Transformations are a highlight of many anime, driving the story forward and making battles more exciting. Some power-ups become iconic, defining characters and entire series. However, others feel unearned and random. While well-done transformations enhance character development, some appear suddenly just for a quick thrill, lacking proper setup. Among all the characters with unexplained power boosts, a few are particularly noticeable.
Orange Piccolo
- Anime: Dragon Ball Super
Piccolo is a key character in the Dragon Ball franchise and has become much stronger throughout the series. Although he didn’t have a major role in Dragon Ball Super, he became important in the recent Dragon Ball Superhero movie. In the movie, Piccolo unlocked a new form called Orange Piccolo, which was fun to watch in action, but the transformation didn’t really fit with his established abilities.
Piccolo hadn’t received a major power increase in a long time, but this story arc suddenly gave him a huge boost. This unlocked hidden potential, allowing him to fight on par with incredibly strong characters like Goku (Ultra Instinct form), Jiren, and Broly – a level of power he shouldn’t have been able to reach. While Dragon Ball Super often has weak writing, this power-up fits that pattern. Ultimately, it feels like an unearned transformation for Piccolo.
Gohan Beast
- Anime: Dragon Ball Super
Similar to Piccolo, Gohan received a new transformation in the recent movie. The film allowed Gohan to unlock hidden potential, reminding fans of his Super Saiyan 2 awakening during the Cell saga. However, many felt his new ‘Beast Gohan’ form was a weaker echo of that earlier power-up, specifically compared to his battle against Cell Max. While visually impressive and granting him significant strength, the transformation felt sudden and lacked proper build-up, making it seem unearned.
It seemed unlikely that Gohan would suddenly become as strong as, or even stronger than, Goku and Vegeta. However, in a series like Dragon Ball Super, these kinds of power-ups just fit the story.
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Roronoa Zoro
- Anime: One Piece
The Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece are constantly growing stronger as they overcome obstacles, and they sometimes receive help from powerful items. A prime example is Roronoa Zoro, the crew’s swordsman, who obtained the incredibly strong sword Enma during the Wano Country Arc. Enma has a unique ability to draw out a user’s Haki – essentially amplifying it beyond their normal capacity – with minimal effort from the wielder.
As a huge Zoro fan, it’s honestly mind-blowing how powerful he is! Even without realizing it, he was instinctively using Conqueror’s Haki at an insane level, and his Armament Haki was already incredibly advanced. He managed to take down someone like King and actually leave a mark on Kaido, all before he had any real control over these abilities! While I’m super excited to see him fully master Enma, it feels a little…off, that he beat opponents who were arguably stronger than him in the Wano arc, just based on raw, untrained power. It’s amazing, but feels a bit unearned for that specific storyline.
Boruto Uzumaki
- Anime: Boruto
Boruto Uzumaki is the main character of the Boruto series, which continues the story of Naruto. Many fans don’t connect with Boruto as much as they did with his father, Naruto. Early in the series, Boruto receives a significant power boost through the mark known as the Karma of Momoshiki Otsutsuki. Over time, this Karma unlocks Momoshiki’s abilities and battle skills within Boruto, granting him access to them all.
Boruto unexpectedly reached a power level comparable to the Otsutsuki clan, making his abilities arguably the least deserved of anyone in the Naruto series.
Izuku Midoriya
- Anime: My Hero Academia
Izuku Midoriya, the main character of My Hero Academia, is a well-developed and deserving hero. Though he temporarily lost his powerful quirk, One For All, he later received a special battle armor. This armor restored his abilities, allowing him to return to being a Pro Hero.
At first, the creator, Horikoshi, planned for Izuku to remain powerless. However, he later decided to give Izuku a powerful suit of armor that would allow him to fight at his best again. While Izuku certainly earned the armor, its ability to copy the powers of One For All actually made his earlier, huge sacrifice unnecessary. This power-up feels particularly unearned compared to others in anime.
Himawari Uzumaki
- Anime: Boruto
In the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga, Himawari Uzumaki, Naruto’s daughter, experienced a surprising power boost that shocked many viewers. After Kurama died fighting Isshiki Otsutsuki, the powerful beast was somehow reborn inside Himawari. While many initially thought she had become the new host for Kurama’s power, it was quickly revealed that she isn’t a Jinchuriki at all.
Himawari and Kurama have become essentially one being, making her a unique human-tailed beast – a lot like Jura, the series’ main villain. This means Himawari, as a living embodiment of Kurama, actually has even greater potential than Naruto. However, this sudden increase in her power feels unearned. Before this, Himawari hadn’t played a significant role in the story, so giving her such immense power without building up to it feels out of place.
Yuji Itadori
- Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen
In Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji Itadori didn’t initially possess a special cursed technique. However, as the story reached its climax, the author, Gege Akutami, needed to give him the strength to fight Ryomen Sukuna. Yuji gained the power of Blood Manipulation by absorbing the Death Paintings from 4 to 9. Later, during his battle with Sukuna, he unexpectedly awakened another powerful ability, known as the power of the Shrine, by executing a powerful black flash.
It was always part of the plan for him to awaken Shrine, but even if fans accept that, the speed at which Yuji learned abilities like the Reverse Cursed Technique and Simple Domain felt rushed. And then, to create a complex Domain Expansion on the spot to defeat Sukuna seemed particularly unbelievable. Overall, most of his power increases near the end didn’t feel earned.
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2026-04-05 20:38