Well it's basically blowing ****s to shit controlled explosions over a much larger area as apposed to the Clay variation. It also doesn't restrict up to being cucked by lightning senbon everytime you try something. Also it's cooler.
But being more serious like I said it's more concentrated and in my overall opinion a lot better than the clay version simply due to the versatility with the explosions. Not really sure what else lml
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Well, the clay version can easily match the destructive potential of the 'free' version. Basically the clay acts as a vessel. Much like how we can infuse generic solids in the non-clay version.
Bakuton is an advanced nature transformation kekkei genkai hailing traditionally from Iwagakure. It is the combination of Earth and Lightning Release. The purest way I can describe this is that it allows us to wield explosive chakra in combat. This is an extremely broad statement; so what does it mean? Well, in canon the style takes the form of explosive taijutsu. Basically on physical contact you infuse your punch, kick, etc with explosive chakra and it produces an explosion on the point of contact. This makes Bakuton users extremely potent in close quarters. It's almost suicide to go against one due to the potential for a double K/O.
However, this can be extended to work at a range. Because the element allows us to wield explosive chakra in combat it can allow for infusions on solid based elements, such as Earth Release. These work at range. I'm sure you've seen me use Mandate of Heaven a few times now so that is probably the prime example of that. Although a canon technique (donated by Kirikoe) allows for the user to infuse explosive chakra into their weapons as well. And finally, the most potential form is the pure chakra that we can wield. The element is extremely versatile in that sense.
In terms of power the element is weak to Lightning and Water. Lightning is able to 'diffuse' the explosion while Water is able to suppress it. In terms of strengths it is strong to wind (opposite reason of water, it fails to suppress it) and earth because...it blows shit up (and also fails to contain it).
Questions?