Rimuru vs. Guy Crimson: Who is the Real Strongest in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime?
If you’ve spent any time in the Tensura fandom, you already know this debate never dies: Rimuru Tempest vs. Guy Crimson — who is truly the strongest in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime?
As someone who genuinely loves this series (and has followed the light novels obsessively), I think this matchup represents something bigger than just numbers. It’s the clash between experience and evolution, between the old ruler of the world and the being who rewrote its rules.
And as of the latest Light Novel developments (up to Volume 21), the answer is clearer than ever — but it’s also more interesting than most hot takes make it seem.
The Old King: Why Guy Crimson Ruled for Millennia
Let’s start with respect where it’s due.
Guy Crimson isn’t just another Demon Lord. He’s the first Primordial Demon. The literal benchmark of power for thousands of years. Appointed by Veldanava himself as the world’s “Arbitrator,” Guy wasn’t just strong — he was stability incarnate.
What makes Guy terrifying?
- 10,000+ years of combat experience
- Fought True Dragons like Velzard to stalemates
- Subdued a berserk Milim Nava
- Possesses Ultimate Skills like Abyss God Nodens
- Can move in suspended time
His greatest edge has always been mastery. Guy doesn’t rely on gimmicks. He reads opponents. He adapts. He copies abilities. His battle IQ is arguably the highest in the Cardinal World.
In earlier arcs — anime, manga, even mid-light novel — Guy would absolutely destroy Rimuru without question. Time Stop alone made him untouchable.
But Tensura is a story about growth. And Rimuru doesn’t just grow — he evolves beyond the system itself.
The Rise of Rimuru: From Slime to System Admin
Rimuru’s journey is honestly one of my favorite power progressions in anime history. He didn’t start as a combat genius. He started as curious, diplomatic, even naive.
But once he awakened as a True Demon Lord… everything changed.
Then came the real turning point: Ciel.
Ciel isn’t just an Ultimate Skill — she’s basically a sentient super-AI operating at godlike computational speed. If Guy is a master tactician, Rimuru is running quantum simulations mid-battle.
And that’s before we even talk about his ultimate trump card.
Rimuru’s true advantages include:
- Void God Azathoth
- Imaginary Space
- Turn Null (primordial destructive energy)
- Evolution into a True Dragon-level existence
- Integration of Veldora and Velgrynd’s power
At this stage, Rimuru isn’t playing by world rules anymore. He’s rewriting them.
Raw Power Comparison
Let’s talk numbers for a second — because even though Tensura scaling isn’t just about EP (Existence Value), it still tells a story.
| Feature | Rimuru Tempest (LN Vol 21) | Guy Crimson |
|---|---|---|
| Existence Value (EP) | ~170,000,000+ | ~40,000,000 |
| Evolution Tier | True Dragon-class | True Demon Lord |
| Main Ultimate Skill | Void God Azathoth | Abyss God Nodens |
| Energy Supply | Turn Null (near infinite) | Finite magicule pool |
| Combat Experience | ~3 years | 10,000+ years |
On paper, this looks unfair.
Guy wins in experience — by a ridiculous margin. But Rimuru overwhelms him in scale, energy, and existential rank.
Why Rimuru Wins (And It’s Not Just EP)
Here’s where I give my honest take as a fan.
Guy’s greatest strength is copying and adapting. But he still operates within the structure of the world’s laws.
Rimuru? He exists above them now.
Azathoth can consume souls, space-time, energy, barriers, and even concepts. And thanks to Ciel, Rimuru analyzes and optimizes instantly. Even if Guy copies an ability, he can’t replicate the Void nature of Rimuru’s core existence.
Then there’s Turn Null — primordial destructive energy. Essentially an infinite stamina cheat. Guy fights efficiently, but he still has limits. Rimuru doesn’t, at least not in the conventional sense.
Even Time Stop stopped being an advantage once Rimuru mastered temporal manipulation himself.
At this stage, a prolonged battle heavily favors Rimuru. And let’s be real — Tensura fights rarely end in one strike between god-tier beings.
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The Technique Argument: Does Guy Win Without Skills?
This is the only version of the debate that’s interesting to me.
If you strip away Ultimate Skills and magicules — pure swordsmanship, pure technique — Guy probably wins.
Ten thousand years of combat isn’t something you bridge in three years.
But here’s the thing: Tensura isn’t a martial arts series. It’s a cosmic power evolution story. Removing skills is like asking who wins in Dragon Ball without ki.
It ignores the core mechanics of the universe.
Anime-Only Context: Different Story
It’s also important to separate Light Novel Rimuru from anime Rimuru.
As of Season 3, Rimuru is nowhere near Guy’s level. Time Stop alone would shut him down.
So if you’re anime-only, the gap still favors Guy heavily.
But in the Light Novels? It’s not close anymore.
What I Love Most About This Rivalry
What makes this matchup compelling isn’t just who’s stronger.
It’s that Guy recognizes Rimuru’s growth.
The same being who once stood at the absolute top of the world now treats Rimuru as an equal — even something like a superior in influence.
That shift hits harder than any EP number.
Because in Tensura, power isn’t just about destruction. It’s about who shapes the future of the world.
And right now? That’s Rimuru.
Final Verdict
If we’re talking Light Novel Volume 21 and beyond:
Rimuru Tempest is the stronger existence.
Not slightly. Not debatably. Decisively.
Guy Crimson remains the most skilled warrior in the series. But Rimuru has transcended from player to administrator.
And honestly? Watching that transformation has been one of the most satisfying long-term power progressions in anime and light novel history.
Now the real question isn’t whether Rimuru surpassed Guy.
Who in Tensura can even challenge him anymore?
