Junkyard Dog

Junkyard Dog
Name
Kanji	ジャンクヤード・ドッグ?
Romaji	Jankuyādo Doggu
Info
Type	Sword
User	Sol Badguy
Appearances
Game	Guilty Gear Vastedge XT Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- Guilty Gear Xrd -Revelator- Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2

Junkyard Dog, also simply called Junkyard, is Sol Badguy's primary weapon in the Guilty Gear Xrd games, which combines two Sacred Treasures—the Fireseal and Flashing Fang. It can be used as blunt sword, and as a long-range cannon that can fire the Saint Oratorio spell.

Design

The first Junkyard Dog or the MK.1 is simply a monolithic sheet of steel rebar grid reinforced concrete, with the handle formed from punching out a frame and thinning down the rebar piece enough to grip, while gauze is wrapped for comfort. Formed "saber" style, the Junkyard Dog is a one sided blade, whose edge can be deduced to be tempered by Sol's expertise in fire magic, and whose large tip tapers into a sharp endpoint. Down the middle of the handle's loop is a severe crack, which large rusted chains are punched in diagonally like staples to ensure the Junkyard Dog's continued durability. In one piece of artwork, the Junkyard Dog's name is shown to be neatly engraved in the middle of its edge.

The second Junkyard Dog or the MK.2 draws upon the MK.1's overall form and shape, but instead incorporates streamlined and mechanized features, being the combined form of the Fireseal and the Flashing Fang, both being two of the Eight Sacred Treasures weapons of the Outrage. Being more of a makeshift blunt weapon and to be used for its main purpose of firing the Saint Oratorio spell, the MK.2 consists of a large red bodied gun barrel like shaft, with the grip being ergonomically designed for comfort, an aesthetic crack similar to the MK.1's at the handle loop, and both ends bearing a barrel hole, the chamber at the handle being shaped akin to a strike on a zippo lighter and the other end being shaped to a more conventional lighter. Near the handle and to the tapered point of the MK.2 is a revolver bullet chamber, allowing for the loading and unloading of its "ammo". Its "cartridges" require "Ignition" by Sol, then loading onto the weapon.

The Junkyard Dog MK.3 borrows a similar but leaner shape from the MK.1, while incorporating the blade shape from the Fireseal and the streamlined form of the MK.2. The MK.3 also consists of the Fireseal and the Flashing Fang, and can also fire the Saint Oratorio spell. This is also present in the Junkyard Dog MK.2. The MK.3 has the ability to open its casing, allowing for the loading and unloading of its "ammo".

Story

In 2186, following the Baptisma 13 incident, Sol decides to prepare himself for the second coming of Valentine's forces, Sol decides to upgrade his Fireseal sword, and designs the Junkyard Dog as a simple version of the Outrage he himself created in 2073. Unfortunately, it requires the Flashing Fang in order to fulfill that function.

Sol, accompanied by Sin, thus embarks upon a journey to collect the Sacred Treasure and soon discovers that the Fang is being held under tight security inside a United Nations facility known as Harden Fort. Around July, 2187, Sol and Sin fight their way into the facility, where they run into Baldias. After a tremendous battle, Sol is able to defeat the Conclave member and take the Fang. With both treasures in his possession, Sol hires a dog-human gunsmith, who was introduced to him by Dr. Paradigm, to build the Junkyard.

...

Abilities

Initially created by Sol upon the deployment of Gears for military purposes by the United States and other world powers in 2073, and later continued to be used during his service in the Sacred Knights of the Holy Order during the late half of the Crusades, the first Junkyard Dog is simply a large cleaving weapon made for raw power, being surprisingly effective in being used against multiple opponents at the same time. Because of it being Sol's "first" weapon, it is through the Junkyard Dog that also shaped his fighting style into the 2180s upon regaining the Fireseal.

The Junkyard Dog MK.2 can be used as a blunt weapon, or to fire projectiles. It is designed to be a simple version of the Outrage—a portable weapon that could fire the Saint Oratorio, a very high-energy spell that is extremely dangerous to the user. By virtue of being composed of both the Fireseal and the Flashing Fang, it is able to concentrate and amplify fire magic, and create and manipulate light magic. It is a powerful weapon; at three-fold output, a blast of the Junkyard is able to "smash a mountain", according to Sol.

The Junkyard Dog MK.3 can be considered the Junkyard Dog series "full circle" or "masterpiece" weapon, making for a version incorporating the best and offsetting the worst aspects of past models and inspirations.

Trivia

The possible Mk.1 version.

• The Fireseal resembles in most of his appearances a gas lighter, while the Junkyard Dog looks like a Zippo lighter. When its casing opens, it resembles a dragon's maw (likely an intentional reference to Sol's Gear form).
• Junkyard Dog might be named in-universe after Order-Sol's weapon—a piece of concrete with a pipe as a handle—during his time in the Sacred Order of Holy Knights. An illustration by Daisuke Ishiwatari shows the weapon with "Junkyard Dog" carved on it.
• The name "Junkyard Dog" may come from a lyric in the song Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce.
• While not the only weapon in the series with this trait, the Junkyard Dog undergoing series of revisions to being finetuned and made to Sol's ability is evocative of hardware and instrument modding and customization to suit a band's sound and a musician's abilities, one of the most famous being the Frankenstrat once used by Eddie Van Halen.

Gallery

Vastedge concept art (Mk.2).

A SEGA Aime card sticker by Daisuke Ishiwatari featuring Order-Sol's sword with "Junkyard Dog" on it.