In past explorations of each of the four main characters fromRWBY, the measure of strength has come down to a mix of their arsenal tempered against how effectively they utilize them.Blake might not be the most physically strong, but like Weiss, her varied arsenal and training make her formidable, just as Ruby’s scythe is only as effective as it is because of her power.
Yang Xiao Long, Ruby Rose’s older sister of another mother, is actually fairly simple at first glance: she’s the tank of the group, brute forcing her way through opposition with fists of fury. Yang is a light-hearted thrill seeker who pummels with a smile but has a temper that can make her especially cantankerous.
RELATED:RWBY: Ruby’s Weapon and Semblance, Explained
“You Wouldn’t Like Her When She’s… Upset”
Even discounting her powers and weapons, Yang is a disciplined fighter, specializing in hand-to-hand combat. Her fighting style can best be characterized by a mix of boxing and more agile mixed martial arts. She is more than capable of holding her ground with a strong defense but prefers to be on the move, acrobatically bounding off of opponents and mixing up her strikes with well-placed kicks. Fundamentally,Yang’s body is well-trained, and her Aura allows herto take quite a bit of punishment absent the benefits of her ability. That said, when she is taking a beating, her Semblance exemplifies her most iconic attribute; her fiery temper. Referred to as “Burn,” her Semblance initially seems like a form of pyromancy, but it’s far more.
The more hurt Yang gets, the stronger she becomes, giving her a surplus of energy to fight back with. It manifests as fire, causing her hair to glow and making her attacks even more explosive, but a common catalyst for her power is emotion. These dramatic second winds of hers tend to be accompanied by rage, the primary pathos of her power.
While the animeIce Queendomhasn’t quite shown off Yang’s angry sidefully yet, the main series has no shortage of demonstrations. As the series goes on, Yang becomes more in control of her emotions in combat, distinguishing her rage from the power’s benefits, making it more akin to a power-up inDragon Ball. The extent of this power can change depending on how wild the action scenes are, but in the heat of a battle against a robot in Volume 2, Yang was able to withstand being punched through several concrete pillars. Even after that, she stood up and caught the fist of the mech that punched her and even tore the arm to bits with a single counter-attack.
The power isn’t perfect, and while blunt force trauma can be abated by both her Aura and her Semblance, a stronger or more precise strike from a blade can still deal great damage.In her battles against bladed opponents, Yang has made a point of blocking with her gauntlets or dodging attacks. One of her greatest injuries in the series was given to her by an enemy swordsman who she underestimated.
The Gun Vambraces, Ember Celica
Speaking of her gauntlets, Yang’s weapon is given an extra punch by the addition of two expanding gold gauntlets on each arm. Out of combat, they are condensed into ornate-looking bangles, but when engaged, they enlarge and cover her forearms, giving her excellent protection. Their true benefit lies in what’s inside.
Her gauntlets are loaded with shotgun shellsand are re-chambered through the cocking motion of her arms, ejecting spent shells and loading new ones from a rotating belt wrapped around the interior. These Dust shotgun shells work in tandem with Yang’s Semblance and her Aura to deal with fiery blows that demolish opponents' defenses in no time flat.
The power of the shells varies depending on the context, implying that either mechanically or through Yang’s own power, she can alter the power output of her guns. The shells can be made powerful enough to propel her in any direction, giving her added mobility, similar to her sister Ruby. It can be used to evade as well as to move in and keep pressure on her opponents.
Altogether, Yang is one of the more simple characters to understand from a combat standpoint. Her power isas Shonen as an anime power can get, yet it doesn’t make her invincible or rob her consequence for mistakes in battle. Her weapon is similarly straightforward and adds an extra dimension to the already impressive action design by simply treating her fists like shotguns. She is truly the powerhouse ofRWBYin the simplest but proudest of ways.
MORE:RWBY: Weiss' Weapon and Semblance, Explained
