Tatsuhito Ikoma/Abilities

• Introduction
• Plot
• Abilities
• Image Gallery

Despite being the leader of a unit with a stable standing in the upper tier of B-rank, Ikoma's authority over his teammates appears to be nominal, as the vast majority of tactical decisions are made by Satoshi Mizukami. His main contribution to his team comes in the form of his combat prowess, which makes him the ace of his unit. In fact, Ikoma currently holds the title of no. 6 Attacker, and is extolled by Yūichi Jin as the single most skilled Senkū user in Border. His unique application of this Trigger, created to counter Takuma Yuba's fighting style, grants him the longest range of any Attacker and makes coming within 40 meters of him extremely dangerous, since his Senkū Kogetsu is capable of effortlessly slashing through the obstacles that separate him from the opponent and block their view, as well as any defense that can be mounted with Border Triggers. It was implied to be thanks to the wall-piercing abilities of his signature move that he became one of only two agents to force Masataka Ninomiya to bail out in the first seven rounds of the current season of rank battles, and the only one to do so without being taken down by his target at the same time.

When they fought in round six, Ikoma fought on par with Yūma Kuga while supported by Mizukami, with neither fighter managing to gain the upper hand on the other until Yūma relocated inside a wire zone, where he rapidly gained the upper hand and forced the two members of Ikoma Unit to cut down the wires before venturing any deeper inside. Nonetheless, Ikoma eventually succeeded at cutting down the ace of Tamakoma Second thanks to a combination of his formidable Senkū Kogetsu and observation, countering an evasive manoeuvre which Yūma had already demonstrated during the course of their fight and earning the opponent's praise. His reactions are also fast enough for him to intercept Chika Amatori's Lead Bullet sniping with his sword after discovering her location.

Outside of his fighting ability, Ikoma is valuable to Border due to being one of the agents compatible with Fūjin. He has learned the basics of iai from his grandfather.

Triggers

Tatsuhito Ikoma's Triggers

Current

Type Normal

Kogetsu

Classification Attacker

As the no. 6 Attacker, Ikoma is one of the most skilled Kogetsu users in Border, as well one of only seven Attackers whose points exceed 10,000. In terms of pure swordsmanship, without the use of other Triggers, he is roughly evenly matched against a rusty Hyuse, who took note of his superiority over Shinnosuke Tsuji. Ikoma was also able to fight on par with Yūma for a prolonged amount of time with Mizukami's assistance, although the other Attacker instantly gained the upper hand after relocating to a wire zone. He is capable of wielding Kogetsu effectiely with only one hand, presumably suggesting that his proficiency offset the sword's non-negligible weight. He may switch to a two-handed grip to defend, although he can parry also with a one-handed one. He keeps the blade conjured at all times. Ikoma is first seen using Kogetsu in Chapter 150 (Episode 82 in the anime).

Type Normal

Senkū

Normal Ikoma Senkū Normal Acrobatic Classification Optional

Ikoma was extolled by Jin as the best Senkū user in Border. He frequently scores points with it in rank wars, and it is integrated so seamlessly in his fighting style that activating it when the opportunity presents itself comes naturally to him. Combined with his skill, this extremely powerful Trigger enables him to bypass any and all defenses offered by Border Triggers as well as environmental obstacles, making him a threat even without a direct line of sight. Ikoma is one of the few Senkū users capable of executing two slashes within the standard activation time of one second, increasing his chances of hitting the target. However, he shows a marked preference for resorting to his signature variation of the attack, selecting the regular duration only when altering the terrain significantly can put him at risk. Apart from launching lethal offensives, Ikoma's extended Senkū can in fact be utilized to clear away structures, and to prompt his opponents to move in range of his allies. Ikoma is first seen using Senkū in Chapter 157 (Episode 84 in the anime). Ikoma Senkū (生(い)駒(こま) 旋(せん)空(くう), Ikoma Senkū ?): By activating Senkū for a mere 0.2 seconds, Ikoma can extend the reach of his Kogetsu up to 40 meters instead of the usual 15. This complex technique, which requires him to swing his sword extremely quickly while synchronizing the slash with the activation of Senkū, grants him unparalleled range among Attackers, as he is the only agent capable of using it. He is consistently shown executing the attack while drawing his sword from a stationary position, a routine that may alert his opponents as to his intentions and facilitate evasion or even allow them to strike preemptively. In round eight of the current season of rank wars he first showed off the ability to connect Ikoma Senkū even after being launched into the air. Ikoma is first seen using this technique in Chapter 153 (Episode 84 in the anime).

Type Normal

Shield

Single Full Guard Classification Defense

Ikoma casts Shield in its default hexagonal shape to defend against Gunner Triggers. His Shields are generally wide enough to comfortably protect his head and torso, but he may compress them slightly and resort to Full Guard to guard his entire body when anticipating a particularly powerful volley. In round eight, he activated Full Guard after feigning an Ikoma Senkū, presumably in order to retaliate right after the target launches their counter. Ikoma is first seen using Shield in Chapter 187 (Episode 97 in the anime).