User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 447: Escape Battle, Review./@comment-26451407-20150805081453/@comment-5894890-20150806031928

Honestly though, what I see more here is over-hyping of Gildarts. And before I get blown for saying that, like I said in my previous comment... I still believe Gildarts is stronger. However, I don't think he's MILES ahead. From what we've seen in a showcasing of power (Current Laxus/ past Gildarts), they're pretty equal... BUT assuming Gildarts has grown as well from the various SS/SSS rank jobs, or didn't display all his strength back then; those are the only two variables I can really take a basis off of and is what puts him above Laxus for me. The title 'Number 1 fairy tail wizard', is well, just a record that can be broken.

@Wrath While I agree a lot of what you said, this, I partially disagree. "...say that old age is a handicap in regards to strength is ludicrous, because fictitiously, the strongest wizards were actually almost always the oldest ones (Zeref, anyone? Makarov? Warrod ffs?)." Rather than a handicap, I see old age as THE cap. Unless, someone gains the ability of forever youth or something along those lines (Zeref), old age does have an affect. With that being said, we don't actually see Makarov and co. (old-aged, top rank mages) getting stronger. They're either deteriorating or maintaining the strength they have achieved. Whilst, Laxus is young and still has lots of potential, Gildarts (while he probably is still getting stronger), is nearing the age where it may start to affect him in combat, or the age where growth is less significant.