Best Shonen Anime Protagonists Who Make Clever Use Of Boring Powers

Summary

Shonen protagonists like Luffy and Naruto excel by using basic powers creatively to outmaneuver opponents.
Characters like Ichigo and Yuji enhance simplicity with unique skills and versatile strategies to overcome challenges.
Goku and Jotaro Kujo showcase how refining basic abilities and working smarter leads to success in combat.

As a longtime fan of anime and manga, I’ve seen my fair share of characters with extraordinary abilities. But among all the complex stand users, powerful Saiyans, and Joestar heirs, there’s something truly remarkable about those who can make the most out of the simplest powers. These are the heroes that don’t need a thousand-word backstory or an intricate arsenal to captivate us. They show us that sometimes, all you need is a good old punch or a well-timed kick to change the world.

In many shōnen anime, it’s common for supporting characters to have extraordinary, distinct powers with amazing effects, while the main character often possesses ordinary or seemingly mundane abilities. This pattern has been debated, with some suggesting that this simplicity makes the protagonist more relatable and accessible to new viewers as they can easily identify with his powers.

They too can demonstrate how their main characters devise strategies to work more efficiently rather than simply exerting greater effort. Unlike characters such as Doflamingo who acquire elaborate powers like strings, the Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan, or Satoru Gojo’s Unlimited Void, Luffy, Naruto, Yuji, and others employ their talents in creative manners to outsmart their adversaries.

8. Koji & Mazinger Z (Mazinger Z)

Practical Mecha Action

Koji appears to be stretching things a bit, since operating Mazinger Z isn’t really about wielding power, but more like managing a complex vehicle. Nevertheless, it serves as a useful illustration, given that Koji tends to rely on the mech’s least flashy features. For every Rocket Punch, Rust Hurricane, and Finger Missile he launches, there are numerous instances of his Photon Beam – a straightforward laser attack from the eyes. Besides possibly being simpler to animate and recycle, it was also Mazinger Z’s most functional ability.

Among all of Mazinger Z’s impressive finishing moves, this particular technique stands out for being energy-efficient, avoiding overheating issues within the mechanical systems, and possessing an impact equivalent to 10 tons of explosives. This move also proves useful in storytelling contexts. Given that Mazinger Z is one of the strongest mechs in its genre, if a formidable villain manages to withstand its Photon Beam, it signifies that things are about to escalate rapidly, hinting at a more intense confrontation ahead.

7. Luffy (One Piece)

As Flexible In Fights As He Is In Form

Luffy doesn’t rank high because he’s not your typical run-of-the-mill character. His elastic abilities set him apart from the other Strawhats. Despite this, his progress in the story wouldn’t be as significant if he were just a teenage version of Mr. Fantastic. Instead, Luffy uses his talents imaginatively to gain an edge, such as deflecting attacks with his flexible form or inflating to transform into a human balloon and float – but his ingenuity extends beyond that.

To bypass Enel’s repetitive mantra, he momentarily turned off his thoughts and bounced his elastic punches off the walls. Later, when Mr. 3 restrained him with wax, Luffy utilized these restraints as weapons to destroy his wax sculptures. In his fight against Magellan, he had Mr. 3 create a wax armor for him, using it as a defensive measure against his poison. His intellect is more refined than people often give him credit for, and this creativity may well be the key to his strength. His latest Gear 5 form certainly demonstrates this, as he uses it to bend reality itself by being the most unconventional character on the open seas.

6. Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

More Than The Average Soul Reaper

In the series Bleach, there are numerous power-ups that have the ability to drastically change the course of action scenes. To put it simply, the main character, Ichigo Kurosaki, possesses a variety of powers including Shikai and Bankai abilities, being both Hollow and Quincy, and having enough spiritual energy to act as a Substitute Shinigami. In essence, his primary skills can be described as firing sword beams and amplifying those sword beams.

However, underrating him is unfair since there’s more to him than meets the eye. He possesses hidden abilities such as identifying individuals via their spiritual core, drawing on residual spiritual power for boosts, and prolonging his Bankai transformations. Being neither entirely Hollow, Quincy, nor human allows him to leverage their advantages against their vulnerabilities, making even his most basic attacks capable of overcoming significant challenges.

5. Naruto (Naruto)

Nothing A Few Clones & Chakra Balls Can’t Fix

Interestingly enough, despite the vibrant orange attire and flamboyant bleach-blonde hair, I find Naruto to be surprisingly low-key among the ninjas in his own series. Granted, he’s host to a formidable nine-tailed fox spirit and boasts a variety of transformations, each with their unique strengths and vulnerabilities. However, it’s intriguing to note that Naruto frequently defeats adversaries using a straightforward energy ball known as Rasengan, which is essentially a concentrated burst of chakra. This move, along with his Shadow Clones, are often criticized for being overused, yet their simplicity and versatility make them essential tools in Naruto’s arsenal.

Instead of charging head-on against his adversary, Naruto employed his Shadow Clones to construct makeshift bridges and ladders to bypass obstacles. Furthermore, he demonstrated versatility with his Rasengan technique, utilizing it without complex hand gestures. He utilized the Rasengan in various manners; sometimes creating multiple, differently sized versions, or having his Clones release one each to pelt enemies with a torrent of chakra. By mastering these tactics, he found little need for more elaborate or intricate moves.

4. Yuji Itadori (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Overcoming The Most Arcane Magic With His Fists

In the thrilling world of “Jujutsu Kaisen”, I, Yuji Itadori, might not stand out as flamboyantly as my peers – Maki Zenin with her intricate sorcerer family history, Megumi Fushiguro with his stoic demeanor, or Satoru Gojo, the one who nonchalantly declares, “Nah. I’d win.” Yet, beneath this seemingly ordinary exterior lies a character with exceptional foundations that outshine many in the series. I’m not just a quick learner, but I possess an extraordinary physical strength and endurance that matches my intellect. And let’s not forget the unique advantage of housing Sukuna, making me resistant to most poisons and curses. Though I may not have the dramatic family background or the awe-inspiring power of my friends, I am a force to be reckoned with in my own right!

Instead of relying solely on his freshly acquired magical abilities to amplify them even more, he employs techniques such as the Reverse Cure Spell to recover from fatal spells, and exhibits a proficiency in the intricate Black Flash ability beyond what others can achieve. While he may not possess the infinite power that Gojo wields, in a head-to-head battle, he demonstrates an endurance that surpasses even the most potent curse users.

3. Goku (Dragon Ball Z)

More Than Just A Monkey

Goku serves as a classic illustration of how basic yet memorable abilities can become legendary. Characters within the series appear to be acquainted with various martial arts moves. While Goku knows several, the show seldom specifies which kick or punch he’s using. However, when he begins to accumulate energy in his hands, or alters his hairstyle, viewers recognize that things are about to intensify. Despite his playful demeanor, Goku demonstrates a cunning side.

Just as he surprised Cell with an unexpected Kamehameha using Instant Transmission, or dealt a fatal blow to Kid Buu by merging the Spirit Bomb with a super-empowered Kamehameha, he carefully employed Super Saiyan 3 due to the immense energy required to sustain it. However, in Dragon Ball Super, his skills were honed under new guidance, enabling him to enhance the base form of Super Saiyan into more powerful and efficient forms like Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue. Essentially, he achieved greater power not by working harder but by learning to work smarter.

2. Jotaro Kujo (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

He Can Do More Than ORAORA His Problems Away

Jotaro Kujo, the protagonist of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders, serves as a prime illustration of this trope, given that the series’ Stand abilities have grown significantly more intricate compared to his era. To put it into perspective, Part 9’s Jodio Joestar can manipulate his Stand, November Rain, to create rain showers at will and direct them with the force of bullets. In contrast, Star Platinum, Jotaro’s Stand, primarily allows him to move swiftly and pack a powerful punch.

In a simpler and more conversational style: Just like platinum, Star Platinum shows great precision, managing to remove Dio’s mind-controlling growth from Kakyoin without causing him harm, and it has an uncanny ability to recall images with remarkable accuracy, as if taking photographs. Moreover, it possesses keen eyesight, spotting the villain N’Doul from a distance before hurling Iggy the dog at him to protect its friends from N’Doul’s powers. Despite not having the time-stop skill it would acquire later, Star Platinum is one of the most versatile stands in the series.

1. Saitama

How A Single Pair Of Hands Can Defeat All Challengers

In the series titled “One Punch Man”, it might not have been surprising that Saitama, a character capable of defeating his multicolored adversaries and villains with just one blow, would not be anticipated to showcase extraordinary abilities. However, he has creatively varied his techniques to demonstrate the versatility of his one-strike knockout power – for instance, employing that 1-Hit KO strength to fling skyscraper-sized portions of earth at enemies.

If he squeezed water between his hands, an invisible power would transform it into a powerful stream of water capable of countering Monster King Orochi’s devastating Gaia Cannon attack. He has also demonstrated the ability to incapacitate opponents, such as stripping Boros of his armor and humiliating him, or temporarily disabling Speed-o’-Sound Sonic during their battle.

2024-12-26 07:36