what?

Only initiative is counted, maybe one of them was more lucky with critical damage

or maybe that one had the barrier on ? it makes a significant damage increase if barrier is on

I once opened a thread about this, but no moderator bothered to come and answer it.

In the end it got closed due to inactivity. We will never get clear cut answers as I think the mods themselves are not entirely 100% sure themselves.

And yes, clearly the team with barrier will win. Which means the team with more initiative.

Hi! Actually it has been answered multiple times before. You can search them through the search function. The only stats you take with you is initiative and the placement of your initiative for each ninja on your lineup. The reason why barrier and high buff team works so well is because those teams are able to multiply their damage many folds against teams that use base stat, which means less hp and defensive stats to tank dmg.

~Jib

Yes I know that initiative and barrier stuff.

But the thing is I had my barrier up all the 3 fights, but one of them did more decent damage than the other.

then how come there are teams that can 1shot you in first roumd,that shouldn't happen if power was equal

i've used for a long while that team both in arena and outside it (mei, mabui, tenten gnw, af one) and i can grant you that is wholly based on how lucky/unlucky you are with the rng factor in the damage. Consider that, for example, tenten mystery both gets the elemental boost and the critical boost both of them multiply by an high quantity the range of the RNG factor that goes in the damage dealing, way more than other lineups (is even worse if you have the barrier up).

I suspect that stars of a ninja may very well play a role in arena fights.

As for the thing about the water main meta team as someone who uses/has used the "cancer" meta water, mei, mabui, and gnw 1010... I agree it is overused, but meh it's whatever I ignore the game half of the time anyways... hence why I run it while in arena. #AutoIsTheLife xD - I know it's weaknesses well, and could counter it well enough if I wanted too, but as stated I just ignore the game while fighting in pvp or else I'd drive myself nuts with the things I find ridiculous in games... innate advantages is no stranger to me... it is what it is, we have to accept it and move on, as some complaints will never be listened too sadly. No need to waster your breadth/time getting angry over something that is likely going to go unchanged for quite some time sadly.