When mangakas and authors create their battle shonen anime world it might be tempting to craft fights until their heart’s content, however, some of the best anime with powers and abilities have robust systems that the audience can follow. Such systems elevate simple slog fests to battles about wits and how abilities match up against each other, how powers can evolve in the parameters of a system and how characters can take advantage of their powers and break the restrictions of the system too.
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Power systemscome in various shapes, sizes, depths, and complexities with some of the more famous series including,One Piece’sHaki and Devil Fruits,Naruto’sChakra,Bleach’sSpiritual Pressure, andHunter x Hunter’sNen. These power systems are internal to their series allowing the audience to understand how powerful the heroes are, andhow dangerous the villains can be. However, some anime power systems are just as ingenious, but unfortunately relegated as the series they are showcased in aren’t as popular. That doesn’t mean they are bad to watch, they just didn’t catch on the same way that others did. So which power systems should be appreciated more in less famous anime?
10Sigil - Darwin’s Game
Thebattle royal genrehas existed for many years with an explosion beginning in the early 2000s. One such show isDarwin’s Game.This anime follows familiar conventions of a death game whereby characters are placed in a scenario where they are forced to kill each other and survive until they are the last ones standing.
Darwin’s Gameintroduces a new element to the genre by allocating powers to each player. For example, the protagonist can materialize weapons and the lead female has extreme spatial and temporal awareness (knowing where everything is in space and time). The battles often rely on how each power can turn the tide of battle and beat their opponent.
9Special Abilities - Code:Breaker
A shonen anime set in modern times that follows the story of powerful individuals who are givenCode:Numbers,starting atNo. 6(the weakest) and going up toNo.1(the strongest). They are employed by a top-secret organization calledEdenand are tasked with taking down corrupt political figures.
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Each power is different and not necessarily equal in strength as some people cancontrol elements such as electricityand flames, while others have more abstract powers like death and life. Above the numbers, there are those given specific names such asCode:Emperor and Code:Seekerwho are unable to have a number assigned to them as they are too powerful.
8Count - Plunderer
In the world of Plunderer, each person has a number on their body which is known as theCount.TheCountcan correlate to any number of things for example: distance walked, a number of compliments received, or how many times theycalled food delicious. The higher the number the better, as those who have low numbers are in danger of hitting zero and being sent to theAbyss.
How battles work inPlundereris that those who have a higherCountcan order someone with a lower number unless that person denies the command and performs aStartheft Bout;where the winner receives a portion of the loser’sCount.Furthermore, there is also the option of fighting withBallotswhich are items that grant a person special abilities in battle. However, these ballots are supposed to only be issued to high-ranking soldiers. Otherwise, those that have them (outside the military) are condemned as criminals.
7Abilities - Bungou Stray Dogs
An interesting take on powers where the system ofBungou Stray Dogshas origins in works and people of literature. Thescaling of these powers differs greatlyas some are explicitly potent while others are lackluster. However, there are times when abilities have situational strength while others are strong in any given circumstance. The protagonist, Atsushi Nakajima, has the ability calledBeast Beneath the Moonlight,transforming him into a physically formidable white tiger. On the other hand, Osamu Dazai’sNo Longer Humancan nullify any ability.
There are layers to powers too with some abilities being too powerful for the wielder. While abilities may not shine in certain matchups and completely dominate other conflicts.
6Triggers & Trion - World Trigger
A science-fiction serieswhere characters battle with intergalactic enemies that cross over from different worlds in the fight for resources.Borderthe first (and last) line of defense against the extraterrestrial enemies have devised and rolled out weapons called triggers each with their own specific abilities and associated roles; all based around the biological power source known asTrion.
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There are the basic triggers (weapons) thatBordercreated such asMeteor and Scorpion etc.They have also augmented human weapons such as assault rifles and handguns with bullets that use Trion likeLead,weighing down an opponent on impact. However, beyond the weapon and the individual’s Trion level, there are alsoBlack Triggers.These triggers are unique and provide special abilities far above the capabilities of other weapons. One of the protagonists, Yuma, has a black trigger that provides a combat suit that is an all-around weapon and able to adapt to any given combat encounter.
5ESP & Magic - Raildex Series
Covering both theA Certain Magical IndexandA Certain Scientific Railgunseries, this power system is highly creative and slightly complicated encompassing both espers and magicians. Powers are usually categorized via thePower Curriculum Programand those that use superpowers are called espers. Espers develop their abilities and are given an according rank fromLevel 0 to Level 6.The highest level esper currently recorded is atLevel 5(those that can take on a military force by themselves) and only 7 of them exist in the world.
Magic on the other hand is the more complex power system. Magicians use mana to cast spells and manifest magical abilities, they can use grimoires or directly draw from ley-lines that are scattered throughout the world. There are basic practitioners of magic in the world all the wayup to godsthat other magicians serve.
4Dying Will Flames - Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
A hitman baby, mythical pacifiers, a high school don, mafia rings and theDying will Flames. These are the main parts that make up the power system ofKatekyo HItman Reborn!a 2000s shonen battle anime that had a lot of potential and deep, rich combat. Similar toNeninHunter x Hunter,what makes this power system, so special is the fact that not one power far exceeds the other. There are seven mainDying Will Flamesin the anime (more in the manga, but no spoilers here) each with their own special properties, as follows:
Each flame can be channeled through a mafia ring and used to unlock special boxes containing further abilities, however, each ability is not guaranteed to win over the other. Plus, these flames cannot be manifested by anyone, but only by those willing to put their lives on the line to enact their own will, hence the name,Dying Will Flames.
3Innocence - D. Gray Man
A journey into thegothic niches of narrativeswhere the story follows exorcists, demons, death, and necromancy.D. Gray Manknows what type of anime it is and sticks to it well, bringing the theater of the macabre to Japanese storytelling. Even the power system is aptly namedInnocence.A quantitative power that is deadly toAkuma(demons) that can be used to craft weapons and is the driving force behind the power ofThe Black Order, the exorcising agency.
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Innocencecan be fashioned into all different types of weapons and the effectiveness of it is dependent on the exorcist themselves. Those that achieve aCritical Pointwith their weapons, resonating with theInnocencecan evolve onto the next stage and develop a more potent weapon in the fight against the demonic evils that plague the world.
2Gourmet & Appetite Energy - Toriko
Food, glorious food.Torikotakes the idea of sustenance and eating to a whole new level with theirAppetite/Gourmet Energyscale. This energy acts as a fundamental part of the world and is the origin from which all powers derive.
The higher the energy the stronger the character. The protagonistTorikois a member of theFour Heavenly Kingswho went on a mission to findGod’s Menu:the ultimate eating and flavor experience. The rarer and more delicious the food, the more gourmet energy it contains and the stronger the protagonist becomes.
1Powers & Sacred Weapons - Law of Ueki
The greatest heroes of the world are always high school students and that includes the titular protagonist fromThe Law Of Ueki,also namedUeki.In this anime, each person is granted power from aCelestial King Candidate;theabilities run the gamutof unconventional such as being able to turn trash into trees.
The powers originally start at a base level and when a character masters their ability it upgrades to level two and becomes far more useful and proficient. The interesting addendum toThe Law Of Uekipower system is calledLimiting Conditions,which are criteria a character must meet to engage their power. These conditions can be simplistic or complex including: keeping one’s eyes open for the duration that the power is in use. This makes battles more intriguing as there are both advantages and drawbacks to having powers in this anime universe.
