User blog comment:Lord Zeref Dragneel/Top 25 most powerful characters/@comment-26451407-20150812051416/@comment-1153699-20150814104806

The fact Keith wasn't dumb like some other Demon Gates doesn't necessarily mean he's cunning or particularly smart. Juvia outsmarted him. And she's not known to be a great tactician or anything like that.

Franmalth's intelligence is 1,800 while Keith's is 2,000. If you think Keith is cunning, that automatically means you think Franmalth is also cunning. This Franmalth ->

http://img4.mangasee.co/series/FairyTail/0375-005.png

http://img4.mangasee.co/series/FairyTail/0379-006.png

http://img4.mangasee.co/series/FairyTail/0379-011.png

Jackal:
 * Wendy and Lucy were still able to run around after his Exploding Spiral. Offense: 1,500.
 * Got stomped by Base Natsu CQC wise.
 * Got ruined by LFD Natsu while in his Etherious Form. Defense: 800.

Franmalth:
 * Easily flattened Natsu, Lucy and Happy using 3 Amaterasu 28s. Offense: 600.
 * Tanked everything Natsu threw at him even when he was in Base.
 * Can absorb attacks (Natsu's LFD's Roar included). Defense: 600.

The fact that EF Torafusa, for example, can only use Hardening after 3 turns (AKA after some time) also doesn't help. We know EF Torafusa can use Hardening whenever he wants. These stats basically contradict the Manga. :/

Imo, Franmalth actually proving he's above Jackal and other 9DGs > Numbers Hiro put together in cards that were made more for a game than anything else. Besides, how do we know Hiro himself came up with the numbers and that it wasn't just one of his editors who did it?