[0:00] There are tons of unique power systems [0:02] in anime and manga. Some are absolutely [0:05] legendary, some are okay, and some are [0:08] just bad. So, here are the seven levels [0:10] of power systems, starting from the [0:12] absolute worst to the ones you'll [0:14] remember forever. Level one, noob. This [0:18] is the absolute bottom. Level one is the [0:21] place where you're going to ask [0:22] yourself, why is there even a power [0:25] system in that thing? They often feel [0:26] like they were just copy pasted from [0:28] something way better without the parts [0:30] that made the thing they copied cool. [0:33] Those are the systems that usually have [0:34] the most basic abilities you could think [0:36] of. The real problem isn't that they're [0:38] boring. It's just that they make their [0:42] stories so much worse. For example, [0:45] there's a whole category of anime called [0:46] isekai. And most of them go something [0:48] like this. some random person is [0:50] transported or reincarnated in some kind [0:53] of strange world, which sounds [0:54] interesting until you realize that most [0:56] of them just take their entire power [0:58] system from whatever role- playinging [1:00] game they could think of. I'm talking [1:02] about literal game screens floating in [1:04] front of the characters with their [1:06] levels, health, magic. I'm talking [1:08] fireballs, water magic, that kind of [1:10] stuff. The magic systems in these shows [1:13] are so predictable. Every single [1:16] character is either the sword person, [1:19] the magic person, or the bow person. [1:21] Most of the time, the main character is [1:23] so freaking overpowered that having a [1:25] power system doesn't really matter [1:27] anyway. There are no smart tactics, [1:29] creative problem solving, interesting [1:30] abilities. No, that's lame. We just want [1:33] to oneshot stuff. Okay, but seriously, [1:35] there are some really genuinely awesome [1:38] isek out there that do all these things [1:40] in way more interesting ways, but a lot [1:42] of them do not. Level one also includes [1:45] series like Solo Leveling that have [1:47] extremely beautiful animation, but [1:49] nothing else. The main character of this [1:51] series is called Jinu, and he's [1:52] basically the only person that can [1:54] become stronger by slowly leveling up [1:56] like in a video game. And um when I say [1:59] slowly, what I actually mean is that by [2:01] episode 25, he's already one of the [2:04] strongest characters in the entire show. [2:06] Every single episode, he gets new [2:08] abilities, new weapons, new moves. The [2:11] entire idea is that he becomes super [2:13] overpowered super fast, but because of [2:15] that, there isn't really any strategy or [2:18] specific rules. There's a scene where he [2:20] fights this thing. It's this final boss [2:22] kind of enemy that's basically been [2:23] destroying everyone in the series in [2:26] like seconds. This looks like it's going [2:28] to be a tough fight. They both go all [2:30] out. Jin Wu is having a very difficult [2:32] time. They punch each other. They start [2:35] flying. The insect attacks. Watch out. [2:37] Watch out. Watch out. As Jin Wu is about [2:39] to lose, the video game system appears [2:42] and saves Jin Wu and he wins the fight [2:46] without a scratch. Listen, the video [2:48] game thing is cool, but if it's the [2:50] solution to every problem, then what is [2:53] the point of a power system, but [2:55] seriously, I genuinely like Solo Levoy. [2:58] The fights are cool. The action scenes [3:00] are beautiful. And honestly, sometimes [3:02] you just want to watch someone get [3:03] ridiculously overpowered and one-shot [3:06] their enemies without having to think [3:08] too much about how everything works. But [3:10] does that create an interesting power [3:11] system? No. Awesome fights, bad power [3:15] system. And here's the thing, good [3:17] systems are about many things like clear [3:19] rules, limits, consistency, cool powers, [3:22] original abilities that you've never [3:24] seen before, and so much more. The best [3:27] systems combine all these things, but [3:30] level one systems do not have any of [3:33] these things. Level two, background [3:36] character. Level two is where things get [3:38] a tiny bit better, and that's because [3:40] they focus on the basics. We're starting [3:42] to see power systems with some depth and [3:44] a couple of cool abilities here and [3:45] there, but they're still very far from [3:47] perfect. They do their job, but in the [3:49] end, they're still basic. Let's take [3:51] Demon Slayer. The power system in this [3:52] series is literally breathing. And [3:55] basically, the more characters master [3:57] their breathing, the stronger they get. [3:59] The cool part is that there are a bunch [4:00] of different styles of breathing, like [4:02] fire, water, and even love breathing for [4:06] some reason. Don't get me wrong, the [4:07] abilities are not that crazy. I mean, [4:09] most of the characters just have [4:10] different ways of swinging a sword. But [4:13] we're definitely starting to see some [4:14] complexity with the different categories [4:15] of breathing or even limits where [4:17] characters can only do certain moves a [4:19] certain amount of times. Everything [4:21] looks visually beautiful, but it's not [4:22] to hide the fact that there's nothing [4:24] there. Yeah, it looks absolutely [4:25] gorgeous and makes your eyes explode, [4:27] but underneath all that, there's some [4:29] interesting stuff. Level two power [4:30] systems also include legends like Dragon [4:33] Ball. Hey, wo wo, it's fine. Calm down. [4:35] Let me explain. Let me explain. Dragon [4:37] Ball has a power system that was [4:38] absolutely [4:40] amazing when it came out. I mean, this [4:42] thing gave us some of the most iconic [4:44] moves in anime history. the Kamehameha, [4:46] the Kaio-Ken, the Super Saiyan [4:48] transformation, Ultra freaking Instinct. [4:51] But it's been many years and power [4:54] systems evolve. Dragon Ball is what [4:56] everyone else took inspiration from. But [4:58] when you look at it now, it's honestly [4:59] pretty basic. Martial arts, energy [5:01] attacks, transformations. It's clean, [5:03] easy to understand, simple, and [5:05] instantly recognizable. But compared to [5:07] some stuff that came out later, it's [5:09] just not that deep. These systems are [5:12] simple, but at the end of the day, [5:13] they're just the foundation until you [5:16] add a couple of things and you get level [5:18] three, side character. Level three is [5:21] where things get creative. Power systems [5:23] start having their own style, their own [5:25] unique touch, but they're still figuring [5:27] out how to balance everything. These are [5:29] the kind of systems that make you go, [5:30] "Uh-huh, [5:32] that's pretty interesting." They don't [5:33] nail everything, but the foundations are [5:35] pretty strong. In Mob Psycho 100, the [5:37] power system is literally just how [5:39] emotional can the main character become. [5:41] The characters have something called [5:42] psychic powers, which basically means [5:44] they can do stuff like telekinesis, go [5:46] really fast, use telepathy, and a bunch [5:48] of other pretty basic powers. It's the [5:51] same psychic stuff we've seen a million [5:52] times before, just with a pretty cool [5:55] twist. Every once in a while, you'll see [5:57] this counter on the screen that goes [5:58] from zero to 100. It usually happens [6:00] when the main character is getting [6:02] angrier or sadder or just when he gets [6:04] some kind of emotion. And every time you [6:07] see that number going up, you're sitting [6:09] there like, "Oh my goodness, oh my [6:11] goodness, he's going to do it." There [6:12] are some consistent rules and there's [6:13] more depth than just a dude using random [6:16] abilities, but it's not super strict [6:18] rules. And that's the thing. Mob Psycho [6:20] 100 is the first power system on this [6:22] list that I would consider a soft power [6:24] system. Basically, from what I [6:25] understand, there's this really famous [6:27] author called Brandon Sanderson and he [6:28] said that you can either have a hard [6:30] magic system, which is the kind of thing [6:31] where there are a lot of strict rules [6:33] that are very clearly explained and it [6:35] can almost feel like you're reading some [6:37] kind of encyclopedia. And then there are [6:39] soft power systems where the rules are a [6:41] bit more mysterious and they aren't [6:44] explained as much. Here's the thing. [6:46] These two things can work really well, [6:47] but they're very different. In Attack on [6:49] Titan, people transform into Titans, but [6:52] we don't need to understand all the [6:53] rules of how someone transforms and how [6:55] it works. Specifically, the system is [6:57] deep in other ways like how it ties into [6:59] the entire story. Kill is an extreme [7:02] example of that. Basically, there are [7:04] school students. These school students [7:05] have uniforms and depending on how many [7:07] stars there are on the uniform, the [7:10] student is more or less powerful. That's [7:13] it. I don't think there is anything [7:15] especially interesting with this power [7:16] system, but it's super creative and it [7:18] looks completely different from anything [7:20] else out there. This system serves the [7:22] series over-the-top style perfectly, but [7:25] it's about as mechanical as a dream. [7:27] Sometimes that's enough, but sometimes [7:29] you want a power system that can [7:31] surprise you with some strategy, and [7:32] that's where we get level four, main [7:35] character. Every power system in level [7:37] four is memorable for one reason or [7:40] another. These systems represent a big [7:42] leap in depth. They're usually really [7:43] good in several ways, but great in one [7:46] specific way. Let's take Free Ren. This [7:48] series puts so much effort into creating [7:50] this detailed system where magic is [7:52] developed over centuries. There's a [7:54] scene where a mage apprentice is [7:56] fighting against a demon. This guy used [7:58] to be one of the deadliest wizards on [8:00] the planet. And that's because he [8:02] invented a spell called Zulttro. It was [8:04] extremely powerful magic that people [8:06] used to attack other people. But as time [8:08] went by, mages became smarter and [8:10] smarter and learned how to use magic in [8:12] a bunch of different ways until one day, [8:14] Zoltro went from one of the deadliest [8:16] spells you could imagine to just a basic [8:20] spell. Instead of characters learning [8:21] new abilities over weeks or months, Free [8:24] Wrench shows us what happens when [8:25] someone has literally centuries to [8:28] perfect their craft. It's a much more [8:30] scientific and realistic way of showing [8:32] magic. It's complex and extremely [8:35] consistent. But here's the thing. All of [8:37] these spells are the most generic [8:40] fantasy spells [8:43] ever, which is probably exactly what the [8:45] author was going for, even though it's [8:47] not always super fun. Level 4 also has [8:50] super chaotic power systems that are [8:52] basically the complete opposite of free. [8:54] If I tried explaining the Dondon system [8:56] to you right now, [8:59] I'm not sure I could, honestly. The [9:01] series combines Japanese spirits, alien [9:04] powers, and psychic abilities into one [9:06] system, but it never really explains how [9:08] these completely different things are [9:10] supposed to work together. It makes [9:12] everything extremely fun, and the [9:14] abilities are super iconic. There is no [9:16] logic, nothing that explains why certain [9:18] powers work the way they do, and that's [9:20] fine, but it is very chaotic, which can [9:22] sometimes lead to very confusing moments [9:24] where you have absolutely no idea what's [9:27] going on. As a bonus, level four also [9:29] includes bleach because Bongai is the [9:32] single best power up in anime history. [9:36] Period. Level four powers basically nail [9:38] one piece of the puzzle, but they're [9:40] still missing a little something. They [9:42] are so close to greatness and they show [9:45] you glimpses of what could be absolute [9:47] perfection, but they're held back by a [9:50] couple of flaws. And I get it. Sometimes [9:52] author do all of these things on [9:54] purpose, but that is the difference [9:56] between level four and level five [9:59] transformation. Every single power [10:00] system from now on is awesome. Level [10:03] five systems are way deeper than just [10:05] fighting mechanics. Everyone in this [10:07] category has nailed the fundamentals, [10:08] but they all do something that makes [10:10] them stand out from everyone else. My [10:12] Hero Academia might seem like a super [10:15] basic power system, but there's [10:16] something it does better than pretty [10:18] much everyone else, including systems in [10:21] higher levels. The way it works is that [10:23] approximately 80% of the population has [10:25] superpowers called quirks. You have your [10:28] basic stuff like throwing fire, running [10:30] fast, or punching hard. But you also [10:32] have much more original abilities like [10:34] an octopus looking body with eyes, ears, [10:37] and mouths at the end of each tentacle [10:39] or using cables that come out of your [10:41] ears to create shock waves or even a [10:43] literal bird made of shadow. But here's [10:46] the thing, people then used to have [10:48] quirks. In the beginning, there were [10:49] only a few people that did. And as more [10:51] individuals started getting them, [10:53] society became this extremely dangerous [10:55] place where there were no laws to [10:57] control those who had superpowers. [11:00] People who used their abilities to help [11:01] others became heroes. But I'm not [11:03] talking about your regular superheroes. [11:05] I'm talking about licensed professionals [11:07] with rankings, performance metrics, and [11:09] careers. They even started creating [11:10] entire agencies of heroes. But there was [11:12] also a very dark side to this. Some [11:14] people's quirks made them very unusual. [11:17] There were those who looked very [11:18] different or others who accidentally [11:20] became dangerous. Many of those people [11:22] couldn't live a normal life anymore [11:24] because of something they were born [11:25] with. Which is why a lot of the villains [11:27] in My Hero Academia aren't people who [11:28] just decided to be bad guys. They were [11:31] people who were treated terribly because [11:33] of their powers and decided it wasn't [11:35] fair. Quirks affect literally every [11:37] single aspect of society. Economics, [11:40] education, laws, social life, everything [11:44] is built around them. Sure, there aren't [11:46] any complicated rules and the abilities [11:48] are pretty basic in general, but the [11:50] fact that everything in this story is [11:51] happening because of the power system [11:54] gives it a crazy amount of depth. Level [11:56] 5 also has very recent series like witch [11:59] hat. This power system does something [12:01] really interesting by completely [12:02] changing the entire idea of magic. [12:05] Instead of it being this thing that [12:07] people are just born with or they're [12:08] not, it becomes this art that literally [12:10] anyone can learn if they just understand [12:13] how to draw it. Because yes, in witch [12:15] hat atier, the way you use magic is by [12:17] drawing specific circles and specific [12:19] symbols together to create specific [12:22] spells. Witches have a bunch of [12:24] different pens to draw on different [12:25] objects. So, for example, if someone [12:27] wants to fly, they're not just going to [12:28] focus and use some wind magic. No, [12:31] they're going to draw the specific [12:32] symbol they need to create strong wind, [12:34] draw it in two separate parts under [12:37] their shoes, and when they need to fly, [12:39] they'll put the shoes together so that [12:41] the symbol is complete. And bam, anyone [12:45] with a pen and paper can theoretically [12:48] use magic. And that's where the dark [12:49] part of the system comes in. The witch [12:51] society keeps magical knowledge a [12:53] secret. Cuz if everyone use spells, the [12:56] world would become a super dangerous [12:58] place. And whenever someone finds out [12:59] about this law, the magic police erases [13:02] their memory. The thing I absolutely [13:04] love about this is how yes, the spells [13:07] are super basic. But there's a twist [13:09] that makes you feel like you're just [13:11] rediscovering magic, and that's amazing. [13:14] But apart from that, the magic just [13:16] looks freaking beautiful. I mean, look [13:18] at that. Level five systems get to that [13:20] sweet spot where everything clicks [13:22] together. They all do something very [13:23] unique while being complex in their own [13:25] way. These are the systems that stick [13:27] with you long after you finished [13:29] watching. Level six, overpower. [13:32] Everything from this point bangs. Those [13:36] are power systems that nail several [13:38] things, which ultimately makes them [13:40] extremely deep in a couple of ways. [13:42] Level six is where creators stop playing [13:44] by anyone else's rules. There might be [13:47] similar power systems out there, but [13:48] these guys are unique in a way that [13:50] would be really hard to replicate. [13:52] They're not just good or great. They're [13:55] special. These are the systems that make [13:56] you go, "Holy moly, I never thought of [13:59] doing it that way." Listen, I know that [14:00] a lot of people think that One Piece's [14:02] power system is generic and goofy, but [14:04] name another anime that made a rubber [14:05] person cool. In One Piece, characters [14:07] get powers by eating these fruits called [14:09] devil fruits. That's basically the [14:11] system. And trust me when I say that [14:12] this feels like the author just went, [14:14] "What if I could give characters [14:15] literally any power I can think of and [14:18] somehow make it work all together?" And [14:21] he pulled it off. We have characters [14:23] like a dude that controls strings and [14:24] uses them to fly, cut entire buildings [14:26] and control people like puppets, or a [14:28] girl that can create an almost infinite [14:30] amount of limbs, or even the fusion [14:32] between a dog and a cannon. Author takes [14:34] really simple ideas like rubber or [14:37] strings or whatever he can think of and [14:39] turns them into these super creative [14:41] abilities. But on top of that, he also [14:43] added a second power system called haki [14:46] so that people without devil fruits [14:47] could fight against people who do have [14:50] devil fruits. The author has been slowly [14:52] perfecting this power system over a [14:53] year, and it now works like a very [14:56] complex puzzle. But at the same time, [14:58] it's simple enough they can still enjoy [15:00] it even without diving too deep. Weirdly [15:02] enough, level six also has a couple of [15:05] new power systems. We have Chainsaw Man, [15:07] where the main idea is that humans are [15:08] afraid of stuff and this fear creates [15:10] these monsters called devils. And the [15:13] more people are afraid of these specific [15:15] things, the stronger the devil. We have [15:17] stuff like the bat devil, the octopus [15:19] devil, and even the sea cucumber devil. [15:22] Not going to lie, these things are [15:23] pretty scary. We also have gachi, where [15:25] literal garbage can be transformed into [15:27] magical weapons if someone takes care of [15:29] it for long enough. Okay, so imagine [15:31] that you have a pen you really love. [15:32] You've had it since you were a kid going [15:34] through middle school, high school, and [15:36] maybe even work or university. So that [15:38] pen can now transform into this massive [15:41] pen magic weapon, right? Not exactly. [15:45] Transformation of the pen depends on who [15:46] you are. So let's say you love running. [15:49] Maybe your pen will turn into this [15:50] extremely fast pen hoverboard. Or maybe [15:53] you love cooking, so your pen will turn [15:54] into this kitchen tool where instead of [15:56] the ink is the exact oil you need for a [15:59] certain meal. It all depends on the [16:01] person. And that's basically got power [16:03] system. Level six systems are created by [16:05] people who have mastered all the regular [16:08] approaches and decided that it just [16:10] wasn't good enough. What makes these [16:11] systems special is the combination of [16:13] creativity and a lot of thinking. In [16:16] some cases, these power systems just [16:18] need a little bit more time. In other [16:19] cases, they're almost perfect. Almost. [16:23] Because that is the title reserved for [16:25] level seven, the strongest. We are now [16:28] at the absolute peak of power system. [16:31] Level seven isn't just great. It's the [16:34] standard that every other creator tries [16:36] to reach. All of them are great in [16:38] almost every single category. But [16:40] they're exceptional in their own unique [16:42] way. And if you ask anyone what the best [16:44] power systems in anime and manga are, [16:46] there's like a 90% chance, they'll say [16:49] it's these ones. First, we have the most [16:50] creative power system. Jojo stands. The [16:53] idea is super simple. Stands are these [16:55] spirits that only other stand users can [16:57] see. They're also linked to you. So, if [16:59] your stand gets hurt, you get hurt, too. [17:01] And each one of them has specific [17:02] supernatural abilities. pretty basic [17:04] until you realize that a lot of these [17:06] stands are extremely creative. This girl [17:09] uses strings to create any object [17:11] imaginable. This man uses bubbles to [17:13] steal the properties of things. Like, [17:14] for example, someone's ability to see. [17:17] This guy's power is to use zippers, as [17:19] in the same zippers in pants. These [17:21] powers might seem goofy, but they [17:23] actually create some of the coolest [17:25] fights you can imagine. There is [17:26] genuinely no such thing as a generic [17:29] stand battle because each power forces [17:31] characters to be super creative about [17:33] how to use their abilities and counter [17:35] other abilities. You might think that a [17:37] stand is completely useless until you [17:39] see it in action. Like the zipper guy I [17:41] just talked about, at some point he's [17:42] trying to find someone, so he's slowly [17:44] tracking them until he sees something [17:46] suspicious and puts a zipper on a wall [17:48] to get closer to it. He finds a [17:50] mysterious tunnel and slowly makes his [17:52] way inside. And bam, there's the guy he [17:53] was looking for. My man starts fighting [17:55] him and throws his stand. His arm is [17:57] trapped. Solution: turn it into a zipper [17:59] to free himself. He then proceeds to [18:01] punching the enemy as fast as possible [18:03] and cuts several rock pillars by turning [18:05] them into zippers. But then he casually [18:08] receives a phone call while fighting. [18:09] So, of course, he just takes his phone [18:11] out of his pocket. No, I'm kidding. All [18:12] this time, his phone was actually inside [18:14] of his face thanks to a zipper. This [18:16] system rewards intelligence over raw [18:18] strength. Battles aren't won by whoever [18:20] has the biggest power level. They're won [18:22] by whoever understands their powers the [18:24] most deeply. It is the weirdest um [18:27] sorry, the most bizarre power system [18:30] ever made. But on the flip side, Level 7 [18:32] also has the most complex and technical [18:34] power system. Listen, even if I wanted [18:37] to explain how everything works in [18:38] Hunter Hunter, I just couldn't. I mean, [18:41] look at this insanity. There are [18:43] literally pages and pages talking about [18:46] these powers. But basically, everyone [18:48] has life energy and certain people can [18:50] control it. And amongst these people, [18:52] there are six categories. Enhancers, [18:54] emitters manipulators transmuters [18:57] conjurers, and specialists. Each of [18:59] these categories can do completely [19:01] different things that reflect who you [19:02] are as a person. So, for example, the [19:04] main character is a very determined and [19:06] brave boy. So, he's an enhancer who can [19:08] punch things really hard. This is [19:10] genuinely like the most basic way to [19:11] explain it. Trust me, there is so much [19:13] more. And even though it is complicated, [19:16] the beauty of having so many rules is [19:18] that the characters who understand these [19:19] rules are usually the ones that do the [19:22] best. Nen has influenced so many other [19:26] power systems such as the final power [19:28] system and level seven. Listen, I know [19:30] people love hating on Jutsu Kaisen, but [19:32] saying that this power system isn't [19:33] absolutely goated is insane. Juicy is [19:37] what happens when someone studies every [19:39] great power system that came before [19:41] identifies what made each one of them [19:43] special and then creates something [19:45] completely new. Biting val concept is [19:47] where the system reaches true [19:49] brilliance. It's basically nond [19:50] conditions and limitations and perfected [19:52] for modern story [19:55] but [19:57] permanent condition or situation. Okay. [20:00] Um, the rules are not very simple. But [20:01] seriously, there are so many rules and I [20:03] genuinely don't understand the power [20:05] system that well, but from what I've [20:06] heard, the author said that they [20:07] wouldn't be able to explain it even if [20:09] they wanted to. So, that makes me feel a [20:11] little bit better. But here's the [20:12] important part. In the world of Jujutsu [20:14] Kaisen, negative emotions create cursed [20:16] energy. And if there's enough cursed [20:18] energy, it will create cursed spirits. [20:20] Kind of like in Chainsaw Man. Problem is [20:21] that regular people can't control their [20:23] negative energy, which is why there are [20:25] a lot of these monsters. The people who [20:27] can control this energy are called [20:29] sorcerers, and it's their job to fight [20:31] these monsters. I definitely think JJK [20:33] is worse than Hunter Hunter when it [20:34] comes to the rules and explaining [20:36] everything, which is why the more the [20:38] series went on, the more people were [20:39] confused about the power system, and it [20:41] genuinely felt like certain moments [20:44] didn't fully make sense. So, based on [20:46] the complexity of the rules, the depth, [20:49] consistency, Hunter Hunter is the [20:51] superior power system. But when it comes [20:53] to how original and cool the powers are, [20:56] I think JJK is more memorable. Gojo's [20:58] limitless technique, summoning Maharaga, [21:00] the Black Flash, all these abilities are [21:02] iconic. Combined with the fact that the [21:04] power system is fully tied to the story [21:06] and the world, that's the perfect combo. [21:09] I mean, the power system is basically [21:11] the reason the story happens in the [21:12] first place. Level seven power systems [21:14] reach the peak in completely different [21:16] ways. They prove that power systems [21:18] aren't just tools for fights. They're [21:20] often one of the biggest reasons these [21:22] series become as popular and loved as [21:25] they are. [21:27] [Music]