Ragna the Bloodedge

""I am the enemy to the entire world... The Grim Reaper, Ragna the Bloodedge.""

Ragna the Bloodedge (ラグナ＝ザ＝ブラッドエッジ) is the main protagonist of the BlazBlue series. He is the wielder of the Azure Grimoire and Aramasa. Ragna is the older brother of Jin Kisaragi and Saya, having also spent most of his adolescence in the care of Jubei.

Ragna is one of the twelve original playable characters who debuted in BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger.

Appearance
Ragna is a tall, muscular young man, with fair skin, spiky white hair, a pitch black right arm and heterochromia; in Ragna's case his left eye is green, while his right eye is red. These distinguishing features are a side effect caused by the Azure Grimoire when it replaced his lost arm. His left ear has a green, studded earring and on his chest and he has a black, half-sun-shaped symbol with the inscription -No.5- above it tattooed on his chest. This symbol also appears on parts of his clothing, but without the inscription. Towards the end of his life in the BlazBlue world, due to overusing the Azure Grimoire, the right side of his body had become corrupted, leaving even half his face covered in black with bright red veins.

Ragna's usual outfit consists of a red, long-sleeved jacket with padded shoulders and multiple silver plates fastened on the arms and sides. Attached to the lapels of his jacket are two black straps with silver buckles that wrap under his arms and intersect at the back, they are connected to his shoulder pads by small gold buttons. On the back of his jacket are a set of two red straps with silver tips hanging from it, which reach down to his ankles. Underneath the jacket is a simple, long-sleeved black shirt with a white trim. He also wears a pair of black gloves which have seithr regulators on the back of them, as well as a black hakama, two large black belts with silver belt buckles and a pair of red boots with steel toecaps.

During his tenure as Bloodedge, Ragna's right eye was constantly shut because of Celica A. Mercury's presence and her ability to unconsciously suppress seithr. He wore his jacket normally on his left side, but kept the right side tied to his waist. His right arm, which also didn't work due to Celica, was covered in several black and white straps; these partially obscured the grimoire and the regulator on his hand, and were secured at the top of his arm with a golden buckle.

As a child, Ragna had spiky blond hair and green eyes, and wore a white shirt with black trousers and black shoes.

While training under Jubei as a teenager, Ragna wore a red and black sleeveless turtle neck top, with a tight black shirt underneath it. Ragna also wore black, baggy trousers and a simple brown belt, just like during his time as Bloodedge, Ragna's Azure Grimoire was covered in belts secured with golden buckles.

In one gag reel, Ragna is seen in beachwear. Instead of his usual jacket, Ragna wore a crimson zip hoodie with black stripes on the arms and a black hood. It also has a chibi version of Dead Spike on a triangular white badge. He also wore swimming trunks with a color gradation from orange to red to black, with a white waistband and black flip flops.

Personality
"Although Ragna himself is proactive, Ragna's battles are often rough and unplanned, and the times he has won through force alone are many. He may speak rudely and act conspicuously violent, but at his roots, he is not a bad person. That he is a wanted criminal with a hefty bounty on his head is something that he himself doesn't remember at all."

Often, Ragna is described as being rough around the edges. He frequently swears and displays antisocial behaviour. However, he is actually kind to those who he cares about, and will stop at nothing to make sure they are safe. He's rarely open about his feelings towards others, with this trait most notably displayed in his interactions with Rachel Alucard and his brother, Jin Kisaragi. Ragna often charges in blindly without thinking ahead, but there have been times when this attitude has worked out for him. Few people mean more to Ragna than his family.

Even though he can come off as serious for most his interactions with people, Ragna does have a sense of dry humor and often displays it when he's around Taokaka. He's also understanding of the younger cast, and has been seen playing with the Kaka Kittens, as well as going along with Tao's eccentric behaviour. Ragna has also been known to buy meals for both Tao and Platinum the Trinity when he thought they were starving, despite not knowing either of them at the time.

Ragna used to hold a stigma against all Boundary Interface Prime Field Devices but over time, he came to accept them. Before he moved on to the World of the Gods, he began to drop his antisocial behaviour, and was willing to sacrifice himself in order to save everyone from Doomsday and Susano'o. He forgot about no one during this time, even saving Tenjo Amanohokosaka, whom he had never met.

Powers and Techniques
Befitting of his title as the Grim Reaper, Ragna possesses great power, although he seldom uses it to its full extent. Having spent nearly all of his adolescence under Jubei, Ragna is at the peak of physical fitness, and finds little difficulty in wielding his oversized sword - the Aramasa. Aramasa can deliver heavy blows with large blade, and can transform into a scythe at Ragna's command. Even with Aramasa alone, Ragna can defeat scores of NOL soldiers without exerting himself.

What defines Ragna as the Grim Reaper is the power of the Azure Grimoire. Having had the device for most of his life, Ragna demonstrates great mastery over it. The grimoire has an aura that drains the souls of those around it, and heals Ragna with the lives it takes. This is an artificial Drive given to Ragna, as he was born without one. It is called , and in gameplay, it performs the same function by restoring health to Ragna every time he lands a successful Drive attack. Because the Azure Grimoire is essentially a cauldron, Ragna has an endless supply of seithr at his disposal, and he has demonstrated the ability to summon various dark energies that resemble parts of the Black Beast, such as with his signature  ability. Aramasa works well with the Azure Grimoire as Ragna channels the latter's power through the sword. Ragna can absorb the wishes and dreams of the chosen using Soul Eater, although his body has to pay a heavy toll to continuously do so.

Before the incident at the church, Ragna had no gift in Ars Magus, and was completely unable to use it. The Azure Grimoire has remedied his aptitude, and he is capable of using several different Ars. One allows him to become completely invisible to man and beast, and is something he uses to move between Hierarchical Cities without being detected ; another allows him to drastically slow his descent from high falls. In order to contain the incredible power from the Azure Grimoire, Ragna wears a seithr regulator on the back of each hand, but their limits can be released.

As an artificial human, Ragna is capable of resisting the power of the Azure Grimoire, and takes time for it to completely corrupt and destroy his body. Furthermore, Ragna has an accelerated healing factor because of the device, and has survived numerous attacks that would kill an ordinary human. He has survived having lost both of his arms, and being stabbed by a Nox Nyctores. Ragna's will to survive is what has allowed him to withstand incredible pain. Despite his brutish nature, Ragna can come up with quick plans and solutions, and occasionally displays flashes of academic brilliance, such as immediately recognising Fuzzy as a vampire. Years under Jubei's tutelage has taught him much about the world and its history, and Ragna is a capable cook who specialises in barbecue.

Unfortunately, Ragna has many weaknesses. His headstrong nature leads him to make rash decisions, although he has mellowed over time and become more level-headed. The Azure Grimoire will certainly kill him, or worse, turn him into a Black Beast. Whenever he is around Celica A. Mercury, he loses sight in his right eye and cannot use the Azure Grimoire, but Kokonoe has since solved this with a Noise Canceller.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Official Site Profile
''An SS-class traitor to the NOL, known on the streets as the "Grim Reaper," in possession of the most powerful grimoire, with the highest-ever bounty in history on his head. He harbors a deep hatred of the Novus Orbis Librarium and aims to annihilate the organization. The Grim Reaper appears in the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi, and that is the moment when everything begins.''

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Official Site Profile
''An SS-class traitor to the NOL, known on the streets as the "Grim Reaper," with the highest-ever bounty in history on his head. Knowing of the appearance of "Terumi," the one responsible for Ragna's abominable past and also the one who holds the key to the mysteries of the world, Ragna suppresses his quivering right hand and quietly bides his time in the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi.''

BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Official Site Profile
''An SS-class traitor to the NOL, known on the streets as the "Grim Reaper," in possession of the most powerful grimoire, the "BlazBlue," with the highest-ever bounty in history on his head. Ragna, having saved Noel from Hazama's clutches, heads towards a new location — the Ikaruga Federation — to face his destiny and settle everything once and for all.''

BlazBlue: Central Fiction Official Site Profile
''An SS-class traitor to the NOL, known on the streets as the "Grim Reaper," in possession of the most powerful grimoire, with the highest-ever bounty in history on his head. He awoke having lost all of his memories, and not even knowing his own name. And then, as if having been led towards something, the Grim Reaper appears once again in the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi....''
 * Story

''Although Ragna himself is proactive, Ragna's battles are often rough and unplanned, and the times he has won through force alone are many. He may speak rudely and act conspicuously violent, but at his roots, he is not a bad person. That he is a wanted criminal with a hefty bounty on his head is something that he himself doesn't remember at all.''
 * Personality

BlazBlue: Central Fiction Library Entry
''The protagonist of our story.
 * Ragna the Bloodedge

''He bears the weight of the Azure Grimoire on his right hand, and is commonly known as the 'Grim Reaper'

''His personality is rough around the edges, and he hardly plans ahead. His fighting style reflects this, and most of his attacks involve charging at the opponent and swinging wildly, rather than with precision. He has a bit of a foul mouth, but he cares deeply about those close to him.

''During his younger years, he lived with his brother Jin, his sister Saya, and the Sister that was taking care of them in a small church. But that all came to an end when Yuuki Terumi murdered the Sister in cold blood, and took Jin and Saya with him. Ragna lost his right arm during this encounter. As a result of the shock, his blonde hair turned white, and his fusion with the remains of the Black Beast turned his right eye red.

''Originally, he was not adept in Ars Magus, but with the Azure Grimoire now bound to his body, he is able to wield it effectively. With Jubei's teachings, his combative prowess grows formidable, and he decides to rebel against the Librarium on his own.

''His goal? Destroy all the cauldrons, in which the Murakumo Unit can be smelted. In the process of taking down all the NOL branches, he becomes the most wanted man, with the highest bounty in the world. Some say, however, that his true motive is to find Saya's whereabouts.

''As if beckoned by Rachel's call, he makes his way to the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi, and fights the mysterious girl known as ν-No.13-. As he's about to fall into the cauldron himself, Noel saves him, breaking the previously infinite loop of time.

''Ragna returns the favor not long after, saving Noel in exchange for his left arm, when Terumi turns her into μ-No.12-. And to his surprise, after saving Noel, he encounters the 'girl' for whom he was searching. Only she... was the Imperator.

''After Kokonoe regenerates his left arm, he heads to the Hierarchical City that was home to Ikaruga Federation to face his fate. With... Taokaka.

''Overcoming the Boundary with help from Rachel, Ragna then falls through the fabric of time, landing in the Dark War. There, he meets Celica, Nine, and Mitsuyoshi, who will one day become Jubei. In Celica's stead, Ragna becomes the turning point of the Dark War - halting the Black Beast's movement for an entire year, giving mankind a fighting chance.

''Fast forward to the present, and Ragna saves ν from the Gigant: Take-Mikazuchi. Nevertheless, the Black Beast's power is unleashed when in the course of battle with the Imperator, ν's sword pierces its body...''


 * Bloodedge

''The man who is responsible for stopping the Black Beast's activity for one year during the Dark War. His signature piece is the red jacket and massive white blade he wields.

''His identity? Is none other than Ragna himself, sent back to the past by Rachel.

Those items are left with the sister upon his departure, and is passed onto Ragna, when he completes his training with Jubei.

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Official Site Profile
''Known on the streets as the Grim Reaper and an SS-class traitor, the one in possession of the most powerful grimoire with the highest-ever bounty in history on his head. ''

Appearances in other Media

 * The mobile game Seven Knights stars Ragna as a playable character.
 * The mobile game Mabinogi Duel stars Ragna as a playable card.
 * The MMO Action Game Lost Saga stars Ragna as a playable character.
 * The MOBA game Chaos Heroes Online stars Ragna as a playable character.
 * The mobile game Fantasy War Tactics stars Ragna as a playable unit.
 * The horror game White Day: A Labyrinth Named School has an outfit based on Ragna's appearance.
 * The action role-playing game Toukiden 2 has Ragna as a downloadable Mitama.
 * The arcade collectible card games Lord of Vermilion Re: 2 and Lord of Vermilion 3, from Square Enix, have Ragna as a card.
 * The PSVita music app NAX Music Player has Ragna as purchasable background skin.
 * The mobile rhythm-game GROOVE COASTER 2 has Ragna's theme 'Rebellion' as a purchasable track.
 * The arcade rhythm-game GROOVE COASTER 3 has Ragna's theme 'Rebellion' as a purchasable track.
 * The MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2, by SEGA, features Ragna's outfit, hairstyle (only male avatar), voice (only male) and weapon as customization for the player character.
 * The iOS/Android game Medal Masters: Call of destiny has Ragna as a playable character.
 * The iOS/Android game Venus Eleven Vivid! has a character which uses Ragna's outfit and signature move Dead Spike for a special attack.
 * In the fighting game Them's Fighting' Herds, the avatars in "Pixel Lobby" can wear Cosplay cosmetics based on Ragna's jacket and hairstyle (unlocks if the player owns a copy of BBCF on Steam)

Trivia

 * In the Arc Festival BlazBlue Character Popularity Poll, Ragna ranked 4th out of 48 characters. He was one place above Jin Kisaragi and one place below Hazama.
 * In the Polls/Arc System Works 25th Anniversary Poll, Ragna ranked 1st out of 36 candidates across multiple franchises. He had 9,002 votes and scored one place above Sol Badguy from Guilty Gear.
 * In the BlazBlue 10th Anniversary Character Poll, Ragna placed 1st out of the 84 candidates. He scored one place above Hazama. He had 6,620 votes.
 * In a poll held by the Weekly Famitsu magazine for the BlazBlue series' 10th anniversary, Ragna ranked 2nd out of 9 listed characters. He scored one place above Jin Kisaragi and one place below Hazama. He had 92 votes.
 * Ragna had several dishes themed after him in BlazBlue collaboration cafes: his favorite "Tentama Udon", a kimchi-udon dish called "Ragna's Celestial Orb of the Day", and a chicken dish named "Ragna's I'll Show You, The Power Of Meat!"
 * Most of Ragna's moveset has a dark naming convention, with references to Hell, Hades, nightmares, and death to name a few.
 * Ragna's white hair is caused by Marie Antoinette Syndrome.
 * Ragna's recorded bounty is P$90,000,000,000, the highest ever recorded. He is also the second SS-class criminal, but many believe him to be the first after Kokonoe erased records of her being the first.
 * One of Ragna's hobbies is cooking. His speciality is barbecue.
 * Ragna is one of two characters to have canonically used their Astral Heat, the other being Jin. Ragna used Black Onslaught towards the ending of BlazBlue: Central Fiction.
 * Despite Jin's birthplace being stated as the United Kingdom, it is unknown if either Ragna or Saya were also born there.
 * Because of the Looping World, one possibility occurred where Ragna and Nu-13 became a Black Beast that was sent back in time to become the one that terrorized the world during the Dark War. When it began to die, it became Ragna again but was decapitated by Hakumen. That corpse is now the Azure Grimoire which functions as Ragna's arm.
 * In Abyss Mode, Ragna will always be found on Floor 666. This is a reference to the Number of the Beast in the New Testament.
 * In 2009, a competition was held on NeoGAF for artists to design the cover for BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. The winner was user 'radiantdreamer', who created a piece that featured Ragna. The artwork was popular, with over double the amount of votes to the runner-up. Her website is featured | here.
 * Ragna is petrified of ghosts.