Ever since the release of the TEQ Perfect Cell during the Cell Games there’s been debates on whether or not he’s superior to the Legendary Super Saiyan, especially when the Cell Games came out and you could get his “LR” Dokkan Awakened form, along with the INT version whose non-Dokkan’d was released much earlier in the game’s life span. I’m going to give an in-depth analysis on the stats and abilities of these “LR” characters. And with Pure Buu and Super Saiyan 3 Goku getting two “LR” variants each as well, I may as well do a little analysis on them as well. I’ll start with the first “LR” to be released, Broly.



Now then, I’m sure Japan players are quite familiar with Broly when he crashed the Fourth World Tournament, taking nearly all the top ranks available. With over 9800 HP and 9200 Attack, the highest in the game, who wouldn’t use him if you had the chance? He also gives +3 Ki and +3000 Attack to all STR units in your team, just for being the Leader of your group! On top of that, he gains ANOTHER 7000 Attack once he attacks, in exchange for reducing his (admittedly Z-Awakebed UR-average) Defense to zero, but when you have up to 19,243 Attack you’re more than likely to slaughter your opponent before they can even make a move. Add to that a Super Attack that works like a Dokkan Attack and you have yourself an Overpowered Fiend. The icing on the cake comes with the ever-present Saiyan Warrior Race and Super Saiyan links, giving him even more attack (up to 21,937 with both), as well as Sibling, giving him plenty of room to mesh with various Rainbow and Mono STR teams.



TEQ Perfect Cell, the second “LR” to be introduced to Dokkan Battle, has pretty much the same Leader Skill as Broly: +3 Ki and +3000 Attack to same-type characters. He also has a LOT more defense than Broly at 6034, highest in the game. However, he has slightly less HP and quite a bit less Attack than the Legendary Super Saiyan. To make up for that, his Passive allows him to increase his Attack and Defense with every Ki Orb collected. With just six in hand, the bare minimum needed to launch a Super Attack, his Attack skyrockets to 14,503, at eight he surpasses Broly’s bare minimum Attack after his Passive kicks in, and at 11 Orbs, highest I’ve personally gotten, Cell’s Attack reaches 19,562 while his Defense hits almost 14k. However, if you take into account all of Broly’s Attack increases, Cell would need at least 18 Orbs to surpass that, which is extremely difficult if not impossible without changing the color of the Ki Orbs. And while Perfect Cell most likely does more damage to a single opponent with his most powerful Kamehameha ever, it only hits a single opponent and not the entire group, meaning while he’s extremely powerful, he can’t completely annihilate groups like Broly can. Add to that his relatively poor links, including one that can only be paired up with his Perfect Form Dokkan Awakening from the Cell Games event, means he can’t exactly be “splashed in” and and expected to have any significant power boosts. However, he does work well with Golden Frieza and the various Kamehameha users, along with Broly and all other future “LR"s, so there’s that.



INT Perfect Cell isn’t like the other two. He’s got much lower stats, more on par with a Z-Awakened UR, and he doesn’t have the whole +3 Ki/+3000 Attack deal the other two have. However, he makes up for it by increasing the Attack of ALL allies by 30%, along with increasing his Attack and Defense by 40% when he’s ready to fight. This brings his Attack up to an impressive 14,072 and his defense a respectable 7604. While not as high as Broly or TEQ Cell’s maximum potentials, INT Perfect Cell is nothing to sneeze at. He will still wreck you if you dare to underestimate him. However, this Cell suffers from the same problems that befall his TEQ counterpart: the lack of any real synergy with his terrible links. Still, if you have him you’re bound to get pretty far in the game.



With the advent of the Majin Awajening event, Pure Buu has gotten in on the fun as well, with a new PHY version along with the older AGL version getting "LR” variants. Neither of these have the same abilities as Broly or TEQ Cell. Starting with PHY Buu, let me start off by saying this one actually breaks the 10k threshold, having a little over ELEVEN THOUSAND HP at max level. Only the un-Dokkan’d form and the new Super Spirit Bomb Goku can boast such claims of having over 10k HP, but this new “LR” trumps both of them big time. He can also increase the Attack of (possibly) ALL units depending on how much HP you have, up to a 50% boost. This makes PHY Pure Buu possibly the best all-around leader in the game for this alone. I don’t know if the boost decreases the more you take damage, but it’s still one of the best Leader Skills in my opinion. However, this doesn’t mean PHY Buu is beyond Broly. For one, at an abysmal 3542 Defense, you definitely won’t want this Buu to be forced to take any hits. And if you can’t keep your HP above the 80% threshold, that Passive is pretty much useless.



AGL Pure Buu doesn’t have as much HP to start with as its PHY counterpart, but it has quite a bit more Attack to compensate. Fifth highest in the game at this moment, which surprises me considering the un-Dokkan’d variant has been around for far longer. And even with the lower HP, fourth highest in the game, mind you, the Leader Skill raises the bar and survivability rate. Especially when combined with the 12% recovery when it’s time to fight. Or even every turn, I’m not 100% sure at the moment. Even if it’s every other turn it’s a huge boon you can’t pass up on if you have the AGL Buu. The one major downside is that even though the defense is higher than PHY Buu’s, it’s still rather low, especially when you consider this is a “LR” we’re talking about here. Still, if it’s not forced to take any hits, AGL Pure Buu will be an incredible asset to your team.



By the end of 2015 we got our first peek at the next two “LR”s, and they’re the first hero of the set: Super Saiyan 3 Goku. Like Buu and Cell before the STR version can be Dokkan Awakened, along with a new AGL version. Said AGL version boasts the new second highest Attack, trumping “LR” TEQ Perfect Cell by over 200 points. His HP is also excellent and, unlike Broly or PHY Pure Buu he has the defense to take some hits if necessary. His Leader Skill is the same as Broly and TEQ Perfect Cell: Ki +3 and Attack +3000 for characters of the same type. The translation of the Passive is a bit wonky, but if my reasoning is correct you’d have to be trying very hard to last seven turns for the double attack to wear off. And of course being a Super Saiyan means if you can get him he’ll be a permanent staple in your deck.



Funnily enough, STR SSJ3 Goku has the same Leader Skill as Perfect Cell: A 30% boost in Attack to all allies. He also has some great stats, including the sixth highest Attack at the time of his release, along with an 80% Attack boost when it’s his time to fight and your HP is above the 30% mark. Definitely better than the PHY Pure Buu’s Passive despite not being for all allies, and enough to offset the lower Attack stat the STR version has, putting it on par with Broly after his Attack boosts take place. Also, unlike the AGL SSJ3 Goku, the STR version has the WE GOTTA POWER link, making him ideal for the Majin Awakening event if you need the medals.



For those who like abbreviated summations, here’s a list of pros and cons for the seven:



Legendary Super Saiyan Broly (Super Warrior of Destruction and Slaughter):

Max Stats:

HP: 9843 (#7)

Attack: 9243 (#1)

Defense: 4532 (#25)

Leader Skill: +3 Ki and +3000 Attack to STR Units

Passive Skill: Runaway Anger: When attacking, Defense is reduced to 0 and Attack +7000

Super Attack: Gigantic Meteor

Links: Grudge Against King Vegeta, Saiyan Warrior Race, Super Saiyan, Sibling, Berserker, Super Fierce Battle



Pros

Highest Attack in the game



Passive increases his Attack to even more absurd levels



Is a Saiyan, meaning he works great with other Saiyans (Especially Super Saiyans who also have Saiyan Warrior Race)



Also works well with Bardock’s family and a few others due to Sibling



Super Attack works like a Dokkan Attack, hitting all opponents that aren’t dead yet



Cons



Not that it’s needed, but Defense is only on par with other Z-Awakened URs



Grudge Against King Vegeta is a rather limited link and Berserker isn’t exactly useful if you’re about to die



With the above in mind, this means he doesn’t mesh well with non-Saiyans (“LR” Perfect Cell and Pure Buu being the exceptions, as with other future “LR"s that may possibly come around)



TEQ Perfect Cell (Surpassing of All Things):

Max Stats:

HP: 9792 (#8)

Attack: 8432 (#3)

Defense: 6034 (#1)

Leader Skill: +3 Ki and +3000 Attack to TEQ Units

Passive Skill: Incarnation of Hatred: +12% Attack and Defense for each Ki Orb collected

Super Attack: Solar Kamehameha

Links: Revival, Messenger from the Future, Big Bad Bosses, Kamehameha, Avatar, Genealogy of the Ultimate Life Form, Super Fierce Battle



Pros

Highest Defense in the game



Despite being less than Broly’s and AGL SSJ3 Goku’s, Perfect Cell still has the third highest Attack in the game



Can increase his Attack and Defense with every Ki Orb collected



Super Attack hits like a truck and CUTS THROUGH THE PLANET



Cons

Super Attack only hits one opponent at a time, unlike Broly’s



Relatively poor links, meaning he only works best with other versions of himself, Teen/Future/Xenoverse Trunks, Kamehameha users, Golden Frieza, or Dokkan’d LSSJ Broly/Pure Buu (and future "LR"s)



Avatar and Genealogy of the Ultimate Life Form are very limited, restricted to being used with himself and the event SR Cell



INT Perfect Cell (Nightmare to be Repeated):

Max Stats:

HP: 9123 (#15)

Attack: 7732 (#25)

Defense: 5432 (#4)

Leader Skill: +30% Attack to All Units

Passive Skill: Ultimate Fighting Form: +40% Attack and Defense to all allied attackers

Super Attack: Solar Kamehameha

Links: Revival, Messenger from the Future, Big Bad Bosses, Kamehameha, Avatar, Genealogy of the Ultimate Life Form, Super Fierce Battle



Pros

A unique Leader Skill, benefiting all allies instead of just the same type



Is only one of three characters whose non-Dokkan’d form can be acquired outside of the Dokkan Summoning events



Despite the lower stats, he still hits like a truck and his Super Attack cuts through the planet



Cons



Base stats are more on par with Z-Awakened URs, though his Skills offset that



Like the TEQ version, INT Perfect Cell has rather poor links, meaning his synergy is rather limited



PHY Pure Buu (Dead Heart Impulse of Destruction):

Max Stats:

HP: 11,050 (#1)

Attack: 7749 (#24)

Defense: 3542 (#199)

Leader Skill: Increases Attack depending on HP (Up to 50%)

Passive Skill: Planetary Destruction: When Max HP is above 80%, Attack and Defense increase by 50% for all active allies

Super Attack: Planet Burst

Links: Majin, Brutal Beatdown, More than Meets the Eye, Big Bad Bosses, Regeneration, Super Fierce Battle

Pros



Breaks the 10k threshold, having 11,050 HP



With Leader and Passive Attack can shoot up to 17,345, which isn’t as high as Broly or TEQ Cell, but still crazy



Can be linked up with Perfect Cell, granting a decent Attack boost in a pinch



Planet Burst doesn’t just cut through the planet, it SHATTERS IT TO PIECES.



Cons



Abysmal Defense, more on par with most SRs than SSRs, and the Passive does little to help if you can’t keep your HP up above 80%



than SSRs, and the Passive does little to help if you can’t keep your HP up above 80% Doesn’t really synergize well with characters other than Buu variants, though it can be "splashed in” with Brutal Beatdown



AGL Pure Buu (Uncontrollable Instinct):

Max Stats:

HP: 9964 (#4)

Attack: 8099 (#7)

Defense: 3640 (#173)

Leader Skill: HP +70%

Passive Skill: Imitation of Tricks: 12% HP recovery when active in battle

Super Attack: Planet Burst

Links: Majin, Brutal Beatdown, More than Meets the Eye, Big Bad Bosses, Regeneration, Super Fierce Battle



Pros

Doesn’t break the 10k threshold, but still has the fourth highest HP in the game



That said, the Leader Skill raises max HP even more, meaning the theoretical max is the highest there is



Surprisingly has the fifth highest Attack in the game, despite not being the special event character



12% Healing is always helpful, even if it’s only every two turns



Like INT Perfect Cell, AGL Pure Buu can be acquired when the Dokkan Summon event isn’t active



Same as PHY Pure Buu, AGL Buu can be linked with Perfect Cell, and of course there’s Planet Burst cutting the middle man and outright destroying the planet.



Cons

It’s not as low as PHY Buu’s, but Defense is still a major concern



Like PHY Buu, doesn’t have much synergy with non-Buu variants, but “splashing” can counteract this



AGL Super Saiyan 3 Goku (Strongest of Mystery):

Max Stats:

HP: 9500 (#11)

Attack: 8672 (#2)

Defense: 4623(#22)

Leader Skill: +3 Ki and +3000 Attack to AGL Units

Passive Skill: Identity of Game: Double Attack for seven turns

Super Attack: Dragon Fist

Links: Golden Warrior, Saiyan Warrior Race, Super Saiyan, Over in a Flash, Surpassing Limits (+2000 Attack Upon Super Attack), Super Fierce Battle

Pros



Second highest Attack in the game



Being a Super Saiyan, has incredible synergy with other Super Saiyans, including (and especially LSSJ) Broly



Passive skyrockets Goku’s Attack to astronomical levels



We won’t see Dragon Fist for a while, but it should be amazing. If he won’t do it, who will?!

Cons

Surpassing Limits can only be linked with SSJ3 Vegeta



Still not exactly the best Defense, even if it’s higher than Broly’s



If neither AGL nor STR say the famous line I will be sorely disappointed

STR Super Saiyan 3 Goku (Fist to Grab Victory):

Max Stats:

HP: 8571 (#34)

Attack: 8123 (#6)

Defense: 4277 (#54)

Leader Skill: +30% Attack to All Units

Passive Skill: Serious Game: When Max HP is above 30%, Attack is boosted by 80%

Super Attack: Dragon Fist

Links: Golden Warrior, Saiyan Warrior Race, Super Saiyan, Over in a Flash, Surpassing Limits (+2000 Attack Upon Super Attack), Super Fierce Battle, WE GOTTA POWER

Pros

Fourth strongest “LR” overall, boasting sixth highest Attack in the game



Very useful Passive, bringing total Attack power closer to Broly’s after his boosts



The omnipresent Super Saiyan and Saiyan Warrior Race links means he’s the ideal ally for Broly, in such a huge twist of irony



Like INT Perfect Cell and AGL Pure Buu, STR SSJ3 Goku can be acquired when the Dokkan Summon event isn’t active

Has the WE GOTTA POWER link, making him the perfect leader for the Majin Awakening event, whenever that comes back around



We won’t see Dragon Fist for a while, but it should be amazing. If he won’t do it, who will?!

Cons

Aside from Attack, the stats aren’t exactly anything to write home about in terms of being a “LR”



Surpassing Limits can only be linked with SSJ3 Vegeta



If neither AGL nor STR say the famous line I will be sorely disappointed

Based on my analysis I can safely say that while Broly is definitely more useful all-around than TEQ Perfect Cell due to his links, this doesn’t mean the new “LR” is useless. Far from it, in fact. INT Cell as well, despite not having as high base stats as the other two, is nothing to laugh at. And while both Pure Buus have the loswest Defense of any of the “LR"s, their other stats and Skills more than make up for it if they don’t have to take any hits. SSJ3 Goku is also a heavy hitter in both his forms, with being the best partner to Broly being the top of it all. Being able to get the non-Dokkan’d forms of INT Perfect Cell, AGL Pure Buu, and STR SSJ3 Goku at pretty much any time is also a huge plus. At the end of the day, these seven are the strongest characters in the game and the game doesn’t even bother trying to tell you otherwise, and are invaluable additions to your team even if you don’t take advantage of the links. In fact, if you can somehow get your hands on all four AND Dokkan Awaken them you can pretty much call the game right there.



(Note: Please bear with me here, as I haven’t had any extensive firsthand experience with any of these characters at the moment. I do however plan to play around with the five so I can get a better review of their true capabilities.)