The Price of Power: Dangerous Techniques in Anime

In the captivating world of anime, extraordinary powers and techniques grant characters unparalleled abilities. However, these immense powers often come at a steep cost. In our blog, "The Price of Power: Exploring Dangerous Techniques in Anime," we delve into the darker side of these extraordinary abilities. From the Eight Inner Gates in Naruto, where each gate opened inflicts severe injuries, to the harrowing consequences of Human Transmutation in Fullmetal Alchemist, where attempts to revive loved ones lead to physical sacrifices, we explore the high prices characters pay for these dangerous techniques. Join us as we uncover the chronic pain endured by Akame in Akame Ga Kill, the life-shortening effect of Aki's Curse Devil in Chainsaw Man, and the permanent consequences of Iced Shell in Fairy Tail. We also delve into the emotional sacrifices made by characters like Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z and Naofumi in The Rising of the Shield Hero. Discover the sacrifices, physical and emotional, that shape the journeys of these anime characters as they harness their powers, revealing the profound risks embedded within their remarkable abilities.

1. The Eight Inner Gates - Naruto

Naruto has so many techniques that harm their user that they could fill up a whole list by themselves. For now, let's focus on the Eight Inner Gates, a technique that Might Guy learned from his father and passed on to his protege, Rock Lee.

2. Human Transmutation - Fullmetal Alchemist

Human Transmutation is a form of alchemy that supposedly brings people back to life. Not only is this virtually impossible to achieve at all, but the costs of trying are high. When Edward and Alphonse Elric attempt to revive their mother, Ed loses his arm and his leg, while Al loses his entire body and is forced to live with a soul that's fused to a suit of armor. When Izumi Curtis tries to revive her stillborn child, she loses some of her internal organs.

3. The Little War Horn - Akame Ga Kill

When you're wielding a poisonous sword, you have to expect that at some point, there's going to be a cost. For Akame and her Murasame, that cost comes in the form of the Little War Horn. It's activated when the user cuts themselves with the sword, then survives its poisonous curse. Some people won't even make it to this stage, but if they do, scarlike markings appear all over their bodies, and their sclera turns black.

Their power is dramatically enhanced, but there's a major cost - the user will be in severe pain for the rest of their lives, even after the sword is destroyed. This can be temporarily alleviated with herbal medicine, but it's basically a lifelong chronic pain condition in exchange for a temporary power up.

4. The Curse Devil - Chainsaw Man

When Himeno tells Aki not to use his Curse Devil's sword, she's not kidding around. Though the Devil he summons is capable of crushing and eating pretty much any opponent thrown at it, the cost is high.

Every time Aki summons this Devil, it takes an unknown amount of his lifespan. At the start of the series, he has about two years left. Unless Aki was already going to kick the bucket early, it's taken quite a bit of time from him already.

5. Iced Shell - Fairy Tail

Iced Shell is one of the most powerful - and dangerous - Ice Magic spells. It allows the user to freeze their target into an unmeltable block of ice, destroying their body in the process. But it also freezes the user's body as well. Although Moon Drip is the only way to unmelt the ice, it's an extremely lengthy and exhausting process. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to undo Iced Shell. Lost Iced Shell is an even deadlier version of this spell as it can wipe away the user's existence from everyone's memories.

6. Vegeta's Final Explosion - Dragon Ball Z

Vegeta's attacks are extraordinarily powerful ones - and some of them are so powerful that even he cannot always withstand them. Final Explosion is a technique that obliterates the user instantly, which is why Vegeta only pulls it out when he realizes that defeating Buu is impossible otherwise.

It's a defining character moment for Vegeta because he never would have been willing to sacrifice himself for anybody else in the past - but it ultimately proves pointless, as Buu just revives himself afterward.

7. Emperor Time - Hunter x Hunter

Kurapika's most powerful technique is Emperor Time as it allows him to use all types of Nen to 100% efficiency. He can only activate it with his Scarlet Eyes. But it comes with a high price: every second he spends in Emperor Time, he loses an hour of his lifespan. As a result, Emperor Time must be used sparingly and reserved for life-or-death situations.

8. One For All - My Hero Academia

One For All is a powerful quirk that can be passed from user to user, which is how Izuku Midoriya ended up inheriting it from All Might. But while it allows the user to access great reserves of physical power, it can also easily destroy anybody who isn't strong enough to contain it. That's why Izuku has to undergo an intense bodybuilding campaign before All Might will even consider passing the technique along.

Once Izuku starts using the technique, he breaks a bone almost every time. Eventually, he gets the hang of it, learning to control his powers more effectively, but not without absolutely wrecking himself first.

9. Wind Tunnel - Inuyasha

Wind Tunnel is Miroku's most notable technique. Originally a curse placed on Miroku's grandfather by Naraku, Miroku has honed this technique to his advantage. Much like a black hole, Wind Tunnel can suck in anything in its range. But if it grows into a large enough size, it can also consume its wielder. Miroku's grandfather and father had to suffer that terrible fate. If Wind Tunnel also sucks in too much poison, it will cause the user to heavily expel blood too.

10. Naofumi's Wrath Series - The Rising Of The Shield Hero

Naofumi Iwatani's shield contains many incredible abilities - it can do everything from transform into an aggressive, biting dog to trapping opponents in an iron prison. Most of the shield's drawbacks seem to come from the bizarre prejudice that the world of Melromarc exhibits toward the Shield Hero. But the shield does have some risks of its own that have nothing to do with social implications.

The Wrath Series is a group of shields that activate when Naofumi feels absolute, unvarnished fury. Using these shields not only makes him so angry that he can't make reasonable decisions, it also eventually leads to an ability called "Blutopher" that works like a multi-layer bear trap.

"Blutopher" requires the user's blood, which makes it an exhausting and dangerous attack to use. It also cuts the user's stats - except for defense - by 30%. Afterwards, the user will be unconscious for at least a day, and they risk losing their life if they don't receive medical treatment.

@ AnimeKing