Unbelievable Anime Heroes Who Have No Idea They're Overpowered!

Summary

Some anime protagonists are unaware of their true strength, like Noor, Lloyd, and Haruhi.
Characters like Mob, who have mental blocks, only unleash their full power under pressure.
Protagonists, like Rimuru and Goku, slowly realize their strength over time through their experiences.

I’ve noticed one key factor that contributed to anime becoming popular: they often show protagonists who progressively get stronger, wiser, and more proficient as the story unfolds. These characters recognize their own strength through their experiences, like how Luffy from One Piece started out unable to execute a stretchy punch without hurting himself, but eventually uses Loony Toon-esque antics to overpower his adversaries.

However, not every anime character discovers their extraordinary abilities in this manner. In fact, some protagonists may already possess overpowering skills but remain oblivious to them, undervalue their talents, or grapple with mental barriers that hinder their full potential. For one reason or another, these characters are unaware of the true extent of their power during their adventures.

1. Noor

A Flunkie at Reflection Who’s A Master Of Deflection

Despite some characters on this list questioning their abilities or being too modest to acknowledge their flaws, Noor from I Parry Everything is undeniably dim-witted. He’s got a kind heart, having taken up adventuring with the intention of helping others, particularly protecting the vulnerable. Remarkably, he consistently trained in the fundamentals of swordsmanship, hoping to discover new abilities.

Despite failing at his initial attempts and never having the opportunity to learn under the Six Sovereigns, he excelled in mastering fundamental skills, especially parrying, which allowed him to compete on equal footing with the Sovereigns. Although he may not be as intellectually astute, he demonstrates immense bravery by taking risks that others would shy away from, often emerging unscathed, even managing to make an A-rank minotaur decapitate itself with a single parry.

2. Lloyd

Almighty Strength In A Humble Shell

Creator: Toshio Sako
Studio: Liden Films
12 Episodes
Available on Crunchyroll

Lloyd, hailing from the rural dungeon town in “Suppose a Kid from the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town”, isn’t the brightest individual around. He’s not as dull-witted as Noor, but his self-doubt stems from being the weakest person in his village. Despite desiring to be a soldier, he doubts his abilities for the role.

However, Lloyd fails to comprehend that his village life was far from ordinary. He spent his youth dealing with challenges that his peers would struggle with at his age, which made him exceptionally powerful. With one arm, he could subdue monsters, run unstoppably for six days, master various forms of magic including rune reading, and even excel as a skilled chef. Unfortunately, his self-doubt is equally formidable, otherwise, the story might have concluded in just a few episodes.

3. Mob

Requires Pressure To Go All-Out

Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama presents a unique narrative compared to Lloyd. While he shares an inferiority complex, it’s less about self-doubt and more like a deliberate mental barrier. When his emotional threshold is exceeded, he transforms from a timid individual into a formidable force, harnessing the immense power of his psychic abilities against adversaries, including telekinesis, control over plants (chlorokinesis), and numerous other skills.

From my perspective, different outcomes unfold based on the emotions propelling me towards the edge. If given a choice, I’d steer clear of my powers entirely. Instead, I’d opt for self-improvement, either physically through the Body Improvement Club, or socially to understand others better and forge meaningful connections. However, the only path to achieving this lies in acknowledging my powers, overcoming my mental barriers, and embracing myself – a journey that extends beyond mere stress management.

4. Maple

How A Dainty Shield Maiden Became The Ultimate Tank

Maple’s key advantage is clearly reflected in the title of her show: BOFURI: I Prefer to Play it Safe by Maximizing My Defense. In the real world, she goes by Kaede Honjou, who was encouraged to join the VR MMORPG, NewWorld Online, by her friend Risa. She had a knack for enjoying herself, but she wasn’t fond of taking risks. To minimize potential harm, she created her character and boosted her defense capabilities to the maximum.

Due to this, Maple moves at a snail’s pace, lacks power, and requires a lot of time to learn new abilities. However, she can withstand or even nullify all the damage in the game entirely. This is not taking into account the extra magic and counterattacks she acquires throughout her progress. Kaede, having no prior experience with MMORPGs, whether traditional or VR, stumbled upon this exploit by pure luck.

5. Yor

When Even Using A Fraction Of Her Strength Is Too Much

Among characters battling with self-doubt, those who seem overpowered due to luck, and gentle individuals who may not be the sharpest tools in the box when it comes to combat skills, some protagonists are unaware of their hidden power outside of fighting. For instance, Ban from ‘Get Backers’ can accidentally destroy things when he’s agitated, or Goku from Dragon Ball Z, who inadvertently pushes Chichi through a wall after trying to give her a friendly pat on the back.

In the realm of contemporary storytelling, I’ve encountered an intriguing character named Yor from Spy X Family who embodies this trope beautifully. Known as the “Thorn Princess,” her physical prowess is such that she could easily carry out assassinations. However, when she disguises herself as a housewife undercover, she encounters challenges. What she perceives as delicate might be sufficient to shatter ribs or reduce a chopping board and vegetables to pieces. This serves as a reminder that even the strongest individuals may face their own set of struggles.

6. Goku

The Strongest Bumpkin In The Universe

Regarding Goku, although he eventually learned combat tactics to some extent, mastering the intricacies of his various Saiyan transformations and learning how to control them, he didn’t initially possess this knowledge. In fact, when he was just a child, his understanding of the world was shaped by his rural upbringing with Grandpa Gohan. It wasn’t until much later that he discovered his Oozaru form, long after others had witnessed it firsthand.

Initially, as he embarked on a global quest with Bulma to find the Dragon Balls, he gradually understood that he was more robust than typical individuals. For instance, his nonchalant response to being shot in his debut or triumphing over bigger adversaries by targeting their legs showcased this. Essentially, he’s been an overpowering character since the very beginning. Each challenge he has encountered along the way has only served to make him more resilient, even when he experiences setbacks and losses.

7. Rimuru Tempest

Took Some Time To Figure Out How Powerful They Were

In some anime series, main characters are unaware of their hidden powers until the final act. However, Rimuru Tempest from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is an exception. Instead, Rimuru quickly adapts to his newfound abilities and employs them to establish his own kingdom, where he must demonstrate both intelligence and physical strength in order to survive.

Initially, during the initial 90 days of their slime existence, they merely wandered around in a cave, consuming grass for sustenance. However, an unexpected event occurred when they discovered the ability to assimilate the skills of whatever they consumed. This was first demonstrated when they unintentionally overpowered some goblins using a bat-like, powerful screech. Upon mastering Aura Vision and applying it to themselves, they recognized their immense capabilities, gradually harnessing them for practical use.

8. Haruhi Suzumiya

A Schoolgirl Unaware She Could Play God

Haruhi Suzumiya, the main character and lead dancer in “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,” is purposely kept from discovering her true power. She believes herself to be an ordinary high school student leading the SOS Brigade, a club focused on investigating supernatural occurrences such as aliens and psychics.

Should she be given sufficient freedom for an extended period, she might summon cosmic beings, construct alternate realities, and bring chaos to the entire cosmos. Consequently, her friends such as alien Yuki and psychic Itsuki were dispatched to join her team, keeping her engaged so that she wouldn’t figure out the situation and thus preserve the universe from destruction.

2025-05-22 11:37

Unbelievable Anime Heroes Who Have No Idea They’re Overpowered!