5 Anime power systems better than My Hero Academia's Quirks (& 5 worse)

My Hero Academia incorporates a Westernized system of superpowers known as Quirks. Set in a world where most of humanity is born with Quirks, it introduces endless potential within its power system. Quirks are unique to each individual and are interwoven with one's personality.

Shounen anime often portrays superheroes with unique powers who fight antagonists for the betterment of the world. With superpowers comes an intricate power system, ranging from simple to overly complicated. Some anime feature more organized power systems than the Quirks in My Hero Academia, while others have simpler systems that cannot compete with the diverse Quirk system.

Let's delve into five power systems designed better than Quirks and five that are not.

Disclaimer: This list is not ranked and solely reflects the writer's opinions.

5 anime depicting better power systems than Quirks of My Hero Academia

1) Devil Fruit and Haki (One Piece)

Devil Fruits and Haki are the main sources of power in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

Devil Fruits are one of the main sources of power in One Piece. There are over a hundred Devil Fruits scattered around the world. They give a unique power to their users upon consumption at the cost of being unable to swim. Another source of power in One Piece is Haki. It manifests from willpower and allows users to control their spiritual energy and engage in combat.

Haki and Devil Fruit give rise to a unique power system in the universe of One Piece. Both sources of power have three types that are unlike the Quirk system of My Hero Academia. Even though Devil Fruits come with the weakness of not being able to swim, they provide their user far more advantages and depend on the user's intellect to control them uniquely. Similarly, Haki depends on whether the user can harness and draw out their spiritual energy.

2) Stand (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Series)

Stand is one of the most unique power systems (Image via David Production)

Stands are the physical manifestation of the character's spiritual energy. It is inarguably one of the most unique power systems introduced in the animanga medium ever. In most cases, Stand Users can control their Stands as they share a psychic bond. Damage taken by a Stand reflects on the Stand User's physical body.

Quirks of My Hero Academia have a major difference from Stands because the quirks of a character cannot manifest in a physical form. The concept of Stands as physical manifestations of spiritual energy gives an unparalleled perspective of superpowers in shounen anime. The diversified Stands with unique names represent a much better power system than Quirks.

3) Nen (Hunter x Hunter)

Hunter x Hunter characters as seen in the 2011 anime (Image via Madhouse)

Nen is one of the most complicated power systems introduced in the animanga medium. It utilizes the aura of living beings and manipulates them to draw out its true power. The incapability of controlling Nen results in the leaking of aura that can have grave consequences. To some extent, Nen's influence can be observed in Jujutsu Kaisen's Cursed techniques.

Nen has Four Major Principles - Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu - which a user must learn in order to control Nen. Furthermore, there are several advanced techniques and subcategories of Nen, as described through the texts in the manga. It makes Nen a far more developed power system than Quirks of My Hero Academia.

4) Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Alphonse and Edward as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Alchemy is a technique of metaphysical science that transmutes matter by following the sequence of comprehension, deconstruction, and reconstruction. It has immense potential in recreating a broad range of matter. Alchemists must possess exceptional intellect to understand the chemistry of matter to reconstruct it.

Even though it appears simple, Alchemy creates a far more complicated power system than that in My Hero Academia. The ability to recreate anything out of matter opens up endless possibilities within the universe of Fullmetal Alchemist. Integrating science, Transmutation Circles and Arrays, and the laws make Alchemy one of the most well-developed power systems.

5) Cursed Technique (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Yuuji Itadori and Ryomen Sukuna (Image via Shueisha)

Cursed Techniques result from skillfully channeling cursed energy, which is generated from humans' negative emotions. Each jujutsu sorcerer is born with an Innate Cursed Technique unique to them. Jujutsu Kaisen introduces a few of the complicated Cursed Techniques throughout the manga.

While My Hero Academia has Quirks that are tactically used in battles, Jujutsu Kaisen's Cursed Techniques employ scientific and astronomical mechanisms that are difficult to figure out. Even some characters get baffled about the workings of their opponent's Cursed Techniques. The Buddhist influence behind the mudras to activate several techniques is one of the many reasons this power system is one of the most well-developed in anime.

5 anime depicting worse power systems than Quirks of My Hero Academia

1) Breathing Style (Demon Slayer)

The Hashira as seen in anime (Image via Ufotable)

Demon Slayer introduced the power system of Breathing Styles, utilized by the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps. The original Breathing Style was Sun Breathing, created by the most powerful slayer named Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Sun Breathing gave rise to several styles like Water Breathing, Thunder Breathing, Flame Breathing, Love Breathing, and more, each one of them having several forms of breathing.

Compared to the Quirks of My Hero Academia, Breathing Styles are not as organized or well-developed as they might seem. The focus of the power system mainly remains on the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, where each of them practices a unique Breathing Style. Other than them, the main trio uses unique Breathing Styles. Tanjiro's family is the only one to inherit the Sun Breathing. These are a few factors that make this power system one of the underdeveloped ones in anime.

2) Ki (Dragonball)

Dragonball characters as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Ki is the fighting power or the life energy and generally has four types: Normal Ki, Evil Ki, Godly Ki, and Trio of Danger's Ki. The power can be used for combat, transformation, duplication, and defense, among others. Almost every being can use Ki and manipulate them to engage in combat.

My Hero Academia's Quirk is much more evolved than the power system of Ki, as seen in Dragonball. Both Quirk and Ki are possessed by most living beings in their respective universes, but the diversification of Quirks is more progressive than the Ki system of Dragonball.

3) Psychic Powers (Mob Psycho 100)

Mob Psycho 100 characters as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Espers in Mob Psycho 100 possess Psychic Powers that give rise to various abilities. All Espers possess telekinesis, and some of them develop unique powers. The most powerful Esper is Mob, as seen in the final arc of the anime.

The diverse range of Quirks of My Hero Academia is developed much better than the Psychic Powers of Mob Psycho 100. Though some Espers have unique abilities, the power system of the anime falls short as it is not organized or evolved as the Quirks system.

4) Magic (Fairy Tail)

Fairy Tail characters as seen in the anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Magic is the main source of power in the universe of Fairy Tail, used in combat or art by Mages. The One Magic gave rise to various types of Magic known in Fairy Tail. Magic is produced as the result of the connection between the physical spirit and the spiritual flow of nature.

Various types of Magic include Barrier, Healing, Spatial, Time, and many more. However, My Hero Academia presents a better-developed power system in that each human possesses a unique Quirk that can be utilized according to the individual's potential. On the other hand, Magic is not unique to a Mage.

5) Ignition Ability (Fire Force)

Fire Force characters as seen in the anime (Image via David Production)

Fire Force introduced Pyrokinetics who can manipulate fire using Ignition Ability. Pyrokinetics are immune to burns but have an Ignition Limit that appears after using a significant amount of oxygen.

The main source of power is fire, thereby limiting its diversification as opposed to that seen in My Hero Academia. With a history of Quirk's origin and evolution and the Doomsday Theory, My Hero Academia offers a much more concrete power system, lacking in Fire Force.

Final Thoughts

Power systems in Shounen anime are diverse and unique and work efficiently within the respective universe. My Hero Academia established a systematic power system of Quirks that resonated with fans worldwide. However, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, One Piece, and Hunter x Hunter are a few of the anime that have more organized power systems. At the same time, Demon Slayer, Fire Fore, and Dragonball possess less developed power systems than My Hero Academia.