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TK8 Kazuya Stamp SPOILERS WARNING
This article/section contains spoilers for recent/new content! Read at your own risk!
TK8 Jun Stamp
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Devil mark branded onto Jin when he was possessed at age 15.

The Devil Gene (デビルの血 Debiru no Chi?, Devil's Blood) also referred to as the Devil Factor (デビルの因子 Debiru no Inshi?) or Devil's Power (デビルの力 Debiru no Chikara?) in Tekken 6 Scenario Campaign, is a supernatural genetic abnormality found in people of the Hachijo bloodline that was likely granted to them by Azazel. Characters revealed so far to posses the Devil Gene are Kazuya Mishima (Devil Kazuya), Jin Kazama (Devil Jin), Kazumi Mishima (Devil Kazumi), and Reina.

Background[]

While the exact specifications of this gene are never truly explained, it is generally assumed that the gene allows for a person to have a parasite/host type relationship with a malignant spirit referred to as a "devil". This spirit appears to take over the host, altering their appearance and personality, and granting them supernatural abilities, such as flight and a third eye on their forehead that can shoot beams of light. The spirit is also known to afflict the mind of the un-transformed host, apparently preying on their thoughts and influencing them towards more evil choices. Under normal circumstances, the host seems to have limited control over their devil form, and is neither fully in control of when they transform, how they act when transformed, or when they change back. They also seemed to have limited, if any, recollection of their time spent in devil form.[1]

The exact requirements for these transformations are never fully revealed. The spirit can possess the person at any given time during the person's lifespan, even while still in their mother's womb. It seems that in order to have a devil, a person must first, have devil blood, second, be possessed by a devil or come into contact with it, and third, a life threatening event or similar trigger must allow the devil to manifest. There is evidence that this first trigger that allows the devil to manifest must involve the 'death' of person, who is then restored to life by their devil form. There seems to be a link between negative emotion and trauma, and subsequent manifestations of someone's devil form. While it has been shown that, in early transformations, users may have no memory or limited control over their devil side, it has been shown that subsequently it is possible to control or unite oneself to one's devil, allowing the user to retain consciousness, rather than have a split personality.

It is possible that there is only one 'devil' who possesses members of the Hachijo bloodline. Kazumi and her devil form were killed before Kazuya's Devil Gene activated, and it is known that the devil Kazuya and Jin have are two parts of one single Devil. If so, then it may be that the Hachijo Clan are custodians of a single malignant entity that they have learned to control or have formed a pact with. Alternatively, the Devil Gene itself may cause a power to arise within the host, and manifest as an entity that gives them a devilish appearance and afflicts them psychologically, as may be implied in the Journalist's interpretation of the Hachijo Nursery Rhyme.

Azazel cave painting tk8

Azazel and its devils

The origins of the Devil Gene are connected to Azazel, an ancient demonic entity sealed in a temple in order to ward off its violent destruction of the world. Followers of Azazel were granted a share of Azazel's power, giving them the power to transform into devils.[2] Azazel considers Kazuya and Jin to be its minions[3] and it has the ability to speak inside of Jin's mind.[4] Jin himself believed that destroying Azazel would destroy his and Kazuya's devil selves, although this proved not to be true (though Azazel was not truly vanquished since its spirit lived on). Azazel's presence affects the Devil Gene within Jin, and its orb is seen (non-canonically) bestowing a devil-like power on those who come into contact with it. Despite this, any further connection between Azazel and the Hachijo bloodline is unknown. In Tekken 7, Zafina is concerned that unless the devil parts of Jin and Kazuya are destroyed, their continued existence will somehow lend strength to Azazel's persisting spirit, and allow it to take form once again. In Tekken 8, it is revealed that devils can absorb Azazel's power much like they can another Devil Gene users.

Devil Gene Carriers[]

The people currently carrying the Devil Gene are, in order of reveal:

Heihachi and Establishing the Gene's Origins[]

Heihachi Mishima does not possess the Devil Gene, and neither does his son Lars Alexandersson, whom Heihachi had in order to confirm that the gene is not from him. This would seem to be an odd choice for Heihachi, given that he had already seen his wife turn into a devil, making her more likely to be the origin of this ability. It is likely, however, that Heihachi was not fully aware of the genetic element of the gene linking Kazumi and Kazuya at the time that he had Lars.

A genetic aspect to the power had not been fully confirmed, as, whilst having evidence that Kazuya had supernatural abilities (since he survived the cliff fall), Heihachi did not yet have conclusive evidence his son could turn into a devil (assuming that Kazuya first fully transformed in the finals of the first King of Iron Fist Tournament). Heihachi may have also thought he could catch the devil curse from Kazumi like a virus, as his descriptions of Kazumi in Tekken 7 describe her as having bouts of illness that affected her memory and temperament, explaining his concern that he may have somehow acquired it himself. Heihachi thus seems to have not yet known the specifics of the devil power - how it was transmitted, whether it was genetic, and who could attain it, etc.

Many years later, during Tekken 3 and Tekken 4, Heihachi managed to isolate factors connecting the devil power to blood, but only gradually found out that normal humans like himself could not gain devil powers.[5] This further suggests that there was much confusion about the specifics of the Devil Gene early on and that Heihachi for a long time had been trying to isolate and understand its origins, powers, and how it was transmitted.

Jinpachi and his Demonic Possession[]

Devil jinpachi mishima

Jinpachi possessed by a demon

Players previously believed for a long time that Jinpachi Mishima possessed the Devil Gene due to his appearance, dialogues and his ending in Tekken 5, but it was revealed by Tekken director, Katsuhiro Harada, that Jinpachi did not have the Devil Gene, but was instead possessed by a vengeful ghost.[6] Interestingly though, in both console versions of Tekken 5, Jinpachi's ending states that he's possessed by the Devil. Also, in Jinpachi's interlude with Heihachi, the latter theorizes that his father has the Devil's Blood and finally, in the character history section of the Tekken 6 CG art book, it states that Jinpachi has the Devil Gene. It says that he is a unique link within the Mishima bloodline, in which the Devil Gene appears after him. When questioned about this Harada explained that the Tekken project team dares to mislead fans (sometimes),[7] and only they and Heihachi know the truth,[8] suggesting that Kazumi's story was intended at this time, despite this confusion. Harada also explained that Kazuya and Jin initially believed Jinpachi was the source of their power,[9] and that Jinpachi himself is confused about what is possessing him.[10]

Whilst Jinpachi's similarity to the Devil Gene caused much confusion, his demonic appearance was always markedly different from the common devil features established in Devil Kazuya and Devil Jin's design. Most noticeably, he has a mouth within his stomach, and no wings to speak of. That said, in both Devil Jin and Kazuya's endings, it is shown that they are able to absorb or consume Jinpachi's demon, and thus strengthen themselves. It is possible that Devil Gene carriers can canonically consume other evil spirits and grow their power in this fashion.

Tekken 7 finally explained the further origin of Devil Gene as lying with the Hachijos, and not with the Mishimas.

The Devil "Possession" Timeline[]

See Hachijo Clan for the relationship between the Hachijo and the Devil Gene

The Hachijo Clan possessed the Devil Gene since ancient times, and harmonized their powers with their clan's ambitions. This pact or ability has some connection to Azazel, an ancient demon who is somehow connected to the power that the Hachijo's can weild. The Hachijo used their devil-carrying members as sleeper agents, monitoring those they believed to be potential threats to the world and assassinating them should the need arise.

Kazumi's target was Heihachi, though she appears to have initially tried to fend off transforming into her devil, as she keeps falling to a series of illnesses before her devil finally took over. She was possessed by her devil when Kazuya was 5-years-old, but failed to kill Heihachi, and was instead killed by him.

Kazuya had his encounter with his devil, an entity that later calls itself "Devil", when he was 5 years old. Heihachi, concerned that Kazumi's powers may somehow also be in his son (he may also have been sickened by his weak and emotionally soft son), threw Kazuya off a cliff in order to see if he was strong enough to climb back up. If Kazuya survived, if meant he probably had inherited Kazumi's devil power. Although the injuries nearly killed Kazuya, the Devil Gene within him activated and he was able to climb back up the cliff. Kazuya transformed fully into a devil during the first King of Iron Fist Tournament and defeated Heihachi. This is the first time he is known to have fully transformed into his devil.

After the events of Tekken 2, Heihachi defeated Kazuya and threw his body into a volcano. This inadvertently caused Devil's soul to be split into two parts: one that stayed with Kazuya and the other that went in search of Kazuya's yet unborn son, Jin Kazama, the only other Devil Gene carrier (/person of Hachijo blood) alive. When Devil finally found the unborn Jin, it was warded off by his mother, Jun Kazama, and was unsuccessful in taking over Jin. However, 15 years later, it returned after Jun vanished, and branded Jin's left arm with a mark.[11]

Kazuya was subsequently resurrected by G Corporation, who helped him rebuild his body. He is looking to reunite the halves of devil that were split when he was thrown into a volcano. He has studied his devil extensively, and claims in Tekken 4 to now be the sole agent in control of his actions, having subdued his devil to his whim.

The Common Denominator[]

Interestingly enough, while Heihachi himself does not have the Devil Gene, he has been the catalyst whose actions have resulted in the devil possession of all the Devil Gene carriers. In a Tekken 7 trailer, Kazumi implies that all the destruction to come, including that attributed to Kazuya and Jin, will be set in motion by Heihachi, hence why it is most important to stop him.

Heihachi staged a coup against Jinpachi and locked him away under Hon-Maru, which resulted in Jinpachi being possessed by a demon. Whilst this demonic possession is unrelated to the Devil Gene, the event itself was a catalyst for Kazumi to plead with Heihachi to change the course of his actions.

After trying to disuade Heihachi from the evil course he was set on, Kazumi's devil eventually possessed her to try and end Heihachi's life. This makes Heihachi inadvertantly responsible for Kazumi's possession.

It was also Heihachi who threw Kazuya off the cliff when Kazuya was a child, almost killing him, causing the Devil Gene to surface within Kazuya.

Years later, after the events of the second tournament, Heihachi threw Kazuya into a volcano, thus releasing part of Devil, which then searched for and tried to possess Jin Kazama, though initially unsuccessful. The splitting of Devil and Jin's possession are also thus caused by Heihachi. Heihachi subsequently sought out and awakened Ogre, making him the direct cause of Ogre's fatalities, including Jun Kazama's disappearance, and Jin's subsequent possession, despair, rage. His actions thus set in motion the dark path his grandson would take. Heihachi and his Tekken Force soldiers also fatally shot Jin Kazama after the conclusion of Tekken 3, causing the Devil Gene to finally awaken in Jin, so that he transformed into his Devil self. 

Activation of the Devil Gene[]

It is not explained how the Devil Gene is activated, but evidence within the games seems to suggest that it can be activated consciously, subconsciously, or based on external stimuli. Regardless of which, the effects seem rather clear: the devil side of the person becomes more dominant, to the point of changing the physical appearance of their host, who in turn becomes much stronger.

  • First time activation: It seems that the first time the Devil Gene is activated, the host must be in mortal danger/to have already died or received extensive fatal injuries. This at least is a common factor for both Kazuya and Jin the first time their Devil Gene activates: Kazuya's gene was activated when he was thrown off a cliff, and Jin's when he was shot in the head by Heihachi.
  • Conscious activation: Kazuya performs a conscious activation of his Devil Gene between the events of Tekken 4, and Tekken 5, during the attack of Hon-Maru by the Jack robots. He states that he has found a way of unifying their power, and hereafter seems to be able to activate his devil power at will. Jin seems to have become able to activate his Devil Gene consciously by the time of the events in Tekken 6 without becoming a devil, like that of his father, though this may just be because of Jin's proximity to Azazel at this time, who is known to activate the gene in devil users.
  • Subconscious activation: It is mentioned that Jin frequently loses control to his Devil Gene, especially when feeling negative emotions such as rage, anger, sorrow, and hatred. Between Tekken 3 and Tekken 5 he is described as losing a battle against his devil, with swathes of forest lost to devil's rampages, and Jin trying to isolate himself to locations where damage will be minimal if he loses control. In Tekken 8, it is clarified that 'desire' is the principle emotion that activates the Devil Gene.
  • Activation by external stimuli: Jin partially transforms at the end of the events of the fourth tournament, due to Devil's attempts at forcing him to (as seen in Jin's Tekken 4 ending). Perhaps no more than half an hour later, when Jinpachi and his dark energy is freed from under Hon-Maru, Jin completely transforms because of his reaction to Jinpachi's evil energy, meaning that the Devil Gene can come out whenever and wherever there is negative energy around. Devil Gene users seem to be affected by the presence of one another, the presence of Ogre[12] and Azazel.

Suppression of the Devil Gene[]

Aside from the suppression of the Devil Gene through sheer force of will, as is implied by the method of conscious, and to some extent subconscious, activation, there are also several external factors that can suppress the Devil Gene as well. The exact nature of these things are however not well explained, often not at all. So, it remains unknown how they suppress the Devil Gene; it is only known that they are able to do so.

Angel[]

Before the concept of the Devil Gene was fleshed out in the games, Angel was portrayed as the good side of Kazuya, able to suppress his Devil persona and causing an internal struggle. Angel's profile described the entity as one of the appearances that Kazuya takes depending on the person that gazes upon him.

However, since the Devil Gene as a concept was introduced into the games, Angel has all but vanished from the Tekken storyline and it is unknown whether or not Angel is still able to suppress Devil or even if Angel still exists.

Tekken 8 introduced a new iteration of the "Angel" factor. Through gaining control of his Devil Gene and combining that power with that of the Kazama Clan's, Jin is able to become Angel Jin; a being meant to purify evil. It is unclear whether this has any connection with the Angel that was once one and the same with Devil.

Kazama Bloodline[]

See also Kazama Clan
Before the concept of the Devil Gene entered the games, the devil was described in strictly spiritual terms. Jun Kazama seemed able to suppress the Devil inside Kazuya. It was explained as having been because of Jun's serene and pure being. The Kazama family have always been described as mystical in some way, with Jun being visited by her father's ghost prior to the second Iron Fist Tournament. With the establishment of the Devil Gene as connected to bloodlines however, there has also been a stronger emphasis on Kazama powers as related to blood. At the conclusion of Tekken 4, Devil, possessing Kazuya's body, speculates that it cannot retrieve its other half from Jin because his Kazama blood is somehow resisting the efforts.

Asuka Kazama, in her Tekken 5 ending, was also able to suppress the Devil Gene of Jin. The ending was non-canon however and it is thus unknown how strong an effect she has on the Devil Gene. When Devil Jin approaches Asuka in his (non-canon) Scenario Campaign dialogues he does seemed to be pained, suggesting that there may be some canonicity to Asuka's abilities.

This connection comes into play once more with the existence of Angel Jin in Tekken 8, as a being made partially from the spiritual abilities of the Kazama family.

Exhaustion[]

It has been shown that, when pushed to extremes in their devil form, devil users will be forced to revert back to their human form. Their devil form can effectively be defeated, or exhausted, to the point where their bodies are forced to turn back into humans. This was shown in Tekken 7, firstly when Devil Kazumi was defeated by Heihachi, forcing her to revert back to her human form when he uppercuted her; and secondly when Heihachi fought Devil Kazuya. Heihachi was able to exhaust Devil Kazuya enough to force him back into his human form. Defeating the devil part of a devil user in this way does seem to weaken them, though it does not incapacitate them. Kazumi was able to activate her Devil Gene again almost immediately, though was almost instantly defeated by Heihachi afterwards, whilst Kazuya went on to defeat Heihachi in his human form.

Materials[]

Jin tk4 ending3

Chains supressing Jin's Devil in Tekken 4

While it isn't known how, the Mishima Zaibatsu were successfully able to create or acquire chains of an unknown material that could specifically suppress the Devil Gene. These chains were used by Heihachi to subdue Jin at the end of Tekken 4 and (non-canonically) also to subdue Kazuya's Devil Gene too. Jin was, however, after some struggling, able to break free of these chains. According to Heihachi, the chains have the ability to neutralise a devil's powers, so that an individual saturated with the Devil Gene will lose consciousness in a matter of minutes.[13]

GENOCELL[]

Tk4 genocell

GENOCELL reforestation project data

Main article: GENOCELL

In Tekken 4, when the Mishima Zaibatsu failed to create a hybrid of human cells and Ogre's DNA, and failed to artificially create the Devil Gene in their Supersoldier Program, it was speculated that they instead needed a subject with 'devil cells'. When it was discovered that G Corporation were conducting tests on Kazuya's remains, the Mishima Zaibatsu raided it to take this data. Whilst a raid on G Corp's Nebraska laboratory was unsuccessful, as Kazuya proved to be alive and defeated the Tekken Force soldiers sent to the laboratory, a simultaneous raid on G Corp servers in Nepal was successful. Julia Chang's GENOCELL Program, a reforestation project funded by G Corporation, was stolen in this raid. The Mishima Zaibatsu discovered that GENOCELL biological material had the ability to suppress the devil cell, allowing human cells to combine with the devil cells. Dr. Abel, the lead researcher in the Mishima Zaibatsu working on this, called it the 'Devil-Human Integration Program'.[14] With this knowledge, the Mishima Zaibatsu intended to use the cells of a Devil Gene user to further their research. They commenced a project and attempted to combine devil and human cells, to produce a half-human, half-devil organism using human test subjects.

In other (non-canon) media such as the Online Tekken Comic, the GENOCELL is also similar or can be referred to as the 'Anti-Devil Factor'. It is also revealed in the comic that Kazuya and Jin use the 'Anti-Devil Factor' to suppress the influence of the 'Devil' (however, in Kazuya's case, it allows him to also control the power of the 'Devil'/Gene without the conscious influence of it consuming his mind).

Sirius-Style Exorcism Sorcery[]

Main article: Sirius-Style Exorcism Sorcery

The supernatural fighting-style, Sirius-Style Exorcism Sorcery, used by Claudio Serafino and his Archers of Sirius, has the power to exorcise demons and devils. In Tekken 7, Heihachi Mishima demands that the Archers of Sirius aid the Mishima Zaibatsu, and reveals to Claudio the devil nature that Kazuya has. Claudio agrees that their agendas align, since he also wishes to destroy devils with his exorcism power. The exact effect of this exorcism sorcery on Devil Gene users is unknown, since the Archers of Sirius were dismissed by Heihachi before they could confront Kazuya. In a scene that is not yet confirmed to be canon in Tekken Pachislot 4, Claudio uses this power to exorcise Devil Jin. He seems to be able to do this successfully, though the result on Jin is unknown since the scene cuts away. The scene continues on from Claudio and Ling Xiaoyu's canonical Tekken 7 endings, meaning that Claudio certainly believes that his sorcery has the power to exorcise Jin's devil from him.

Powers[]

Whilst devil powers manifest differently in each person, they all have wings, horns, and can shoot a laser from a third eye on their forehead. Rather than fighting with their own style, devils draw on the fighting styles of their hosts. Even Devil Jin and Devil Kazuya, two halves of the same devil, fight with their hosts' styles, though they do also have moves in common. Whilst the devil creature has some of its own features, it thus heavily relies on the parasitic relationship with its host to manifest itself.

Devil/Devil Kazuya[]

Tekken 7 Super-Resolution 2020.04.02 - 21.09.58

Devil Kazuya's fighting style was initially exactly the same as Kazuya Mishima's fighting style, since Devil Kazuya was merely a P3 costume for Kazuya in the original Tekken. In Tekken 2, Devil Kazuya gained wings and with them, the power of flight (though this is sparingly used in his moveset). In the same game, Devil Kazuya also gained a third eye on his forehead, from which he could fire a beam. These moves were the first to separate Devil from Kazuya in terms of gameplay, along with the back throw Atomic Drop. In Tekken Tag Tournament, Devil Kazuya had several moves that Kazuya did not have (such as "Devil Fist" (F, F+2), a move where Devil Kazuya punches his opponent and goes right through them so that he is behind his opponent), and even the moves they did share would sometimes have different properties or ranges. Still, the majority of Devil Kazuya's moves are shared with Kazuya, and he has a very limited moveset, with less than 30 moves in Tekken Tag Tournament, making him the most basic character in the series, until he becomes one with Kazuya in Tekken 4 (transformation as part of Kazuya's moveset begun in Tekken Tag Tournament 2). Devil Kazuya can also use telekinesis (this is not one of his moves, and it was only seen in Kazuya's Tekken 4 epilogue), and, despite losing some of his power to his son, he is still very powerful. Devil Kazuya can also speak within Jin's mind, as seen in Kazuya's Tekken 4 ending, though this is likely because Jin possesses Devil's other half (although Azazel can do something similar, so it is possible this is a feature that devil users can use on one another).

Kazuya has shown to be capable of manifesting the power of the Devil Gene on four different levels. On the first level, he retains his human appearance with the exception of the third eye appearing in his forehead. On the second level, his skin changes color to purplish-gray and he grows horns and wings, though he still retains most of his human features, including his clothing. On the third level, his form becomes more grotesque, he grows a tail and he also loses his clothes. On the fourth level, he grows an additional eye on his chest and three more on each of his wings, each capable of firing a beam. Beams fired in this form also seem to be more powerful than ones fired in any other form.

Devil Jin[]

Devil Jin

Devil Jin, like Devil Kazuya, can also fly and fire beams from the third eye on his forehead, however, their fighting styles are rather different. Devil Jin's fighting style is a mixture of Mishima Style Fighting Karate, and Kazama Style Self Defense that Jin used in Tekken 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament before he renounced the Mishima Style and his Mishima legacy. Devil Jin also uses some of the unique moves used by Devil Kazuya, and Angel (such as "Heaven's Door" (f,N,d,d/f+1,u/f), a move that involves performing a strong uppercut, followed by flying high into the air with the opponent, and finally, slamming the opponent's body into the ground). Devil Jin can also use telekinesis, which was first demonstrated in Hwoarang's Tekken 5 epilogue, where Devil Jin uses telekinesis to make Hwoarang's motorcycle explode. This ability is also seen in one of Devil Jin's Dark Resurrection win animations, where Devil Jin holds the opponent up in the air.

Devil Jin is shown to have amazing feats: he has the power to destroy an entire forest just by force alone. He also has the power to take powers just like that of other Devil Gene users to make it their own. Jin feels pain whenever he transforms, despite the fact that the Devil Gene has healing attributes, possibly reflecting his internal struggle between his better half and his devil self. He also feels pain when close to Jin's allies, like Xiaoyu and Hwoarang.

Azazel[]

Azazel-profile

Azazel appears to have the abilities to summon boulders (in original Tekken 6 arcade before it was removed) and/or spikes (in Bloodline Rebellion and the console version) in from the ground to attack the opponent, as well as to keep them away from it, and summoning numerous scarabs made of ice to attack the opponent. Azazel also has some moves that are similar to other bosses in the Tekken series, such as a stun (similar to Jinpachi Mishima's stun attack) and the ability to fire lasers (similar to Devil, Angel and Devil Jin's laser attacks).

Azazel has the ability to curl up into a ball and roll towards the opponent to attack. It also possesses a tail sweep attack resembling Roger Jr.'s; however, it whips it twice in a row. Its power source is an orb, which comes from inside its body. This orb has the ability to turn any fighter who touches it into another host of the devil and it may kill any fighter who destroys it while inside Azazel's body instantly as seen in the endings of Hwoarang, Baek, Wang, Yoshimitsu, Ganryu, Dragunov, and Raven. Jin also mentions hearing Azazel's voice in his head, suggesting Azazel has some level of telepathy, at least with Devil Gene users.[15] The temple around where Azazel was sealed also experienced fluctuations in spacial dimensions, with the temple appearing and disappearing at times, and, after Azazel broke free, magma started erupting in the vicinity around Azazel's temple. These environmental effects may also be powers relating to Azazel.

Devil Kazumi[]

Devil Kazumi portrait 1 by Sti4er

Devil Kazumi can also fly using her flaming wings on her back and is able to levitate a large flaming rock as seen in mid-way through the second round while facing the player who defeated her human form in the first round. Devil Kazumi's fighting style is her human form's fighting style known as Hachijo-Style Karate mixed with Mishima-Style Fighting Karate. Unlike both Devil, and Devil Jin, she can instantly shoot lasers at her opponent. Her normal form's pet tiger is changed into a white tiger with glowing blue eyes and, like her human form, she can summon her white tiger as she pleases by taking down her opponent or individually.

Trivia[]

  • Whilst the English name "Devil Gene" implies a genetic cellular aberration, the Japanese names Devil's Blood (デビルの血 Debiru no Chi?), Devil Factor (デビルの因子 Debiru no Inshi?) and Devil's Power (デビルの力 Debiru no Chikara?) imply a less specific though still biological factor. In Tekken 4 'devil cells' are referred to, suggesting that the devil power is a biological phenomenon that can be studied, although even after years of research by the Mishima Zaibatsu and G Corporation, no conclusive research has successfully replicated or isolated the Devil Gene. (Though in Julia's non-canon Tekken 4 ending it was implied that the Devil-Human Integration Program would have been successful however.) Instead, mastery over the gene was achieved in what appears to be a mental battle over a devil self, as seen in Kazuya's Tekken 4 ending.
  • Interestingly, while Jin chose to unlearn his fighting style that he learned from Heihachi, desiring to eliminate all links to the Mishimas after Heihachi had betrayed him, his devil still fights using his old fighting style. This seems to highlight the personality disconnect between Jin and his devil, and the hold Jin's devil has over his subconscious. It is possible this is a deliberate manipulation by Jin's devil, and shows it demonstrably rejecting Jin's attempt to distance himself from the Mishimas and instead embracing the evil Mishima legacy.
  • Kazumi Mishima is the first and only known confirmed female carrier of the Devil Gene.
    • While Unknown, the final boss of the non-canonical Tekken Tag Tournament and its sequel has the "Devil Gene" mark on her upper right arm (resembling Jin Kazama's mark on his upper left arm), it's currently unconfirmed if she is actually a Devil Gene user.
    • While obviously not belonging from the same series, the DLC character Tekken in Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory and its remake, was implied to also possess the Devil Gene as she states the name in one of her quotes when she levels up. Another evidence is that one of her support attacks is firing a laser to the enemy off-screen.
  • Jin Kazama, and Kazuya Mishima are the only fighters in the Tekken series to control the Devil's power, though Kazuya after he and Devil became one, seems to have become more and more evil from then on. It is also possible that Jin is not able to control his power, and its activation in Tekken 6 may just have been a result of proximity to Azazel.
  • Heihachi attempted to synthesize a synthetic Devil Gene during his supersoldier program.[16] The experiment was a failure and Heihachi was unable to create a synthetic gene,[17] although Steve Fox survived the program. It is unknown what, if any, abilities Steve has, and if so whether these can be attributed to a synthetic Devil Gene.
  • Heihachi attempted to gain the Devil Gene for himself and create devil-human hybrids in Tekken 4, when he had Doctor Abel launch the Devil-Human Integration Program.
  • It is possible that Tekken 7 newcomer Claudio Serafino has some Devil Gene related powers, as when his Sirius-Style Exorcism Sorcery activates, his tattoos bear some superficial similarity to those that Jin gains in his devil form.[18]
  • The Devil Gene and associated devil forms of their users were not widely known about, and were kept a secret by their users.
    • Prior to the global broadcast Heihachi made of Kazuya's devil form in Tekken 7, the only people who certainly knew of Kazuya's devil were Heihachi, Lee Chaolan,[19] likely Jun Kazama, who sensed Devil within him, Jin, Claudio Serafino, and Nina Williams, who were informed about Kazuya's devil privately by Heihachi during Tekken 7.[20] Even after the global broadcast, it seems unclear how seriously the footage was taken, although some characters, such as Julia Chang and Lars Alexandersson, act on the broadcast and believe it to be true.
    • Jin has been less secretive with his devil form, and was widely seen by Tekken Force, as well as fighting Hwoarang in this form a number of times, and transforming in front of Lars, Nina, Raven, and Alisa. He has fought Heihachi twice in his devil form and Kazuya immediately sensed it within him when they met. Lee has also been privy to information from Lars, and witnessed what appeared to be a partial Devil Jin transformation at the end of Tekken 7.
  • In the non-canon Tekken: Blood Vengeance, The Devil Gene's compound is said to be 10 times greater than a normal human.
  • In the non-canon Titan Comics, it is revealed that Devil Gene users have telepathic abilities.
  • In the non-canon Street Fighter X Tekken, if Ryu (although having nothing to do with the Mishimas) defeats Kazuya, his win quote has him wonder if the Devil Gene and Satsui no Hado are related. It should be noted, however, that the Satsui no Hado from the Street Fighter Series and UDON Comics, is more energy-based and greatly changes an individual into a demonic version of themselves the potential cost of their humanity, as shown with Kage. In the UDON comic book of the Street Fighter X Tekken continuity, it is hinted that Ingrid’s power is related the Devil Gene (as showed with Dark Ingrid). In Street Fighter X Tekken Jane has been studying upon Ryu in the shadows, though Kazuya or Jin are not aware of this. Canonically however, it was revealed in Tekken 7 that the Mishima Clan are unaware of the Satsui no Hado, and have no idea who Akuma is or where his power stems from.
    • According to the UDON Comic book of Street Fighter X Tekken it is revealed by Capcom and UDON that Ryu had gained the Devil’s power after getting involved with heated conflict with G Corporation and the Mishima Zaibatsu.
    • Given the inclusion of Akuma within the canonical Tekken 7 story, Akuma's Satsui no Hado does exist within the Tekken universe, however, it is unknown what, if any, relation it has to the Devil Gene and whether any of the material from Street Fighter X Tekken carries through into the canonical Tekken universe.
  • In the non-canonical Tekken: Bloodline animated series, the Devil Gene is treated differently to in the Tekken canon. The gene is described as a genetic mutation and implied to be a neutral power that can be used for good or evil, rather than a foreign parasitic entity preying on the mind of the carrier. Jin is able to draw on the power of his Devil Gene even before he is shot by Heihachi (the triggering moment to awaken his gene in canon). In Tekken: Bloodline, only once Jin has used this power in rage and hatred, and been shot by Heihachi, does his devil manifest in full. It is implied that if he had not risen to hatred, he could have used the Devil Gene for good.

References[]

  1. ^ This is shown in many places, but confirmed in first person by Jin in The Mishima Story, a Tekken 6 preface summary of the Tekken story so far.
  2. ^ As clarified in Tekken 8 Story Mode.
  3. ^ See Azazel/Scenario Campaign Dialogues
  4. ^ As attested to by Jin in Tekken 6. See Lars Alexandersson/Scenario Campaign Dialogues#Cutscene 31: The Truth.
  5. ^ See Mishima Zaibatsu Supersoldier Program and Devil-Human Integration Program.
  6. ^ [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] (tweet predates Kazumi's introduction to the series).
  7. ^ https://twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/105693869743677441
  8. ^ https://twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/105704216483475457
  9. ^ https://twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/105687928088432640
  10. ^ https://twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN/status/105685709653934080
  11. ^ See the Tekken 3 opening.
  12. ^ E.g. See Devil Within (Mode)
  13. ^ See Heihachi's Tekken 4 ending.
  14. ^ Julia's Tekken 4 ending.
  15. ^ Lars Alexandersson/Scenario Campaign Dialogues#Cutscene 31: The Truth
  16. ^ See Leo Kliesen's Tekken tag Tournament 2 ending.
  17. ^ See Nina Williams' Tekken 7 ending.
  18. ^ See further Sirius-Style Exorcism Sorcery#Trivia.
  19. ^ As confirmed in Tekken 7.
  20. ^ Other possible people who knew were Doctor Abel, who headed the Devil-Human Integration Program, which, in a non-canon ending, was seen using data from Devil Kazuya, and Wang Jinrei, who lived close to the Mishima family and has always been susipcious of Kazuya and hostile towards him.
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