| “ | Pitting pop culture's deadliest characters in a duel to the death! Experts Wiz and Boomstick analyze each fighter's weapons, armor, and skills... and then the battle begins! Who will win? Who will die? | „ |
| ~ Tagline |
| DEATH BATTLE! | |
|---|---|
| File:2031125-1486056495722-DB 1400x1400.jpg | |
| Genre | Action, Comedy |
| Creator(s) | Ben Singer |
| Year of Creation | 2010 |
| Host(s) | {{{Host(s)}}} |
DEATH BATTLE! is a very popular web-based video show hosted by "Wizard" (Ben Singer) and "Boomstick" (Chad James) presented by ScrewAttack. The show pits two or more fictional characters from different medias such as movies, comics, manga, television programs, literature and video games, and create a simulated battle to the death. The characters are analyzed with their respective powers, strengths, and weaknesses, to determine a winner.
The show's first season has 25 episodes. The first 18 episodes were featured exclusively on ScrewAttack's YouTube account, and starting with episode 19 the series is now posted to the redesigned Screwattack.com, with a delayed posting of past fights to their YouTube page.
The second season of DEATH BATTLE premiered on May 31, 2013, more than four months after the first season finale. The season ended on December 15, 2015, with a total of 32 episodes for the season, bringing the total number of DEATH BATTLE episodes to 57.
Season 3 premiered on March 16, 2016 in order to focus on finding more staff to expand their series. The season ended on December 21st, 2016, with a total of 14 episodes for the season, the shortest season so far, bringing the total number of DEATH BATTLE episodes to 71.
Season 4 premiered on February 1, 2017 with the first fight revealed in January 2017. The season ended on December 20th, 2017 with a total of 16 episodes, bringing the total number of DEATH BATTLE episodes to 87.
Format Overview
The idea of the show is to pit two or more fictional characters and pit them against each other in a simulated "death battle". Before the start of the battle, an analysis of the character's powers are listed together with their other stats such as strengths, weaknesses, physicality (weight, height, age, intellect), and weapons. This is done by extensive research of each of the characters, and taking notes from various known experts, collaboration from various conventions (e.g. Comic-Con), official websites, and franchise encyclopedias. People and fans are sometimes interviewed in these conventions to know their opinions about the battle.[2] All other traits will be represented with accuracy based on the character's canon universes. If the characters has multiple versions, the most well-known and modern version will be the one chosen. After studying the characters, a conclusion is made to who is the winner and the reason he/she is triumphant. This is shown in a form of a virtual battle in either 2D sprites or 3D CGI. Many of the characters involved are voiced by many YouTube personalities such as MasakoX and ItsJustSomeRandomGuy.
Because the show is entitled "DEATH BATTLE!" and its idea is to create a virtual "fight to the death", characters in the virtual simulation kill their opponents, even though many of them are canonically indifferent to killing (such as Batman, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rebecca Black). These are made as a "What If" scenario for entertainment purposes, and does not go against the accuracy of the analysis of the respective winner. In the case of Justin Bieber versus Rebecca Black however, the battle was satirically made for comedic purpose. As of episode 51, 2D battles are animated by Mali and Zack and 3D battles are animated by Torrian Crawford.
Scheduling
ScrewAttack! typically releases a new DEATH BATTLE! three weeks after the current DEATH BATTLE!. In the first two weeks they release a teaser about each combatant, primarily about their background and in the third week the DEATH BATTLE! is released at various times. After the battle ScrewAttack! will reveal the next combatant(s) for the next match-up, and the process restarts again.
On Tuesdays, starting with Boba Fett VS Samus Aran Remastered, a special live-stream, dubbed DEATH BATTLE! Live, is ocassionally hosted on Twitch and Youtube at 8:00 pm Central Time by Ben Singer, Chad James, and Craig Skistimas. During the live-stream they answer questions about their plans for the show and the actual battle, and a live poll of the current battle is featured. The battle that usually holds the livestream typically holds some significance. So far, only four live-streams have been hosted.
Merchandise
In order to promote DEATH BATTLE!, ScrewAttack! has released merchandise, primarily T-Shirts to help spread the word about the show. Due to merging with RoosterTeeth and its family, most T-Shirts are available on the RoosterTeeth store.
- The first one known as DEATH BATTLE! T-Shirt is a black T-Shirt with the logo in the center, with blood splatters behind the logo to illustrate the bloody motif of the show. To promote it, ScrewAttack! released a joke DEATH BATTLE! known as DEATH BATTLE! VS The World, in which the T-Shirt was analyzed and was put in a fight with all T-Shirts, but emerged victorious.
- The second shirt known as ScrewAttack DEATH BATTLE Shirt features a grey T-Shirt with the grey logo in the centered. This shirt greatly resembles the first one, albeit the blood splatters. This shirt has frequently been worn by DEATH BATTLE! staff members at ScrewAttack!
- The third one known as First Fallen, is so far the most graphically designed T-Shirt. Unlike the previous two, the DEATH BATTLE! logo is moved to the bottom, with the entire center of the shirt showing 60 skulls. As the name of the shirt implies, the skulls represent the first 60 DEATH BATTLE! combatants who lost (and were subsequently killed), with each skull showing some iconic trait of the character (Boba Fett with half of his helmet, Goku with his hair, and Goomba and Koopa's skulls being shaped to resemble them as opposed to standard human skulls).
Rules
Note: While some rules have been officially stated, some are generally implied during DEATH BATTLE!
- The combatants can only know of each other if they do know each other in canon in both official universes. Otherwise, they cannot know each other's move-sets. Even if they do know of each other in canon, no one is allowed to prepare for the fight. Although they are allowed to know the other combatents name. As shown in Iron Man VS Lex Luthor.
- A Death Battle, as entitled, has to end with the loser dying (though not necessarily at the hands of the winner, as shown when Dan Hibiki accidentally ingested one of Hercule Satan's capsules), or at least "dead" as far as physical forms are concerned (for example, being reduced to little more than a ghost, or gods and similar characters left with no working mortal avatar to continue fighting with).
- Pacifist combatants will not have their peaceful nature interrupt the fight, and both combatants will have any personality restraints from killing removed.
- All other traits will be represented with accuracy based on the combatants' canon universes. In addition, all consistent and canon sources available during the time of the episode's release will be examined by the hosts.
- Characters with multiple incarnations, such as Link, Spider-Man, Deadpool, and Godzilla, will be composites combining the best aspects of their various incarnations, unless said incarnation is drastically different from other incarnations. If a specific incarnation of a character is chosen, the canon used will most likely be the most popular depiction.
- To get as many common abilities as possible, the warrior will be shown at their latest depictions or their oldest age as an active combatant.
- To ensure fairness, no player influences can be present during the battle. This includes player-customized move-sets (in the case of Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda) as well special combatant training from player (in the case of Pokemon).
Episodes
Season 1
| Episode # | Overall | Episode Name | Original Air Date | Thumbnail | Reception (YouTube) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Boba Fett VS Samus Aran | December 6th, 2010 |   |
87% |
| 2 | 2 | Akuma VS Shang Tsung | December 21st, 2010 |   |
94% |
| 3 | 3 | Rogue VS Wonder Woman | January 3rd, 2011 |   |
91% |
| 4 | 4 | Goomba VS Koopa | January 17th, 2011 |   |
94% |
| 5 | 5 | Haggar VS Zangief | January 31st, 2011 |   |
95% |
| 6 | 6 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle Royale | February 15th, 2011 |   |
90% |
| 7 | 7 | Zitz VS Leonardo | February 28th, 2011 |   |
95% |
| 8 | 8 | Yoshi VS Riptor | March 14th, 2011 |   |
94% |
| 9 | 9 | Felicia VS Taokaka | March 29th, 2011 |   |
84% |
| 10 | 10 | Kratos VS Spawn | April 11th, 2011 |   |
84% |
| 11 | 11 | Bomberman VS Dig Dug | April 25th, 2011 |   |
92% |
| 12 | 12 | Vegeta VS Shadow | May 9th, 2011 |   |
91% |
| 13 | 13 | Mario VS Sonic | June 13th, 2011 |   |
83% |
| 14 | 14 | Justin Bieber VS Rebecca Black | July 12th, 2011 |   |
94% |
| 15 | 15 | Luke Skywalker VS Harry Potter | August 12th, 2011 |   |
89% |
| 16 | 16 | Chun-Li VS Mai Shiranui | August 30th, 2011 |   |
89% |
| 17 | 17 | Starscream VS Rainbow Dash | September 23rd, 2011 |   |
83% |
| 18 | 18 | Master Chief VS Doomguy | October 18th, 2011 |   |
85% |
| 19 | 19 | Eggman VS Wily | December 25th, 2011 |   |
96% |
| 20 | 20 | Zelda VS Peach | March 29th, 2012 |   |
73% |
| 21 | 21 | Thor VS Raiden | May 5th, 2012 |   |
90% |
| 22 | 22 | Link VS Cloud | July 13th, 2012 |   |
85% |
| 23 | 23 | Batman VS Spider-Man | August 10th, 2012 |   |
79% |
| 24 | 24 | Pikachu VS Blanka | September 20th, 2012 |   |
76% |
| 25 | 25 | Goku VS Superman | January 10th, 2013 |   |
61% |
Season 2
| Episode # | Overall | Episode Name | Original Air Date | Thumbnail | Reception (YouTube) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | He-Man VS Lion-O | May 31th, 2013 |   |
95% |
| 2 | 27 | Shao Kahn VS M. Bison | June 27th, 2013 |   |
95% |
| 3 | 28 | Ryu Hayabusa VS Strider Hiryu | August 2nd, 2013 |   |
89% |
| 4 | 29 | Ivy VS Orchid | September 13th, 2013 |   |
94% |
| 5 | 30 | Fox McCloud VS Bucky O'Hare | November 8th, 2013 |   |
97% |
| 6 | 31 | Terminator VS RoboCop | Febuary 28th, 2014 |   |
82% |
| 7 | 32 | Luigi VS Tails | March 22nd, 2014 |   |
84% |
| 8 | 33 | Pokémon Battle Royale | April 12th, 2014 |   |
87% |
| 9 | 34 | Fulgore VS Sektor | May 17th, 2014 |   |
95% |
| 10 | 35 | Godzilla VS Gamera | August 17th, 2014 |   |
95% |
| 11 | 36 | Batman VS Captain America | September 7th, 2014 |   |
89% |
| 12 | 37 | Tigerzord VS Gundam Epyon | October 5th, 2014 |   |
94% |
| 13 | 38 | Ryu VS Scorpion | October 31st, 2014 |   |
93% |
| 14 | 39 | Deadpool VS Deathstroke | December 12th, 2014 |   |
95% |
| 15 | 40 | Kirby VS Majin Buu | December 19th, 2014 |   |
77% |
| 16 | 41 | Ragna VS Sol Badguy | January 9th, 2015 |   |
96% |
| 17 | 42 | Gaara VS Toph | Feburary 7th, 2015 |   |
75% |
| 18 | 43 | Boba Fett VS Samus Aran (Remastered) | February 26th, 2015 |   |
91% |
| 19 | 44 | Chuck Norris VS Segata Sanshiro | March 18th, 2015 |   |
97% |
| 20 | 45 | Guts VS Nightmare | April 8th, 2015 |   |
97% |
| 21 | 46 | Iron Man VS Lex Luthor | April 29th, 2015 |   |
97% |
| 22 | 47 | Beast VS Goliath | May 20th, 2015 |   |
94% |
| 23 | 48 | Solid Snake VS Sam Fisher | June 2nd, 2015 |   |
95% |
| 24 | 49 | Darth Vader VS Doctor Doom | July 1st, 2015 |   |
86% |
| 25 | 50 | Goku VS Superman 2 | July 18th, 2015 |   |
59% |
| 26 | 51 | Donkey Kong VS Knuckles | August 12th, 2015 |   |
83% |
| 27 | 52 | Wolverine VS Raiden | September 8th, 2015 |   |
87% |
| 28 | 53 | Hercule Satan VS Dan Hibiki | September 30th, 2015 |   |
95% |
| 29 | 54 | Yang VS Tifa | October 21, 2015 |   |
91% |
| 30 | 55 | Mega Man VS Astro Boy | November 11, 2015 |   |
85% |
| 31 | 56 | Green Arrow VS Hawkeye | December 2, 2015 |   |
86% |
| 32 | 57 | Pokémon VS Digimon | December 15th, 2015 |   |
72% |
Season 3
| Episode # | Overall | Episode Name | Original Air Date | Thumbnail | Reception (YouTube) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58 | Dante VS Bayonetta | March 16th, 2016 |   |
95% |
| 2 | 59 | Bowser VS Ganon | April 6th, 2016 |   |
92% |
| 3 | 60 | Ratchet & Clank VS Jak & Daxter | April 27th, 2016 |   |
91% |
| 4 | 61 | Flash VS Quicksilver | May 18th, 2016 |   |
94% |
| 5 | 62 | Joker VS Sweet Tooth | June 8th, 2016 |   |
96% |
| 6 | 63 | Mewtwo VS Shadow | July 1st, 2016 |   |
88% |
| 7 | 64 | Meta VS Carolina | August 3rd, 2016 |   |
89% |
| 8 | 65 | Cammy VS Sonya | August 17, 2016 |   |
88% |
| 9 | 66 | Tracer VS Scout | September 7, 2016 |   |
69% |
| 10 | 67 | Ken VS Terry | September 28, 2016 |   |
93% |
| 11 | 68 | Amy Rose VS Ramona Flowers | October 19th, 2016 |   |
88% |
| 12 | 69 | Hulk VS Doomsday | November 9th, 2016 |   |
83% |
| 13 | 70 | Zoro VS Erza | November 30th, 2016 |   |
91% |
| 14 | 71 | Deadpool VS Pinkie Pie | December 21st, 2016 |   |
90% |
Season 4
| Episode # | Overall | Episode Name | Original Air Date | Thumbnail | Reception (YouTube) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72 | Lara Croft VS Nathan Drake | February 1st, 2017 |   |
65% |
| 2 | 73 | Scrooge McDuck VS Shovel Knight | March 1st, 2017 |   |
83% |
| 3 | 74 | Venom VS Bane | March 22nd, 2017 |   |
93% |
| 4 | 75 | Power Rangers VS Voltron | April 12th, 2017 |   |
85% |
| 5 | 76 | Natsu VS Ace | May 3rd, 2017 |   |
86% |
| 6 | 77 | Sub-Zero VS Glacius | May 24th, 2017 |   |
93% |
| 7 | 78 | Android 18 VS Captain Marvel | June 14th, 2017 |   |
91% |
| 8 | 79 | Metal Sonic VS Zero | July 5th, 2017 |   |
93% |
| 9 | 80 | Lucario VS Renamon | July 26th, 2017 |   |
92% |
| 10 | 81 | Balrog VS TJ Combo | August 16th, 2017 |   |
96% |
| 11 | 82 | Shredder VS Silver Samurai | September 6th, 2017 |   |
96% |
| 12 | 83 | Smokey Bear VS McGruff the Crime Dog | September 27th, 2017 |   |
91% |
| 13 | 84 | Thor VS Wonder Woman | October 18th, 2017 |   |
76% |
| 14 | 85 | Naruto VS Ichigo | November 8th, 2017 |   |
89% |
| 15 | 86 | Batman Beyond VS Spider-Man 2099 | November 29th, 2017 |   |
92% |
| 16 | 87 | Sephiroth VS Vergil | December 20th, 2017 |   |
N/A |
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Season 5
| Episode # | Overall | Episode Name | Original Air Date | Thumbnail | Reception (YouTube) |
|---|
Animators
Ben Singer- Boba Fett VS Samus Aran, Akuma VS Shang Tsung, Rogue VS Wonder Woman, Goomba VS Koopa, Haggar VS Zangief, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle Royale, Zitz VS Leonardo, Yoshi VS Riptor, Felicia VS Taokaka, Kratos VS Spawn, Bomberman VS Dig Dug, Vegeta VS Shadow, Mario VS Sonic, Justin Bieber VS Rebecca Black, Luke Skywalker VS Harry Potter, Chun-Li VS Mai Shiranui, Starscream VS Rainbow Dash, Master Chief VS Doomguy, Eggman VS Wily
Mr. Lange- Zelda VS Peach, Thor VS Raiden, Link VS Cloud, Batman VS Spider-Man, Pikachu VS Blanka, Goku VS Superman, He-Man VS Lion-O, Shao Kahn VS M. Bison, Ryu Hayabusa VS Strider Hiryu, Ivy VS Orchid
Mali- Fox McCloud VS Bucky O'Hare, Pokémon Battle Royale, Tigerzord VS Gundam Epyon, Kirby VS Majin Buu, Gaara VS Toph, Beast VS Goliath, Darth Vader VS Doctor Doom
Derek- Fox McCloud VS Bucky O'Hare
Torrian- Terminator VS RoboCop, Godzilla VS Gamera, Deadpool VS Deathstroke, Boba Fett VS Samus Aran (Remastered), Iron Man VS Lex Luthor, Solid Snake VS Sam Fisher, Goku VS Superman 2, Wolverine VS Raiden, Yang VS Tifa, Pokémon VS Digimon, Dante VS Bayonetta, Ratchet & Clank VS Jak & Daxter, Joker VS Sweet Tooth, Meta VS Carolina, Tracer VS Scout, Hulk VS Doomsday, Lara Croft VS Nathan Drake, Power Rangers VS Voltron, Balrog VS TJ Combo, Thor VS Wonder Woman, Sephiroth VS Vergil
Zack- Batman VS Captain America, Ryu VS Scorpion, Ragna VS Sol Badguy, Chuck Norris VS Segata Sanshiro, Guts VS Nightmare, Donkey Kong VS Knuckles, Hercule Satan VS Dan Hibiki, Green Arrow VS Hawkeye, Android 18 VS Captain Marvel, Batman Beyond VS Spider-Man 2099
Aquila- Mega Man VS Astro Boy, Lucario VS Renamon
Deejay- Dante VS Bayonetta, Ratchet & Clank VS Jak & Daxter
Domination- Bowser VS Ganon, Mewtwo VS Shadow
PsychoDino- Flash VS Quicksilver
Jetz- Cammy VS Sonya, Ken VS Terry, Zoro VS Erza, Deadpool VS Pinkie Pie, Scrooge McDuck VS Shovel Knight, Natsu VS Ace, Metal Sonic VS Zero, Shredder VS Silver Samurai, Naruto VS Ichigo, Batman Beyond VS Spider-Man 2099
Kayas- Amy Rose VS Ramona Flowers, Deadpool VS Pinkie Pie, Venom VS Bane
Jerome- Lara Croft VS Nathan Drake, Power Rangers VS Voltron, Balrog VS TJ Combo, Thor VS Wonder Woman, Sephiroth VS Vergil
BlindFerret- Smokey Bear VS McGruff the Crime Dog
Gallery
Trivia
- It's been stated that the series had been inspired by the VS. Battle Series
- However, as the show actually didn't pit fighters against each other, Ben Singer decided to do an actual series with actual fighting.
- The original series' name was going to be Who Would Win?, and the original first episode (done completely by Ben Singer) even used that title.
- However, it was later changed to the current name along with Chad James joining the show.
- Seasons 3 and 4 are the only seasons that didn't have a Battle Royale in them.