Mikoto Misaka

Mikoto Misaka is a character from the light novel series A Certain Magical Index, and the eponymous protagonist of its spin-off manga A Certain Scientific Railgun. She is a student of the prestigious all-girls Tokiwadai Middle School, and is ranked 3rd among the seven most powerful Level 5 espers in Acedemy City. Mikoto serves as the main heroine of the universe's "Science" side and one of Touma Kamijou's love interests.

Mikoto's superpower is the control over electromagnetic forces. Her signature ability is the Railgun, a technique where she tosses a metal coin and uses lightning to shoot it at extreme speeds. She is known by her nickname "Biribiri" - the Japanese sound of crackling electricity - which is given to her by Touma, and by her epithet "Tokiwadai Ace". The character was introduced during the "Sisters Arc", where it is revealed that she was the subject of a cloning program for the "Sister Clones" (notable members include MISAKA 10032 and Last Order), whose original purpose was to serve as targets for Accelerator so he can ascend into Level 6.

Misaka is one of the most successful waifus in saimoe history. She was the first girl to reach 10 tournament wins, and previously held the record for the largest number of honours won until she got usurped by Rem from Re:Zero in the late 2010's. Her strengths include her tomboyish personality, tsundere attitude towards Touma, and the focus on her character development in the anime adaptation of Railgun.

While Mikoto has fans from all over the world, her success is mainly powered by her extremely vocal and competitive Chinese fanbase, which has been heavily involved in several notable tournaments since her first appearance. Mikoto's influence in the Chinese fandom outside of saimoe is apparent in several ACGN-related media. For example, Bilibili (formerly known as Mikufans), one of China's biggest video-sharing websites, is derived from her nickname, and several of its features also references the Raildex series such as the Lv1-Lv6 account level, coin system, and the "charging" feature. Hangzhou Spark, a China-based esports team for the video game Overwatch, is owned by Bilibili and as such, is themed after the character herself; she has been made an honorary member for the team.

Misaka is also one of the most popular light novel heroines, which is shown in her dynastic reign as the queen of the Japanese Konorano light novel rankings, placing first in the "Female Characters" list for nearly the entire 2010's decade (save for 2015 where her #1 spot was stolen by Yukino Yukinoshita).

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ISML
Mikoto is generally considered International Saimoe League's "Greatest of All Time" because of her numerous awards, consistent top placements in the regular season, and extremely active fanbase. She is ISML's most decorated contestant with 10 awards to date - having won ISML 2011's tiara, 7 necklaces, and two Tournament of Champions victories in 2017 and 2018.

Such is the dedication of the "Cannon Chef" that a Chinese-language website devoted to her was established, which includes links to her tournament wins (in Moegirlpedia), support groups in Weibo , Bilibili , and QQ , and a direct link to the website of this very contest.

Debut and Championship Win
While Mikoto is nowadays known for her tremendous success, she did not get into championship form immediately. Her tournament debut in ISML 2009, which came from her appearance in Index season 1, was a fairly unremarkable one as she finished in 42nd place.

Then, things changed when the anime adaptation of Railgun, where she starred as the main character, was broadcasted in 2010. As a result, Mikoto shot up from being a middling competitor to a championship contender in ISML 2010 - placing 4th in the regular season and eventually reaching the grand finals of the playoffs. However, she could not overcome Mio Akiyama, who sent her into the loser's bracket beforehand.

The Railgun remained undaunted as she placed 2nd in ISML 2011's regular season, only behind the undefeated upstart Kanade "Angel" Tachibana, and thus the 2nd seed in the single-elimination playoffs. She proceeded to beat Charlotte, Taiga, and Kuroneko on the other side of the bracket, then defeated 2009 runner-up Shana - who previously upset Angel in a prior round - in the final match to claim the year's Tiara award.

Stella Division Era
Misaka continued her dominant league performances during ISML's division split era, making her one of the period's "four horsemen" alongside Angel, Kuroneko, and Eucliwood Hellscythe. She was permanently assigned to the Stella division, a 35-man league for veterans. As one of the strongest characters in the league, Mikoto only needed to worry about the other "horsemen" and potential upstagers from the Nova (newcomers) division. However, due to winning the Tiara in 2011, her chances of a repeat championship were naturally diminished because of the "Moe King Debuff" - the tendency for former winners to be eliminated because of sentiments against voting for repeat champions.

Her notable moments during the Stella-Nova era include winning her only division title in 2012 after she won the Stella division playoffs, a semi-final loss against Angel in 2013, which is their only significant postseason meeting so far, and then sweeping the 2014 regular season with a vengeance. However, she could not complete the 2014 revenge tour because she got sniped by Date A Live's Yoshino in the tiara playoff's first round.

Following ISML 2014, Mikoto was banned from the Main Tournament from 2015 until 2019, and was re-assigned for the Tournament of Champions instead. During her tenure as a ToC contestant, Mikoto won two editions in 2017 and 2018, making her the most successful female in the event.

Return to Main Tournament
The Railgun's return to the main stage was the exception to most former champions who are typically "washed-up"; instead of bowing out, Mikoto came back just as strong as she had left it 6 years ago. Her arrival was celebrated by the Toaru faction because it coincided with the broadcast of the Railgun T anime (season 3). Taking advantage of these blessings, Mikoto continued her streak as a Top 3 girl in the regular season, and at the same time, sought to complete her own rainbow necklace collection, which could be done by 2023 at the earliest. In 2020, Mikoto only lost to new-generation powerhouses Kaguya and Mai in the regular season. She then beat Kaguya in the semi-finals, but fell short of a second Tiara against a determined, Oregairu season 3-boosted Yukino Yukinoshita.

In spite of this loss, Misaka continued her serious challenge in 2021, only losing to fellow Top 3 contender Kaguya. Again, they met again in the semi-finals and Mikoto won, thus advancing to the final for the second consecutive time - truly a one-of-a-kind feat fitting for a legendary competitor like her. Unfortunately, she still could not overcome the "Moe King Debuff" hurdle as Elaina completed her magical flawless championship run. In the wake of Misaka's narrow defeat, some Chinese fans blamed the result on Korean voters, as ISML's vote distribution map indicated that almost all of Koreans voted for the wandering witch. This may be attributed to the fact that Elaina won a notable Korean saimoe tournament last year, implying that their voters participate in ISML as well.

Following her 2 straight runner-up finishes, some members of the Toaru faction expressed concerns in ISML Tieba about Mikoto's championship hopes in the future, as they feel that her best chances to win another Tiara are over, and that she might be downgraded to being just another playoff regular that is passed up in favor of revitalized contenders (e.g. Kaguya, Mashiro, Kurumi) or popular newcomers (e.g. Keke, Marin, Makima, Mahiru).

Main Tournament
Overall record (as of ISML 2021)

2009


 * 42nd (23-0-0-40)

2010


 * (You) > Saber (2890-2520)
 * 4th (46-0-3)


 * (You) > Nadeko Sengoku (4521-2716)
 * (You) > Taiga Aisaka (3124-3095)
 * (You) > Shana (3434-3279)
 * Mio Akiyama > (You) (5318-4626)
 * (You) > Shana (3522-3478)
 * Mio Akiyama > (You) (7175-5186)

2011




 * 2nd (48-0-1)


 * Misaka Mikoto > Charlotte Dunois (6133-3381)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Aisaka Taiga (5836-4899)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Gokou Ruri (Kuroneko) (7619-5334)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Shana (9208-8052)

2012


 * (You)
 * (You)
 * Stella 1st (34-0-1)


 * Postseason Phase 1 Stella Division
 * Misaka Mikoto > Sakagami Tomoyo (5256-3290)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Suzumiya Haruhi (5705-4018)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Nagato Yuki (5984-4044)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Aisaka Taiga (5950-4291)
 * Postseason Phase 2 Final League
 * Misaka Mikoto > Hasegawa Kobato (6212-4450)
 * Eucliwood Hellscythe > Misaka Mikoto (6480-4920)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Yui (5938-4946)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Nagato Yuki (5296-4970)
 * Akiyama Mio > Misaka Mikoto (6820-6492)

2013


 * Stella 3rd (33-0-2)


 * Postseason Phase 1 Stella Division
 * Misaka Mikoto > Saber (5752-4127)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Nakano Azusa (5340-4232)
 * Tachibana Kanade > Misaka Mikoto (7030-5107)
 * Postseason Phase 2 Final League
 * Misaka Mikoto > Aoyama Nanami (5402-4357)
 * Misaka Mikoto > Aragaki Ayase (6151-5863)
 * Tachibana Kanade > Misaka Mikoto (8254-6060)
 * Eucliwood Hellscythe > Misaka Mikoto (7849-7547)

2014=


 * Stella 1st (35-0-0)
 * Postseason Phase 1 Stella Division
 * Final League
 * Final League
 * Final League
 * Final League
 * Final League

Necklace record
 * Wins: 7
 * Appearances (excluding 2009-2010): 20
 * 2010: Ruby (Winner)
 * 2011: Aquamarine (Winner)
 * 2012: Aquamarine (3rd), Ruby (Winner), Diamond (Stella 1st, Winner)
 * 2013: Amethyst (6th), Ruby (2nd), Emerald (2nd), Topaz (3rd), Diamond (Stella 3rd)
 * 2014: Aquamarine (Winner), Diamond (Stella 2nd)
 * 2020: Aquamarine (2nd), Topaz (3rd), Amethyst (2nd), Sapphire (2nd), Emerald (Winner)
 * 2021: Aquamarine (2nd), Topaz (2nd), Amethyst (2nd), Sapphire (Winner)

Poster gallery
Necklaces

r/anime
History text TBD

Best Girl 1  - seed 27
 * (486) Teresa @ Claymore -- 2940 -  479
 * (232) Subaru Konoe @ Mayo Chiki! -- 3478 -  1330
 * (155) Yin @ Darker Than Black -- 3845 -  1736
 * (38) Ayase Aragaki @ Oreimo -- 3842 -  2887
 * (6) Chitoge Kirisaki @ Nisekoi -- 3892 - 4415

Best Girl 2 - seed 70
 * (446) Panty Anarchy @ Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt -- 6047 -  1608
 * (187) Sayaka Miki @ Madoka Magica -- 4692 -  2255
 * (59) Sakura Matou @ Fate/stay night -- 5659 -  4133
 * (6) Mayuri Shiina @ Steins;Gate -- 5574 -  5446
 * (27) Seishirou Tsugumi @ Nisekoi -- 6252 -  3912
 * (22) Karen Araragi @ Monogatari -- 6347 -  4329
 * (3) Saber @ Fate/stay night -- 5728 - 6978

Best Girl 3 - seed 53
 * (460) Yumi Iguchi @ Shirobako -- 3794 -  946
 * (204) Haqua du Lot Herminium @ The World God Only Knows -- 4099 -  1887
 * (76) Renge Miyauchi @ Non Non Biyori -- 3734 -  2055
 * (12) Shiro @ No Game No Life -- 4576 -  3430
 * (21) Yoko Littner @ Gurren Lagann -- 4020 -  3475
 * (5) Shinobu Oshino @ Monogatari -- 5435 -  4778
 * (13) Chiyo Sakura @ Nozaki-kun -- 5589 -  4578
 * (1) Hitagi Senjougahara @ Monogatari -- 5604 -  5567 '''
 * (42) Megumi Tadokoro @ Shokugeki no Souma -- 7149 -  5726

Best Character 1 - seed 19
 * (494) Sonic the Hedgehog @ Sonic X -- 2742 - 995
 * (238) Firo Prochainezo @ Baccano! -- 2169 - 1176
 * (110) Migi @ Parasyte -- 2190 - 1425
 * (46) Irisviel von Einzbern @ Fate/Zero -- 2696 - 2029
 * (14) Alphonse Elric @ Fullmetal Alchemist -- 2384 - 2664

Best Character 2 - seed 46
 * (467) Alluka Zoldyck @ Hunter x Hunter -- 1164 - 395
 * (302) Motoko Kusanagi @ Ghost in the Shell -- 1016 - 727
 * (83) Stephanie Dola @ No Game No Life -- 1384 - 636
 * (19) Genos @ One Punch Man -- 1260 - 1253
 * (14) Ryuuko Matoi @ Kill la Kill -- 1109 - 1309

Anime Saimoe Tournament
Saimoe 2009


 * Top 384, 4-way: (You) >  Sawako Yamanaka > Chiaki (Shigofumi) > Fumi Hibino (450 - 182 - 110 - 50)
 * Top 96, 3-way: Mihoko Fukuji >  (You) > Touma Minami (683 - 599 - 71)

Saimoe 2010


 * Top 288, 4-way: (You) > Kanae Naruko > Shion Sonozaki > Ein (Phantom Requiem) (364 - 138 - 73 - 55)
 * Top 72, 3-way: (You) >  Miyako (Hidamari) > Shizuku (OmaHima) (662 - 660 - 82)
 * Top 24, 3-way: Azusa Nakano >  (You) >  Mio Akiyama (1052 - 1026 - 172)

Saimoe 2011


 * Top 288, 3-way: (You) >  Homura Akemi > Sara (Jewelpet) (696 - 585 - 57)
 * Top 96, 3-way: (You) > Yoshino Hide > Chaos (HLP) (450 - 181 - 84)
 * Top 32: Victorique de Blois @ Gosick --  613 - 516
 * Top 16: Astarotte Ygvar @ Astarotte's Toy --  327 - 446

Saimoe 2013


 * Top 288, 3-way: (You) >  Yui Funami >  Nagi Sanzenin (281 - 193 - 88)
 * Top 96, 3-way: Nodoka Haramura >  (You) >  Mikasa Ackerman (398 - 345 - 67)

Saimoe 2014


 * Top 288, 3-way: (You) >  Enju Aihara > Konoha Suetsugi (273 - 104 - 48)
 * Top 96: Komari Koshigaya @ Non Non Biyori -- 387 - 139
 * Top 48: Asuna Yuuki @ Sword Art Online -- 149 - 89
 * 4-way: Kyouko Sakura >  Ako Atarashi >  (You) >  Koromo Amae (190 - 173 - 26 - 13)

Korea Best Moe Tournament
KBM 2009


 * 3-way:  Ai Haibara >  (You) > HMX-17c Shilfa (1730 - 1381 - 185)

KBM 2010


 * 3-way: (You) >  Amu Hinamori >  Lan Fan (871 - 490 - 260)
 * Azusa Nakano @ K-On! -- 1141 - 897
 * Holo @ Spice and Wolf -- 1072 - 763
 * Hitagi Senjougahara @ Monogatari -- 1048 - 1286

KBM 2011


 * 3-way: (You) >  Yui Hirasawa >  Mio Naganohara (262 - 224 - 32)
 * Shouko Kirishima @ Baka and Test -- 263 - 165
 * Madoka Kaname @ Madoka Magica -- 249 - 337

SenpuuSociety European Saimoe
2011

2013

2014

Honours
For the full list of Mikoto's contest wins, see (You)/Honours. Waifu Rating = 1793 (11.42 IDV)

Gallery (outside ISML)

Navigation
Notes

References