only had the briefest of rundowns in his first episode, so it was great seeing them expand upon his lore (as the longest-running indie comic protagonist EVER) and note just how broken he is.
But the great writing went far beyond the breakdowns and verdicts and went straight into the fight. Seriously, Ghost Rider vs. Spawn has some of the best one-liners ever, including but not limited to this scene…
Spawn: “I’ll be damned…”
Zarathos: “Yes, you will…”
Gives me shivers just thinking about it. Oh, and make no mistake, the fight itself was incredible. Starting off in our world, then taking it to Hell, and then with Angel Spawn, showing the shifting landscape between Hell and Heaven was an epic touch.
Zarathos: “The vestments of the holy cannot disguise your wickedness!”
Spawn: “…God forbid.”
SO GOOD!!!!
Ending things with Spawn’s version of the Penace Stare was a nice touch, too, as was the explanation that technically, Johnny/Zarathos would get a double dose of the punishment. “A Penance…Squared!”
I’m honestly not sure how epic fans thought this episode would be, but it proved to be so…pardon the pun…Hellishly good, that YouTube had to put an age-restriction gate on it! Yep, this episode was “too metal” for YouTube, and it STILL got over 3 million views.
What can I say? It’s hard to contain…Hell’s Angels.
#7 – Spider-Man vs. Deku
One thing that the Death Battle community has had to learn over the years is “just because you don’t like a certain matchup, doesn’t mean it won’t deliver when it airs.” If you told me the episode featuring Miles Morales and Izuku Midoriya would be really high up on my “Best Death Battle Episodes Of The Indie Era” list before it aired, I’d say you were lying. In fact, when they announced this fight, I remember not being happy about it, because both of these characters had been on DB before, and Deku’s previous fight with Asta (from Black Clover) wasn’t even three years old yet! Also, that fight…wasn’t the best in the eyes of fans.
So…what changed? Moro.
The moment Moro was revealed as the animator for the battle, everyone knew that something special would happen, but even we didn’t know how hardcore the fight would look. When the battle was done, just based on the visuals alone, I declared here on The Outerhaven that it was “Absolute Cinema.”
I mean, where to start with the battle animation? How about Moro going well beyond what he had done with his previous two DB fights and pushing things so hard into the 3D space that you couldn’t believe what you were seeing? Or, how about opening it up with it being Marvel-style comic panels with Miles, only for Deku to “burst off the page” to start the fight, and then going manga-style after Deku secured his victory?
Or…how about just the fact that this arguably is the most VISUALLY-STUNNING DEATH BATTLE EVER!!!?!?!? Don’t believe me? Just look at this shot…
That picture/screenshot is so beautiful that the Death Battle team turned it into a bunch of merch, including a desk mat…which I totally bought because it’s “Peak Fiction.”
There are numerous shots in the battle that are works of art, and the camera work to really make it feel like we’re “swinging through New York City” with Miles and Deku made it a truly special battle. Add in the “You Say Danger” track from Brandon Yates, and you have a stellar spectacle that you can watch on repeat.
I did not expect this episode to go as hard as it did, but that’s why you just have to trust the DB team, no matter the episode, because more times than not…they exceed expectations.
#6 – Simon The Digger vs. Kyle Rayner
…yeah, I’m going to get blasted for this one in the community, as there are many who feel this is either in the top three for the indie era, or the best of the bunch. No matter my ranking, though, Simon vs. Kyle absolutely deserves props for the team pushing the bounds of animation in a different medium and showing their love for these two characters.
Like others on this list, this particular fight has been debated for a while, and truly comes down to the concept of “Who is more OP?” Simon the Digger (from Gurren Lagann) is the epitome of anime power scaling, while Kyle Rayner is easily one of the most powerful DC Comics characters when in White Lantern form. So, who would “blink” first?
There were, honestly, numerous challenges for this fight, including the scale of the battle, due to both of them having universal/multiversal power levels (and Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann being incalculable in height), and the fact that Kyle himself didn’t have a lot of appearances outside of the comics, which would hinder his visual breakdown.
Yet the team worked it out and created a great episode through and through, touching on the bonkers levels that Gurren Lagann reaches in its final episodes and how Kyle Rayner’s backstory is tied to one of the most concerning elements in comics history.
Focusing on the fight, though, it lived up to the hype, and then some. It was fun seeing both Simon and Kyle in their “base forms,” and then quickly escalating things to the universal level, or for things to get even more cosmic through going into the Source Wall and using the Life Equation (only for Kamiya to help out Simon once again) before settling with one final clash between the two of them.
Seriously, there was a lot going on here, and it’s hard not to love it. Oh, and yes, “Spiral of Emotion” (which was a remix of Brandon Yates’ all-time great fan commission “Will of the Drill”) was the perfect soundtrack to highlight just how awesome these two are and the battle they would put on.
So, the question some of you might have is, “How is this not in your top five?” I could easily point to the quality of the battles to come, which is a fair thing to note, but in truth, I wish the fight were longer! Yes, we say that about almost every Death Battle, but in this one, because of what these two could do, everything was going at a breakneck pace, and it wasn’t always allowed to breathe. Even with that limitation, it made a lot of fans happy, and that should be the biggest “thumbs up” of all for it.
#5 – Blade vs. Buffy
The Death Battle team wasn’t afraid to call in a lot of their friends to help them get to certain goals with the Kickstarter (not that they needed it…as the KS funded in 21 minutes flat,) and one of those friends was the team at Ismahawk, who had done two previous live-action fights for them via Nightwing/Dardevil and Winter Soldier/Red Hood. When they were given the go-ahead to start the next fight, the one they chose was Blade vs. Buffy…and we should all be grateful for that.
Unlike the last episode, where I felt things were a bit short, Blade/Buffy had no problem going as long as they felt they could to make it special, and that’s another thing we should be grateful for. At over eight minutes long, it’s one of the longest fights in DB history!
Arguably, the biggest thing for me, though, was that unlike the last two live-action fights, where the characters only had an incredibly loose reason for going at it, they made sure it was clear that Blade and Buffy had beef, and they even teamed up at the start of the episode!
Doing the “Vampire Rave” to start it all off was a great decision, as was having the entire main Death Battle team (including auxiliary members like Lisa Foiles) be a part of the fight itself! DJ Vamp Ben in the house!!!
Then, once the fight started, it was great seeing the actors go at it and pull off some fun moments and stunts.
Arguably, though, the biggest reason that Blade vs. Buffy reached my Top 5 isn’t just because of the fun fight, or the great breakdowns of the characters (and showing just how busted Buffy really is!!!), but it’s because of the passion and effort that went into making this fight special.
After the episode aired, the DB team talked with the Ismahawk crew and the actors who played Blade and Buffy, and across two hours (which I happily watched in full), you got to hear all the little details and efforts that were done to make this the best live-action bout that Death Battle had ever done, and that’s not a stretch to say, either.
For example, Mair Mulroney played Buffy, and she intentionally trained as hard as she could in martial arts, while also doing some strength training to get a little more muscular, so she could do her best to portray Buffy. Fik-Shun Stegall was already a professional stunt fighter, and brought his skills to the mix, while also helping bring in some of Blade’s weaponry to the fight, including the Adamantium Blade he used at the end…which he paid for himself…so he could add it to his already impressive collection.
Add in all the effort that Danny Shepherd (head of Ismahawk) did to add the right sights, sounds, and vibe to the fight, and you can see that it was a full-on team effort that was fueled by passion and the desire to just do the coolest things possible. They even had a cameraman who came in just for this fight to use a special camera and do things like the “spinning shot” that happened near the fight’s end, and he was totally chill with it! That’s passion, everyone.
While every episode is a true group effort, this one just had that “little bit extra,” and you can’t help but love it…and pray Ismahawk comes back soon.
So, if you don’t think this is a worthy top-five episode…looks like you got…*puts on shades*…ahead of yourself.
#4 – Dante vs. Clive
Here’s another one that ties into something I touched upon in past entries. When Dante vs. Clive was announced, people went, “Really?” Then, it was revealed that THIS was the episode that the one and only Torrian Crawford would animate, and everyone got hyped. For those “not in the know,” Torrian was once DB’s dedicated 3D animator and worked on a bunch of epic fights over the years. He eventually went on to work for Respawn Entertainment on the Star Wars Jedi franchise, but when the Death Battle crew asked for his aid in another fight, he couldn’t get started fast enough.
Then, tying into the last entry’s note about “passion,” Torrian brought in a lot of people he worked with in the past to make the 3D battle stand out even more…and the result is truly cinema, because it looks like a freaking in-game cinematic!
I could honestly let the fight speak for itself, but I do need to highlight just how much fun Torrian and crew were clearly having. From the beats where Dante was literally “dancing around Clive,” only to get grabbed (which is canon in the games!), was hilarious. Then, the two slowly amping up their powers and moves until we reached a CLIMACTIC BATTLE IN SPACE was all kinds of awesome…
…only for it to return to the ground level and have it be about the “men in conflict with themselves…”
…were all great touches! Plus, those were only SOME of the “little details” that really helped this battle shine.
Seriously, this was cinema. The dialogue was clutch, too, including “The devil cries out for more…” and my personal favorite, watching Clive be stunned at Dante riding a freaking motorcycle down some crystals, only to reply, “What the hell is that?” Cinema.
“The Devil Inside” is easily one of my favorite DB tracks ever. I truly mean that! It totally raised the level of the fight and made me want to watch it repeatedly due to how quality both were. One more thing that needs to be said…we finally got a non-Final Fantasy VII character in Death Battle…and they won! What are the odds?
Adding to all of this was a recent thing revealed via one of the team’s Fireside Chats (33:30 for the quote!), specifically, that this was the CLOSEST FIGHT IN THE INDIE ERA! According to DJ Tiki, the research team discussed this for about 12 hours straight before coming up with the result! Wow. Go team!
So, yeah, this fight was incredible, looked amazing, brought back some old friends, and all I can say is…wanna do another, Torrian?
#3 – Ruby vs. Maka
*sniffs* …oh, sorry, somebody cut some onions near me…clearly…*sniffs*
The story of the 200th episode of Death Battle starts long before the indie era. It truly begins with a man named Monty Oum, who was a genius creator on many levels. He worked with Rooster Teeth on Red vs. Blue, then got to make his dream show of RWBY, which became an internet sensation. Early in its run, Oum personally got DB creators Ben Singer and Chad James to RTX (Rooster Teeth’s personal convention) and talked with them about putting Ruby Rose in a fight against Maka Albarn from Soul Eater. It was his personal request, but it had one condition: “You have to wait, as Ruby has more stuff coming.”
Sadly, Monty Oum would pass on, but the request was never forgotten, and so, when the time came to do the 200th episode, this felt like the perfect fit, and I think Ruby was pretty happy about the placement…
So much aura… Get it?
Anyway, while the last two entries can be defined by “passion” in certain respects, this one was driven by a different kind of passion. Specifically, the passion of one Luis Cruz, who is the head animation director for Death Battle, and has been with them for a decade. He typically did 2D sprite fights and hand-drawn battles (like Samurai Jack vs. Afro Samurai!), but he also wanted to keep pushing the fights forward, never allowing them to get stagnant.
To that end, this was his first attempt to do a full 3D fight…and he crushed it. But the “new elements” didn’t stop there, for the DB team noted during the lead-up to the battle that there weren’t any real “scythe vs. scythe” battles to draw inspiration from. Thus, they had to come up with how it would look themselves! Again, they crushed it.
Another key thing that helped the episode shine for me was the use of Soul (Evans) in the battle. Not only did they show him transform into Maka’s weapon, but he and his piano (complete with Ogre friend) were there multiple times, highlighting how it really is a combination of Soul and Maka that gets the job done, just like they said in the breakdown.
Oh, and hearing Yang cry out “RUBY!” before Silver Eyes was a beautiful touch, as Ruby would totally hear her sister in a trying moment.
Then, there’s the music. I truly believe that some of the best Death Battles ever aren’t just the ones that feature the best animations, but have music that really blends in with the fight to elevate things, and the track “Death In Bloom” is easily one of the best examples of that, complete with Soul “playing along” during one of the segments.
But in truth, the reason I tear up thinking about the battle and the track is the ending. Yes, Ruby dies, and it sucks, but hearing the line “I…wish…that you could see me now…” right as she gets taken out really makes me think of Monty Oum.
It makes me wish he had seen this, because I really think he would’ve loved it.
…oh, and if you didn’t know, because Ruby had an “honest soul,” she can be revived…
#2 – Ash vs. Yugi
*sniffs* …dang it! Stop cutting onions!!! I’m almost done with this thing! *sobs*
As we get to the final two entries in my “Best Death Battle Episodes of the Indie Era” list, you could honestly swap the two and no one would mind, as they’re both epic beyond compare. In the case of Ash vs. Yugi, though, this was a match decades in the making, as it’s a true “legacy match” that people have been debating forever.
Originally, this episode was supposed to be the 200th show, but they moved it to give the animators more time to work on it…and I’m really glad they did. They kept things very close to the chest with this one, and that’s why, when it was revealed to be a full 3D fight (with certain hand-drawn elements), we were all blown away.
To put it simply, there are so many things going on in this fight that you can watch it every single day, and you’ll find something new. The breakdowns alone are wonderful, as they highlight the true characters of Ash, Pikachu, Yugi, and Atem, and why they were the “voices of a generation.” And that’s not hyperbole! This match IS my childhood, and I was chomping at the bit to see its epicness, and I can honestly say that I have watched the battle every day since it aired.
Everything was on point here. The animations were crisp, the voice acting was incredible, and the various shots of Ash’s Pokémon fighting 1-v-1 against Yugi/Atem’s monsters were brilliant. Again, there are PLENTY of Easter Eggs that you can find, and some are still waiting to be found, apparently, as proven by the recent Fireside Chat.
Plus, there are just levels of epicness here that even I couldn’t have predicted, such as Solgaleo literally destroying the moon as it made its entrance (and saved Ash in the process), or seeing Slifer the Sky Dragon epically make its debut (that was a direct reference to the anime). I could go on and on about all the fun bits of just the monsters.
But, focusing on the characters, there were several beats that showcased what Ash and Yugi are made of, too. I adored that Greninja “KO’d” Atem, forcing Yugi to do this on his own, which is clearly a tribute to how Yugi beat Atem in the series finale and went on to become the greatest duelist ever.
And then…there’s the scene that always makes me cry…
When Yugi pulled out all his aces, we all knew it was over…but did Ash give up? No! He did not! You can even see Pikachu being worried, and Ash just puts his hat on him and says, “Let’s finish this, together!”
Doing 10-Million-Volt Thunderbolt, while showing off all of Ash’s outfits, was a beautiful touch, and it gave you hope, even if it was only briefly, that Ash still might have a chance in this fight. Yet, Yugi played one final trap to seal the deal.
On that note, I was actually fine with that finale, as it showcased a key difference between Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh, and that it’s not always about the monsters you have, but the cards/items you use alongside them. Plus, that technically means that Ash lost not by a goddess strike or the magician’s blast, but by his own attack…and that’s a very Ash way to go out.
I give all the props in the world to the animation team for this fight, and they brought in multiple people to make it work. All the “little touches” with the Pokémon and Duel Monsters animations and strikes were fun.
Oh, and did I mention that Brandon Yates got freaking Jason Paige (who sang the original Pokémon theme song!!!!) to do the “Millennial Monsters” track? Because he did!!!
So, while Ash losing did indeed hurt my childhood…
…he went out surrounded by his closest friends: his Pokémon, who never stopped believing in him and were literally with him in the end.
#1 – Bowser vs. Eggman
So, why is Bowser vs. Eggman topping my list of the “Best Death Battle Episodes of the Indie Era?” Well, it ties into something I touched on earlier: allowing yourself to be surprised by what the DB crew does.
As a member of the official Discord, I had heard people talking about doing an “army fight” between Bowser and the Koopa Troop vs. Dr. Eggman and the Eggman Empire. Personally? It didn’t interest me. Then, the episode came out, and I was fully introduced to Moro, and I regret ever doubting those who saw what I didn’t.
This surprised me in so many ways. First, the breakdowns of Bowser and Eggman were top-notch, especially with how they talked about their armies and the roles that they fill. Then, when you get to the battle itself, it’s just pure poetry, and it once again shows just how creative this crew is.
Starting off with a fake wedding (shoutout to Paper Mario!), and then having the forces clash right after was amazing. I could literally fill up this section with epic moments and shots from the battle…such as…
Moro really crushed it here, and the script for the battle was magnificently done, too, as it highlighted not just the “leaders and their generals,” but the various interactions that they all have between them. For example, during a key scrap for the Phantom Ruby, you see bots and troopers from both sides trying to get the job done for their side.
You also see Bowser risking everything multiple times to protect his forces, while Sage and Eggman aren’t afraid to sacrifice their own minions to get the advantage.
Undoubtedly, my favorite “interaction,” though, is when Bowser Jr. gets briefly taken out by Metal Sonic, and Bowser straight-up loses it.
“How dare you! Keep your hands…OFF…MY…SON!!!!!!”
He’s not just a dad! He’s a dad who always steps up for his son!!!! YOU GO, BOWSER!!!!
Not to be outdone, it was nice to see how much Eggman counted on Sage, and how much Sage protected her “father,” including shielding him from one of Bowser’s attacks, going to the Death Egg to try and strike the final blow, and so on. Oh, and Eggman going, “Wait…” when he wasn’t sure what had happened to Sage after the base had been transformed was another great “little moment” to help the fight stand out.
“But Todd!” you cry out, “Did you like the battle track for this one?” Well, if YOU didn’t like the track that Brandon Yates put together, then it’s truly “Game Over” for you! That track is hands down in my “top 3” tracks ever, and fans loved it so much that it’s been listened to JUST on YouTube over 5 million times!
Much like “The Devil Inside” and “Death In Bloom,” it was perfectly synced with the fight to punctuate key moments, such as in the “BEHOLD THE KING!” clash between Bowser Jr. and Metal Sonic.
I could truly gush about this fight for a lot longer because there are so many things that help it solidify itself as the No.1 entry on my list.
But if I were to boil it down and tie it back to how I started this entry, I would say it got the top spot because it blew my mind when I was honestly just hoping the battle would be good “in general.” That’s in contrast with Ash/Yugi, where I was praying to all the gods (including Horakhty) that it would exceed my already high expectations.
In many ways, Bowser vs. Eggman is the example you hold up to someone who needs to get into Death Battle, but isn’t sure where to start. They might not think they’re about to watch something epic…but once they’re done, they’ll be a fan for life.
…and…if I wanted to end things on metrics…Bowser/Eggman has been viewed the most in the indie era…and that’s a nice cherry on top. *laughs in Bowser*
And…that’s it! No, really, that’s all of them! My “Best Death Battle Episodes of the Indie Era” list is complete.
If YOU have thoughts on my list, feel free to talk with me about it on Blue Sky or Twitter (or the Death Battle Discord, if you’re there!). As for what I’m doing next to celebrate Death Battle…my next list will be…
“The Best Death Battle Tracks EVER!!!!” Yes, all songs from the series are being taken into account! So, if YOU have a favorite track, let me know what it is! See you next time!
