Which OP Anime Characters Lost Their Power?

When creating outstandingly strong characters, most of the best power systems in anime rely on a well-maintained balance between heroes and their opponents’ abilities in order to ensure that every battle remains tense, high-stakes, and unpredictable. However, there’s no denying that some of the most entertaining showdowns in anime feature characters who are basically indestructible. With overpowered heroes, fans rarely have to wonder who will come out on top. Nevertheless, endless entertainment can be found in watching a character with near-infinite potential destroy their opponents with elegant ease.

Yet, even anime’s unbeatable powerhouses are not immune to cruelties of fate. Be it for the purpose of permanently disposing of an ability that disrupts the show’s power system or temporarily nerfing the toughest character to let others shine in their absence, anime’s strongest heroes occasionally lose their powers. No matter how undefeatable these OP characters once seemed, stripped of their abilities, they end up significantly weakened.

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As stated in Fullmetal Alchemist’s first law of equivalent exchange, to obtain something of equal value must be lost. The Elric brothers are painfully familiar with the fair cruelty of Alchemy’s rules, having lost their bodies in a fruitless attempt to bend it. The finale of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood sees Edward Elric faced, once again, with the law of equivalent exchange, this time to revert the tragedy made by attempting to revive their mother.

Confronting The Truth, Ed sacrifices his Alchemic powers to restore Al’s body, turning from one of the strongest alchemists in the series into a regular person. Fortunately, Ed doesn't appear to be grieving his abilities and is content to live a happy life without them.

9 Kai Chisaki (My Hero Academia)

Kai Chisaki, known by his villain alias Overhaul, possesses one of the most powerful Quirks in My Hero Academia - a single touch of a hand allows him to disassemble or reassemble anything and anyone. From reviving the dead to killing opponents instantly, there seem to be no limits to Chisaki’s OP ability.

For a man who used Quirk nullifying bullets on others without a second thought, Chisaki relied too much on his Quirk’s formidability. This weakness came back to bite him when Chisaki’s route to prison was intercepted by the League of Villains. Still bitter about Chisaki killing Magne, Shigaraki destroys Overhaul’s hands, stripping the villain of his Quirk.

8 Aoi Todo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Despite being only a first-year student at Kyoto Jujutsu High, Jujutsu Kaisen’s Aoi Todo is already one of the strongest Grade 1 sorcerers of his generation. His Innate Technique, Boogie Woogie, is just as flashy and eccentric as Todo’s personality, allowing the sorcerer to switch the positions of anything possessing cursed energy with a clap of his hands.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that fans will be seeing Todo use this extremely powerful ability ever again. During Todo and Yuji’s final fight against Mahito during the Shibuya Incident, Todo is forced to cut off one of his hands to escape the cursed spirit’s Idle Transfiguration. With only one hand, Todo can no longer use Boogie Woogie, leaving him significantly nerfed.

7 Oshino Shinobu (The Monogatari Series)

While most Monogatari fans are used to seeing Shinobu, Koyomi Araragi’s vampiric partner, as a weak and apathetic little girl, the series’ prequel Kizumonogatari demonstrates just how different she was at the height of her power. Formerly known as Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade, Shinobu used to be one of the most formidable vampires in history until her fateful trip to Japan.

Seeking eternal rest, Shinobu tricks the newly-turned vampire Koyomi into retrieving her missing limbs and then battling her to death. However, at the last moments of their showdown, Koyomi refuses to take Shinobu’s life, sucking most of her blood instead and leaving her in the weakened, powerless state she remains in for the rest of the series.

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6 Xie Lian (Heaven Official’s Blessing)

The Crown Prince of Xianle, Xie Lian, ascended to godhood for the first time at an extremely young age thanks to his outstanding valor, formidable strength, and exceptional spiritual powers. At the height of his glory, Xie Lian was, without a doubt, one of the strongest gods in Heaven Official’s Blessing’s pantheon.

However, after getting banished from heaven twice, Xie Lian is forced to wear reminders of his transgressions: the cursed shackles. On top of serving as a visual representation of Xie Lian’s banishment, the shackles also seal away his spiritual powers, rendering him no stronger than an average, albeit skilled and immortal, human.

5 Naruto Uzumaki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations)

By the time Naruto’s heir takes the limelight in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, his father has accomplished most of what he dreamed of - he became the Seventh Hokage of Konohagakure and proved to everyone his formidable strength.

However, the sequel series sees the iconic hero suffer an unexpected loss. In his fight against Isshiki Otsutsuki, Naruto sacrificed the Nine-Tailed Beast Kurama - the source of most of his power from the very beginning. In the absence of Kurama, Naruto is no longer the strongest shinobi in the world, even if he still has access to some of his techniques

4 Madoka Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

At the end of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Madoka Kaname transforms into a godlike being known as Ultimate Madoka. By merging with the Law of Cycles as a result of her wish to erase all Witches, Madoka exists outside the human experience in her omnipresent state.

Wanting to separate Madoka from the Law of Cycles, Homura goes on a complicated quest to strip Madoka of her powers in the Rebellion movie. She ultimately succeeds in returning Madoka to her human form, albeit by stripping her of her memories. Without any recollection of her divinity, Madoka can exist as a regular girl once again outside the Law of Cycles.

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3 Satoru Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Rightfully considered the strongest sorcerer in the world, the possessor of the Limitless and the Six Eyes techniques, Satoru Gojo, is a man few in their right minds would dare to challenge. Going into the Shibuya Incident, Kenjaku acknowledged that none of his accomplices stood a chance against Gojo.

So, his only option to get Gojo out of the picture was to seal him in the Prison Realm—a cursed object that would trap Gojo inside and prevent him from using his powers. While Kenjaku couldn’t strip Gojo of his Cursed Techniques indefinitely, getting sealed in the Prison Realm rendered the strongest sorcerer powerless for long enough to ensure Kenjaku’s victory.

2 Chrollo Lucilfer (Hunter X Hunter)

The charismatic leader of the Phantom Troupe, Chrollo Lucilfer, is a Specialist whose Nen power allows him to steal and use other people’s abilities. With countless stolen Nen powers at his disposal on top of his already prodigious natural potential, Chrollo is rightfully considered one of the strongest characters in Hunter x Hunter.

Nevertheless, the formidableness of the Phantom Troupe leader didn’t stop Kurapika from seeking his revenge on the Spiders. By wrapping his Judgment Chain around Chrollo’s heart, Kurapika made it impossible for him to use Nen. Fortunately for the Phantom Troupe leader, a hired exorcist manages to restore him back to normal.

1 All Might (My Hero Academia)

Respected as the Symbol of Peace throughout the My Hero Academia society, the legendary Hero All Might always knew that he wouldn’t be able to hold on to his powers forever. His successor, Izuku Midoriya, inherits One For All when the older Hero is already severely wounded and can’t use all 100% of his Quirk.

From then on, All Might gets by through the waning remains of his power, activating One For All for only as long as his injured body can handle. All Might used up the last of his strength in the showdown against All For One, after which he lost his Quirk indefinitely and retired to teach young Heroes full-time.