10 Worst Anime Power-Ups (Cool Look, Useless Payoff)

Many anime transformations or power-ups start with impressive visuals and exciting introductions, but often don’t live up to the hype. These powers might look amazing, but they end up being weak, unreliable, or only used once, making them ultimately unhelpful. We’ll look at specific examples, noting where they appeared in the story and how effective they actually were. We’ll also mention the animation studios responsible for creating these moments, and how short-lived they turned out to be.

Adult Gon Transformation

In ‘Hunter x Hunter’, Gon makes a desperate sacrifice, trading his future power for a single, incredibly powerful transformation. This transformation comes at a great cost – he loses his Nen abilities and risks his life. The form only lasts long enough to fight one enemy, and after receiving medical attention, he can no longer use Nen. Once healed, Gon is back to normal, with no lasting benefits or knowledge gained from the experience. The animation of this arc was done by Madhouse, who beautifully depicted its dramatic visuals, while the story limited the transformation to a one-time use.

Ichigo’s Fullbring

In ‘Bleach,’ Ichigo develops Fullbring abilities after losing his powers as a Soul Reaper, but these are soon replaced when he gets those powers back. The skills and equipment related to Fullbring aren’t useful afterward, and the story arc mainly serves as a temporary bridge between larger storylines. The animation studio, Pierrot, handled this short phase before reverting Ichigo to his original skillset.

Renji’s First Bankai

Renji’s first Bankai in ‘Bleach’ appears powerful, but it’s actually awkward and doesn’t perform well in longer battles. It breaks easily and isn’t very accurate until a later upgrade fixes these issues. Once the real Bankai is revealed, the original version is completely replaced. The animation studio, Pierrot, shows both versions, highlighting how weak the initial form really is.

Sanji’s Raid Suit

In ‘One Piece,’ Sanji tries out a special Germa raid suit that gives him invisibility and stronger defenses. However, he ultimately decides he doesn’t want it anymore and destroys the suit, completely giving up the upgrade. While it offered a new way to fight for a short time, Sanji rejects it due to issues with his family. Once the suit is gone, he loses all of its advantages in battle. The anime, Toei Animation, shows the suit’s temporary effects during the Wano arc before it’s removed from the story.

Boruto’s Jōgan

In the anime ‘Boruto’, Boruto’s unique eye ability appears unexpectedly and he struggles to control it. It only activates during certain scenes, and there’s no consistent training or clear way he uses it in battles. The show hasn’t fully explained how powerful this ability is or how it will develop. The animation studio, Pierrot, shows brief moments of it, but the story keeps the power largely unused.

Karma’s Early Boosts

In ‘Boruto,’ Karma gives Boruto temporary boosts to his speed and strength, but it comes with serious downsides. The power can lead to possession and losing control of his own body. As the mark develops, Boruto frequently faces interruptions during fights and struggles to make his own decisions. Even with improvements, using Karma often forces him to retreat or be careful, rather than achieving clear victories. The animation studio, Pierrot, highlights the visual improvements that come with the power, while the story focuses on the significant risks involved.

Eren’s Early Coordinate

In the first season of ‘Attack on Titan,’ Eren’s Founding Titan ability is difficult to control and only activates when certain conditions are met. This makes it unreliable in most fights and strategies. While the power becomes clearer as the series progresses, it doesn’t offer many benefits early on. The initial scenes showcasing this ability were animated by Wit Studio, before the power’s full potential was revealed later with animation by MAPPA.

Lightning Fire Dragon Mode

In ‘Fairy Tail,’ Natsu briefly gains the ability to combine fire and lightning after absorbing Laxus’s electrical power. However, this powerful combination doesn’t last, as it disappears once the energy is used up. He can’t reliably recreate it, and it never becomes a standard part of his fighting style. The anime—initially by A-1 Pictures and Satelight, and later by Bridge—shows this combination as a one-time boost, with no clear way for Natsu to learn or regain the ability.

Kaneki’s Kakuja Rampage

In ‘Tokyo Ghoul,’ Kaneki’s initial kakuja transformation gives him immense strength, but it also makes him dangerously unstable, threatening his friends and goals. This forces him to hold back from using the form, preventing him from mastering it for consistent fighting. Eventually, he prioritizes controlling the transformation rather than simply unleashing its power. The anime studio, Pierrot, visually emphasizes the monstrous appearance, while the story itself restricts how often and effectively he can use it in battle.

Incarnation Surges in the Underworld

In ‘Sword Art Online Alicization,’ Kirito’s strong will unlocks incredible abilities within the virtual world of Underworld, almost allowing him to alter reality. However, these powers are inconsistent and difficult to use outside of that specific environment, as they rely on unique rules and his mental state. Because of this, while the anime studio A-1 Pictures highlights these impressive moments, they often remain isolated to the Underworld and don’t become consistently available throughout the story.

Share your picks for cool looking power-ups that went nowhere in the comments.

2025-11-06 16:16