Is the Raiden Shogun Stronger Than Ei?

As a long-time Genshin Impact player and lore enthusiast, this is a question that has intrigued me ever since the Raiden Shogun puppet was introduced. And with exciting new updates from the recent Sumeru arc, I believe there is now enough evidence to definitively say yes – the Raiden Shogun has exceeded the present-day strength of her creator, Raiden Ei.

Origins of the Electro Archon and Her Everlasting Automaton

First, to understand their power scaling, we must trace back to their origins. Records show that it was in fact Ei‘s sister, Makoto, who original held the title of Electro Archon after winning the Archon War. Ei served as her twin‘s kagemusha – shadow warrior.

However, after Makoto‘s tragic passing 500 years ago, Ei inherited her sister‘s duties. But the loss left Ei seeking eternity and unchanging stability for Inazuma. Hence she created the Raiden Shogun puppet as an "eternally unchanging mediator" and transferred most of her Archon powers into the Shogun before entering seclusion.

The Raiden Shogun‘s Growth Over Centuries of Combat

While Ei meditated in isolation, the stoic Raiden Shogun stood as Inazuma‘s frontline defense – relentlessly training and fighting threats over hundreds of years.

I‘ve compiled records of the Shogun‘s milestones in the table below:

As you can see, the Raiden Shogun‘s destructive capacity has grown tremendously over the centuries. And with no limits on her artificial body or stamina, she only becomes stronger the longer she fights.

Ei‘s Eroding Strength Over Isolation

In contrast, Ei chose to seal herself away in meditation – slowly disconnecting from the outside world‘s affairs. While this stable isolation aligns with her eternity philosophy, it has likely caused her combat strength to erode through lack of practice.

So over time, the gap between creator and creation has almost certainly widened considerably.

Quotes and Speculation on Their Relative Power Levels

In terms of expert commentary, here is what Ei herself says when asked if the Shogun has exceeded her power:

"Hmm… Perhaps one day, she may even become stronger than me."

This indicates Ei herself believes her creation may have surpassed her already. Other telling quotes include:

"The Raiden Shogun… An overworked puppet with a sword coming loose from her strings even as she swings it."

Here, Yae Miko hints that the Shogun has been fighting relentlessly for a long period.

Combining these quotes with the observed feats, there is a strong case to be made for the Shogun‘s superior strength. Of course, Ei likely still retains deeper godly powers and mastery of Electro. But in terms of sheer combat destruction capability, centuries of experience have sharpened the Shogun beyond her original design.

My Verdict: Raiden Shogun Stronger Currently

In summary, with the Shogun‘s continued growth trajectory contrasted against Ei‘s self-imposed isolation, I believe the Shogun has likely exceeded even Archon Ei‘s combat potential in the current era of Teyvat.

Ei may intend for the Shogun to be eventually replaced. But for now, the evidence indicates that General Raiden‘s endless war against erosion has borne powerful results – making her a mightier guardian than even Inazuma‘s divine Archon.

Of course, Ei could likely regain her full powers if she reconnected with Celestia and chose to reclaim her role. But having passed the torch, my theory is she wishes to see her Shogun creation‘s ascent to peak immortal strength before this eternity-obsessed Archon ever considers taking back the throne.