"I'm the best."

[Crescent Pulsar R]

I've come across this phrase in fan-fiction a lot, but I can't recall if Ranma's ever said it in the manga or the anime.

Would you know?

[LawOhki]

I've come across this phrase in fan-fiction a lot, but I can't recall if Ranma's ever said it in the manga or the anime.

Would you know?

Very very rarely in the manga, to the point where I doubt that exact line was never used, and it's accompanying attitude is constructed from some other character.

[three headed dog]

Ranma has never said that in the manga. The manga version, not sure about the anime version, is very secretive and does not talk about past battles or his abilities to do so is fairly out of character. The closest he has come to saying that he is the best was when, provoked by others, he said: "I, Ranma Saotome, have never lost ANY martial arts ANYTHING contest!" during the Martial Arts Tea ceremony.

He has done the opposite a few times such as in the first volume when he stated he knew a little martial arts to Akane when asked or how during gym class he downplayed his abilities.

[Makoto]

Could one of the English versions (Viz or otherwise, manga or animation), have pushed that line? I haven't looked at any of them, really...

[claymade]

I don't recall an instance with that specific line--though the superior attitude behind it shows up often in Ranma's character, and he'll certainly say things to that basic effect.

Some examples include his first meeting with Taro, where he proclaims his superiority to everyone Taro had fought so far. There's also during the Pheonix Mt. Arc when he's about to steal the Kinjakan and destroy the Pheonix tap ("I'm the only one who can do it. I'm the strongest, the smartest, the fastest..." and it's implied that he kept on going from there with the "blah blah blah" subtext). And of course, there's mind-boggling things like the (repeated) boasting of his ability to beat Happousai--sometimes even as he's lying on the ground after being soundly thrashed by him.

It's not just limited to martial arts either--he'll boast about being "best" in looks as well, like in the White Lily arc ("Why should I be compared with some other guy, anyway? Aren't I obviously perfect?").

So, in short, the exact words aren't an actual "catch phrase" of his, but that sort of line is absolutely in character for him to say. He just usually says it with a bit more variation/specificity to the particular thing he's claiming to be the best at in any given moment.

[Zwzn]

The only time I can recall this sort of talk from Ranma is before a fight, and it's rare. Ranma never struck me as being good at trash talk.

[SpaceKnight of Chaos]

I don't recall Ranma saying this specific phrase ever in the anime, either, in case people were thinking that this is one that continuity's faults. While Ranma does trashtalk, I don't think he does it all the time in the anime, and from what I recall, he prefers to put his opponents down rather than build himself up. I think he may have said something like "I'm the best" at the end of the Super Soba episode, after humiliating Akane in revenge for her constant defeats of him in armwrestling.