The realm of anime isfull to the brim with power fantasieswhere characters need to put everything on the line to ensure that they come out victorious against a foe. In the case of certain characters, they end up playing a focal point across numerous arcs and need to get as strong as possible to deal with the many threats that will plague them in these adventures. As a result, their power can reach immense heights, especially in long-running manga.
However, there are times when these characters need to be nerfed a bit so that they don’t end up dwarfing everyone around them in terms of sheer power. This can be both a good and bad thing, with certain fan-favorites receiving this treatment and drawing the ire of their most ardent followers. Here are the most powerful anime characters around that got nerfed over time.
9Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto)
Atthe end ofNaruto, it’s clear for everyone to see that both Sasuke was an absolute god and there was no real way to stop him and his Rinne-Sharingan. However, the most powerful figure in the ninja world started getting weaker asBorutokept going.
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All of a sudden, Sasuke’s Rinnegan techniques left him out of chakra pretty much all the time, and rendered him useless after a few hits. It’s a pretty annoying thing that happens frequently enough for viewers to notice that Sasuke isn’t being done justice in the majority of scenes featuring him.
8Aizen Sosuke (Bleach)
Aizen was one of the most compelling villains inBleachby a country mile, and it’s a shame to see just how easily he was disposed of at the end of the Fake Karakura Town arc. After doing a ton of training in the Dangai, Ichigo emerges as a completely different fighter who absolutely humiliates Aizen.
Even after merging with the Hougyoku andrevealing his ultimate form, Aizen ends up being nothing more than a loud nuisance for Ichigo. With a single use of Mugetsu, Ichigo ends the fight and defeats Aizen at the cost of his powers, bringing a horrible and disappointing end to one of the best villains in anime history.
7Son Gohan (Dragon Ball)
There was a time when Gohan was touted as the warrior with unlimited potential, who could bring the pain to his opponents time and time again. However, aside from showing brief spurts of power, the young Saiyan never managed to retain this power level for too long.
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He finally reached his potential near the end of the Cell Saga, when he tapped into the vast reserves of his power and turned into Super Saiyan 2… and it was all downhill from there. Adult Gohan was nothing more than a punching bag who had a few moments of his own, but that’s about it.
6Pikachu (Pokemon)
Given the laws of thePokemonuniverse, it only makes sense that Pikachu would be a level 100 monster by the time he’s done combing through every region with Ash. However, this is far from the case, and Pikachu always ends up getting beat up by opponents that should’ve been absolutely decimated by this powerful Pokemon.
This beloved mascot of the series loses almost all of his powers whenever the show shifts to a different region, which doesn’t really make a lot of sense. It seems that Pikachu will never be able to retain his strength despite having his moments across the series.
5Hei (Darker Than Black)
Darker than Blackisa brilliant seriesthat focuses on the exploits of Hei, a Contractor, and his pals. He’s shown to be a master of combat and holds his own in most fights time and time again.
However, in the second season of the show, Hei is reduced to a has-been alcoholic who doesn’t really show his proficiency as well as he should. While it’s true that this season also introduces a new character, surely there was a way to put the spotlight on her without making Hei look bad?
4Joseph Joestar (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventureis one of the most legendary shonen anime of all time. It’s also a series full to the brim with massive generational timeskips that take a closer look at the bloodline of the Joestar family.
Easily the most entertaining character in this entire series is Joseph Joestar, who lit the stage on fireafter his introduction inBattle Tendency. However, in the third arc, his powers are nerfed considerably to make room for Jotaro Kujo. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but Joseph ends up looking pretty bad in this arc before becoming an ailing elder by the timeDiamond is Unbreakablecame out.
3Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)
Ichigo is one of the most frustrating protagonists in anime history. It’s almost impossible to support him at times when he does nothing to stand out from his cliched heroism or become unique in any way.
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What makes this even worse is when Ichigo gains immense power specifically to fight Yhwach… only for his Bankai to be broken before it could even be activated properly. It’s a massive letdown, and fans can only hope that this arc’s anime adaptation can improve on some of its worst parts.
2Piccolo (Dragon Ball)
There was a time when the Demon King Piccolo wasone of the strongest and most evil characters in the entire show. However, after his adventures with Gohan got him attached to the young kid, Piccolo went over to the good side and stayed there permanently.
Unfortunately, the Namekian and pretty much every other race inDragon Ballwas shafted to make room for the Saiyans. Even though Piccolo has his moments inDragon Ball Super, it’s still clear that he’s nothing more than a shell of his former self at this point.
1Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
Thetitular protagonist ofNarutomanaged to tame the beast inside in while also gaining a wealth of powers near the end of the series. Considering his impressive history, it’s a shame thatBorutomade him look like an utter weakling.
This is mainly due to the fact that Kurama was also nerfed heavily in this series, to the point where he died. It’s a shame to see how far Naruto’s character has fallen in terms of his power level, and fans can only hope that his impending death does not make him look even weaker.
