Bason

Bason (馬孫, Mǎsūn) is a former Chinese military general that now serves the Tao Family. He is voiced by Shinpachi Tsuji in Japanese, and David Brimmer in English.

History
500 years ago when he was still alive, Bason was born in the time of war and became a Chinese Wujiang/Bushou (武将, lit. Martial/Military Commander; a military class of ancient China) that served for the Tao family. According to both Shaman King data books, which were released only in Japan, information such as his date of birth and blood type are unknown. In his days as an ancient Chinese warrior, Bason rode into battle on a horse named Hei-Tao. He has crossed swords with so many other warriors, who used all sorts of weapons and different martial arts techniques. He then defeated them and learned all about their techniques becoming the true "Master of Arms". When he died he became a spirit and continued to be a loyal servant of the Tao family and eventually ended up becoming the guardian ghost of Tao Ren.

Hyōi Gattai
Also known as Unity in the English anime. When Ren was first introduced he used Hyōi Gattai to fight Yoh and revealed his believes that spirits should be dominated, otherwise would the union tear the body apart because the spirits could not agree on anything. This battle strategy was later dropped when Ren learned of the more powerful Over Soul technique.


 * 100% Hyōi Gattai (100% 憑依合体, 100% Spirit Fusion): Using his complete dominance over Bason, Ren creates a far more powerful Hyōi Gattai allowing him to use all of Bason's attacks to the fullest, including the Vorpal Dance.

Attacks


 * Zhong Hua Zhan Wu/Chūka Zanmai (中華斬舞 Chinese Slash Dance): One of Ren's more basic attacks. Originally used by Bason, by using the Hyōi Gattai with Bason, Ren eventually memorized it himself. It consists of a series of of fast thrust attacks with the Kwan Dao. Also known as Vorpal Dance in the localized manga, and in the English anime it is called Rapid Tempo Assault.

O.S. Golden Over Soul
O.S. "Bason" (O.S. 馬孫) Description: Ren’s original Over Soul which integrates Bason's ghost with his Guan Dao, enabling him to materialize onto the physical plane. It’s a Spirit-type O.S which molds Bason's ghost into a giant, golden battle spear, named "Golden Over Soul". The basic form is Ren's Guan Dao with a giant armored ball at the tassel area, in a scheme no different from Bason's shoulder armor. The golden balls each sprouts a spike and at the very end of it is Bason's head sprouting the spear tip from the top of his helmet.
 * Shaman: Tao Ren
 * O.S. Type: Weapon Type
 * Spirit Ally: Bason (human ghost)
 * Medium used: Guan Dao (later "Bǎo-Léi Sword)

The battle spear Over Soul is formidable in itself, but the most intriguing aspect about this O.S. is its ability to change forms when fully supplied with the adequate amount of Furyoku.

Attacks


 * Zhong Hua Zhan Wu/Chūka Zanmai (中華斬舞 Chinese Slash Dance): One of Ren's more basic attacks. Originally used by Bason, by using the Hyōi Gattai with Bason, Ren eventually memorized it himself. It consists of a series of of fast thrust attacks with the Kwan Dao. It is known as Vorpal Dance in the localized manga, and in the English anime it is called Rapid Tempo Assault.


 * Golden Chūka Zanmai (ゴールデ中華斬舞 Golden Chinese Slash Dance): Stronger version of the Chuukan Zanmai. During his tournament fight with Yoh it was the first attack used by Ren. Using his large Over Soul Ren slams it down on his opponent. When Yoh dodged it, it was shown to have enough power, to leave a small crater in the earth where it had hit. However, it can also be a mere prolonged version of the original that can take out several targets at once, as demonstrated by Ren himself after Yoh loses to Faust VIII. In the English localization, it is known as "Super Rapid Tempo Assault".


 * Exploding Over Soul: Turning the tip of spear the other way around Ren releases a large amount of Furyoku into an explosion propelling himself forward and using the arrow like tip of the other end to attack. This was first seen during his battle with Yoh, in the first part of the Shaman Tournament.

O.S. Bason, Big Over Soul
O.S. "Bason Big Over Soul" Description: As Ren charges more Furyoku into the O.S., Bason's body begins to materialize on a higher plane of existence, ultimately materializing his whole upper body, though in colossal proportion. At this phase, Bason O.S. can assist with the halberd's attacks using his fists, or can handle the guandao itself (ie. Super-Golden Vorpal Dance). It Also has the abillity to throw high voltage discharges.
 * Shaman: Tao Ren
 * O.S. Type: Spirit Type
 * Spirit Ally: Bason (human ghost), Hei-Tao (animal ghost)
 * Medium used: Bason Dao (Over Soul), Bái-Feng (Hyōi Gattai)

When first shown during his fight with Yoh, Ren only pumped in enough Furyoku to only materialize his upper body armour and helmet with a large spear tip at the top of the helmet. With this Over Soul Ren can fly using his Furyoku as propellant. Pumping in more Furyoku the Over Soul also gains Basons arms and with even more it completely materializes Bason's upper body.

Attacks


 * Golden Punch (ゴールデンパンチ): Materializing Bason's arms, Ren can use his Over Soul to punch his opponent with great force and speed. This was first seen used again Yoh.


 * Double Golden Sledgehammer (ゴールデンダブルスレッジハンマー): With this technique Ren's uses both fists of his Over Souled Bason. Gathering both fists together, Bason slams them down via an axe handle attack on an opponent following the movement of the Kwan Dao which does the same thing.


 * Chou Golden Chūka Zanmai (超ゴールデ中華斬舞 Super Golden Chinese Slash Dance): Over Souling Bason's complete upper body at the tip of his Kwan Dao Ren allows Bason to wield an Over Soul Kwan Dao. Doing this Bason can use the Vorpal Dance with great power and size. This attack also seems to make Ren's hair spike grow. This was first seen used against Yoh. In the English localizations, it is known as "Ultimate Rapid Tempo Assault".
 * In the PS1 game, Shaman King: Spirit of Shamans, Ren can use this move via Hyōi Gattai mode (since that is the only version of Ren playable in the game). It consists of Ren doing a power up kiai with a golden pillar of light surrounding him, and Bason then charges forward with rapid thrusts at a low angle from above while slowly moving forward.


 * Kanzensai Chūka Zanmai (完全再現中華斬舞 Perfect Re-enactment Chinese Slash Dance): When Bason was still alive he rode into battle on the horse Hei-Tao. The spirit of Hei-Tao can be integrated into another horse kept by Ren, named Bái-Feng. Ren then stands on the top of the giant Bái-Feng holding his Kwan Dao that has the materialized upper body of Bason at the tip . Using Hei-Tao's incredible speed with the size of Bái-Feng's body, can none of Ren's attacks be dodged. Using theese two spirits in unison Ren can now do the Perfect Re-enactment of the Vorpal Dance which is also its most powerful version to date, with a tremendous strength and speed to back it up. As notes by Faust VIII who watched his fight, this attack has a risk added as one depletes more Furyoku by controlling two spirits at the same time.
 * In the English localization, it is known as "Ultra Calvary Charge" or "Ultimate Super Rapid Tempo Assault".

O.S. Super Bushin
O.S. "Super Bushin" (O.S. スーパー武神, Super Martial God) Description: This Weapon-type O.S. integrates Bason with the Tao family's heirloom Bǎo-Léi Sword and transforms him into a monstrous Kwan Dao O.S. (with a spiky shaft end and many metallic features), with the ability to alter its shape on command. This O.S. takes full advantage of the spirit-refining powers of the Bǎo-Léi Sword, enabling Bason to evolve into a seirei-class ghost and access his wealth of military knowledge of weaponry and tactics. The end result is an O.S. in a constant state of evolution, able to transform into any weapon Bason has ever wielded.
 * Shaman: Tao Ren
 * O.S. Type: Spirit/Weapon Type
 * Spirit Ally: Bason (seirei-class)
 * Medium used: Bâo-Lèi Sword

The name compliments this O.S.'s abilities well, as "Bushin" means "Warlord" or "Martial God"; reflecting Bason's expertise in weaponry and military might.

Attacks


 * Tōgen Kyō (刀幻境 Blade Illusion Border): This Technique make use of Bason's wide knowledge, of various weapons. Over Souling the "Bǎo-Léi" Sword and thrusting it into the ground, Ren, randomly, makes several blade weapons sprout out of the ground around him. The more Furyoku he puts into it the more weapons its sprout and the faster it becomes. This was first used against Mikihisa's two Kami-Yama spirits, who had surrounded Ren. Known as Golden Thunder Impalement in the English anime.


 * Shishen Tōgen Kyō (四閃刀幻境 Four Flash Blade Illusion Border), Sō (槍 Spear), Tō (刀 Blade), Geki (戟 Helberd), Tajin (多刃 Multi Blade): Quad referring to Quadro (meaning four), this attack is based on launching four types of weapons at the opponent. Using all the these attacks in conjunction, Ren quickly launches a massive amount weapons, consistent of all four types of weapons at his opponent in high speed. The attack is a version of the Vorpal Dance that like the Tougen Kyou, makes use of Bason's wide knowledge of various weapons, to evolve. This was first used against Mikihisa, who easily dodged all of them.

O.S. Bushin Fish Fin
O.S. "Bushin Yúchì" (O.S. 武神魚翅, Martial God Fish Fin) Description: This Armor-type O.S. is the evolution of the Super Bushin. It integrates Bason with the Bâo-Léi Sword and materializes as protective armor and shield for Ren's right arm. With this O.S. Ren can attune his furyoku to the element of lightning and generates great amounts of voltage. The Bushin Yúchì embodies the understanding of Pascal Avaf's advice and the epiphany of the nature of his strength, as achieves true harmony with his spirit ally, Bason.
 * Japanese Translation: Bushin Yútsú
 * Shaman: Tao Ren
 * O.S. Type: Armor Type
 * Spirit Ally: Bason (seirei-class)
 * Medium used: Bâo-Lèi Sword



Since its introduction, the Bushin Yúchì has undergone two major metamorphosis; the initial design being a two-part O.S. which separates into a giant blade-arm and an airborne electrical capacitor.

The second version took the shape of a protective armor and shield, with a trademark, shark-fin blade protruding from the arm-shield.

As Ren improves in strength, the O.S. becomes more streamline and sleeker, dropping the armor and ultimately settling in the form of a large, sleek, shark-faced forearm-shield with the trademark shark-fin blade.

Attacks


 * Raisō (雷槍 Thunder Spear): With the first version of this O.S. Ren detached the back part of the amour into the sky where it works as an electric conductor. Changing his Furyoku into lightning, the O.S. in the sky sends several lightning bolts down on an opponent. After evolving the O.S. into its third and final form Ren can use the attack by just pointing the O.S. into the sky. This attack was first seen when Team "The Ren" fought against Team "Myooh".


 * Kuten Ōgenraisei Fukatenson (九天応元雷声普化天尊 Nine Heavens Replying Origin Thunder Voice Fukatenson): Fukatenson being the name of a god. This is Ren's strongest attack. Striking his opponent with his fish fin, he can send enough electricity through there body to even kill the strongest shaman. This was first used against Yoh during the team fights between his and Yoh's team.


 * Bason Golden Punch: Turning his blade into a hand, Ren creates a rather large version of Bason's fist. The power of this move has not yet been fully demonstrated as the attack was just absorbed. This attack was created when Ren could not use his lighting based attacks, when there is a lack of moisture in the air.


 * Elec-BANG (エレキ-BANG): Ren's fastest attack, which creates a massive bolt of lightning that strikes Ren's exact location. It was created out of a desire to have an attack faster than his teammate Chocolove McDonell's incredible speed.

O.S. Great/Super Horse Dragon
O.S. "Chāo Mǎ Lóng" (O.S. 超馬龍) Description: Men’s Over Soul is created with Kwan Dao spear, like his father's first over soul. Bason forms a large dragon whose head and neck somewhat resembles Bushin Fish Fin.
 * Japanese Translation: Chō Ma Ryū
 * Shaman: Tao Men
 * O.S. Type: Spirit Type
 * Spirit Ally: Bason (seirei-class)
 * Medium used: Bason Dao

Giant Over Soul


Giant O.S. Bason Description: In the anime, after literally experiencing the teaching of the Chou Senji Ryakketsu (Tome of the Shaman in the English anime), written by the original Asakura Hao, Ren gained an enormous amount of Furyoku. By using this heavy amount of Furyoku, Ren is able to evolve his Over Soul and supply the fully materialized Bason with a robotic body, made purely out of Furyoku. With this body Bason gains a tremendous strength, two pairs of jet rockets on his back and the ability to fly. In this form is Bason also able to launch Fireballs. Even though Bason now has a massive form, it can easily be defeated by using smaller, more concentrated attacks, as provem by Mikihisa.
 * Shaman: Tao Ren
 * O.S. Type. Giant Type.
 * Spirit Ally:Bason (seirei-class)
 * Medium used: Bǎo-Léi Sword and Kwan Dao

Attacks


 * Zhong Hua Zhan Wu/Chūka Zanmai (中華斬舞 Chinese Slash Dance): Using his Kwan Dao and Bǎo-Léi Sword in conjunction, Bason's pair of jet packs transforms into a giant size version of Ren's Super Bushin. This allows Bason to wield a Kwan Dao and use the Vorpal Dance.

Trivia

 * In the anime is the the Super Bushin referred to as a Giant Over Soul.
 * In the game, Shaman King: Spirit of Shamans, Ren is able to perform all versions of the Chūka Zanmai in his move list in Hyōi Gattai mode, as that is the only version of Ren playable (as opposed to the other characters having an Over Soul version).