Power levels in anime aren’t always a feature, but a byproduct of narrative choices and power scaling. Not all power systems or levels are created equal, however. Some anime over-complicate power levels to seem more complex and detailed than actually being a well-designed power system. A deep pond is better than a shallow ocean when dealing with power levels and showcasing them in the right way.

Nuance is often unnecessary when the end goal is to showcase a believable hierarchy of characters and their power levels. But, some anime take the extra step by implementing a logical and balanced way to understand power levels. By creating a power system which breaks down a character’s power level through rank, ability, or magical power, power levels can become easily digestible for audiences to understand at a glance.

10

Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World Features Contracts and Witches Authority

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World uses a complex and deep magic system to showcase a character’s power level, but in a surprising way that is easy to understand. Primarily, the anime features magical contracts and different authorities that act as passive skills for characters to use. The main character, Subaru Natsuki, has the authority of Return by Death, a passive ability that transports him back in time after he dies.

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Power levels are broken down based on a character’s specific authority, not necessarily their magical talent or ability. The most powerful characters in the anime are Witches based on the seven deadly sins, with each having extraordinary powers surrounding their authority. That being said, contracts also exist for characters to agree with spirits to use their power. Ultimately, a character’s authority will decide their place in the overall hierarchy of the power system.

Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-

Release Date

April 3, 2016

Network

TV Tokyo, AT-X

Cast

• Yûsuke Kobayashi

  Subaru Natsuki (voice)

• Rie Takahashi

  Emilia (voice)

• Yumi Uchiyama

  Puck (voice)

• 

  Chinatsu Akasaki

  Felt (voice)

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood features equivalent exchange, a logical and mathematical magic system that is based on creativity. Power levels revolve around how an alchemist can break down one element and transform it into another form through equivalent exchange. Power is this anime is purely about how creative characters can be in a fight, as brute force hardly matters.

Specifically, power levels are based on how powerful the type of alchemy used, such as Roy Mustang having a monopoly on flame alchemy. While knowledge and experience ultimately decide a fight in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, alchemy itself is created in a practical way that can be easily broken down for the sake of power scaling. Specifically, the use of a Philosopher’s Stone increases a character’s alchemic output exponentially to showcase power levels.

8

Seraph of the End has a Vampire Hierarchy and Cursed Gear

Not Currently Streaming

Seraph of the End features a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where humanity fights for its survival against a vampire menace. Through a combination of Cursed Gear and a hierarchical structure of vampires, the anime features a well-balanced power system to showcase individual characters’ power levels. Average humans stand no chance against vampires, but with Cursed Gear, the playing field becomes even.

Cursed Gear are weapons that are inhabited by various demons, being separated into two distinct classes, being: Manifestation and Possession. Manifestation allows the demon inhabiting the Cursed Gear to appear, while Possession allows the demon to take control of the weapon’s wielder. Vampires are divided based on bloodlines, being noble Progenitors and common vampires. Power levels are ultimately based on how powerful a vampire or Cursed Gear set is with clearly established rules and hierarchy.

7

The Legend of the Legendary Heroes Balances Cursed Eyes and Drawbacks

Streaming on Prime Video

The Legend of the Legendary Heroes offers a unique take on the idea of magical eyes. Instead of being a boon, characters that possess the Alpha Stigma are ostracized and hunted by society because of the danger they represent. The magical eyes of Alpha Stigma offer a clear ramp-up to the power-scaling of the anime through extreme power and devastating drawbacks. Specifically, the Alpha Stigma allows its wielder to analyze, copy, and comprehend all magic. But, at the cost of rampaging and ultimately losing control of one’s self in extreme situations.

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It doesn’t help that the Alpha Stigma is hunted for its unique properties. The magic system of The Legend of the Legendary Heroes offers an interesting yet simple power system that scales based on a rock-paper-scissors dynamic, as each country has a single, unique spell that can be countered by nations. The strongest characters in the anime possess the Alpha Stigma, but the disadvantages of using it almost outweigh the benefits.

The Legend of the Legendary Heroes

Release Date

June 6, 2010

Network

TV Tokyo

Writers

Ayuna Fujisaki

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6

Plunderer Features a Number-Based Power System

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Plunderer offers a simple and scalable power system based on numerical order. Those that possess higher numbers are simply stronger than those of weaker numbers, offering a logical power scaling method. The number directly relates to one’s life-force, as reaching zero will mean certain death. The Count system allows those of higher numbers to have absolute authority and power over those of lower numbers.

Those of a lower Count can disobey by challenging those of a higher Count to a duel, with the winner adding a certain amount to their overall count. Obviously, this means that lower Counts have an extreme disadvantage, since their overall number is closer to zero, meaning certain death. The power levels are numerically ordered from weakest to strongest, literally equating to life points.

5

Black Clover Uses a Grimoire’s Page Count as a Sign of a User’s Power Level

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Black Clover features grimoires to showcase a believable power system. Specifically, grimoires directly indicate a wizard’s power by the total page number of the book. The more pages a grimoire has, the more spells and potential a wizard possesses. With an extreme example, the Wizard King, Julius Novachrono, possessed a near infinite number of pages within his grimoire. But after his revival, his grimoire only had a single page left.

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The power levels of Black Clover aren’t entirely indicative of one’s overall strength, since creativity of one’s magic is a deciding factor in battle. But, ultimately, the power levels of the anime are decided solely by magical talent and the potential of one’s grimoire. Asta, the main character, uses a Five-Leaf Clover Grimoire. Without being able to use magic himself, he becomes one of the strongest characters in the series based on the power of his grimoire alone.

Black Clover

Release Date

2017 – 2021

Directors

Tatsuya Yoshihara, Ayataka Tanemura

4

Noragami Gods are Scaled Based on Worship and Followers

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Noragami offers a unique take on power scaling by directly tying a god’s power based on the number of followers and amount of worship they receive. With no one to worship them, a god will become significantly weaker, while those who possess the most followers are exponentially more powerful. For the vast majority of the series, Yato, a current Delivery God, barely had any followers, but he maintained his power through past deeds and worship, since he was a former God of Calamity.

However, despite Yato’s lack of followers, he becomes increasingly powerful thanks to Yukine, his Regalia (spirit). While the more obscure gods will stay weak, gods that exist for a popular function in human society, such as war, or fortune, will gain or lose power based on the human world. The power levels of Noragami are ultimately tied to several factors surrounding gods, from worship, followers, past actions, and Regalia.

Noragami

Release Date

January 5, 2014

Network

MBS, Tokyo MX, TV Aichi, BS11, BS Fuji

Directors

Tsuyoshi Tobita, Masashi Abe, Shuji Miyahara, Satoshi Nakagawa, Satomi Nakamura, Tetsuo Hirakawa, Yoshifumi Sueda

Writers

Hiroko Fukuda

3

Soul Eater has Soul Resonance to Display Power

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Soul Eater features a clear path of progression for its Meisters and Demon Weapons to become stronger. By consuming ninety-nine kishin souls, along with a single witch’s soul, a Demon Weapon can transform into a Death Scythe, one of Death’s personal weapons. While Meisters will rank up by earning more stars within the DWMA. The power levels of Demon Weapons and Meisters, however, are ultimately tied to their teamwork. Specifically, their ability to use Soul Resonance, a powerful technique that increases the duo’s overall wavelength, and their power level.

Students of the DWMA can progress up the hierarchy of the organization by gaining more stars that act as their overall rank. On the flip side, witches are the ultimate enemies of the DWMA in their fight to protect humanity from destructive forces. One witch is equivalent to the most powerful Demon Weapon and Meister duo. Only the strongest characters can defeat a witch and transform their Demon Weapon into a Death Scythe.

Soul Eater

Release Date

2008 – 2008

Directors

Takuya Igarashi

Writers

Akatsuki Yamatoya

Franchise(s)

Soul Eater

2

Made in Abyss Uses Color Coded Whistles to Explore its Power Levels

Streaming on Prime Video

Made in the Abyss offers a dynamic power system based on a Delver’s whistle color that acts as an indicator of their ability to explore the Abyss. Whistles are ranked in order of novice to legendary Delver: Bells, Red Whistles, Blue Whistles, Moon Whistles, Black Whistles, and the legendary White Whistles. Each whistle indicates a Delver’s status in the Delver Guild, which oversees the Abyss. A Delver’s ability to descend into the Abyss is based on the color of their whistle.

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For instance, a Bell shows someone training to become a Delver, while a Red Whistle allows a Delver to venture only 450 meters down into the Abyss. Black Whistles are the furthest level a normal Delver can reach within the Abyss, being the 5th layer at 13,000 meters. However, those that possess a White Whistle are legendary and are the most elite Delvers. They don’t have a limit to the depths they can dive, and are given the title of “Sovereign” over something. The power levels of Made in Abyss are directly tied to the color of whistle a Delver possesses.

1

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Ranks Power Through Magical Affinity

Streaming on Crunchyroll

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation offers a variety of power levels and scaling through its incredible rock-paper-scissors type of worldbuilding. Both swordsmen and mages are ranked from beginner to divine, based on their ability. Specifically, they designated a rank based on how powerful they are, being: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Saint, King, Emperor, and God. Power levels are directly tied to one’s magical rank or ability with the blade.

Those who use a sword for battle are broken into three separate styles, being Sword God Style, North God Style, and Water God Style. Sword God is considered the strongest of the bunch, focusing on speed and aggression. Water God Style focuses on defense and parrying. While North God Style focuses on trickery and deceit to win. Ultimately, anime that get power levels right use a broad range of methods to achieve success, relying on hierarchies, clear paths of progression, and variety to succeed.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Release Date

March 29, 2022

Network

Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, BS11