Sukuna's reliance on Binding Vows in Jujutsu Kaisen has meaning to it, and this meaning is why Gojo lost

Modified Jun 22, 2024 04:30 GMT

In the fascinating realm of Jujutsu Kaisen, Ryomen Sukuna stands tall as a formidable curse whose strength and cunningness are renowned. Sukuna's battles are marked by his extensive reliance on Binding Vows, a unique form of magical agreement that carries significant implications for both his immense power and his strategic approach.

Binding Vows in Jujutsu Kaisen are solemn promises that can enhance or alter a sorcerer's abilities, often in exchange for substantial risks or sacrifices. They are a testament to a character's unwavering resolve and willingness to trade security for power, demonstrating their commitment to their goals.

Sukuna's frequent employment of Binding Vows is not merely a display of his profound jujutsu knowledge but a deliberate strategy that emphasizes his readiness to make sacrifices for victory. This mindset sets him apart from his opponents, including the formidable Gojo Satoru, whose strategies typically involve careful planning and preservation of resources.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Sukuna's sacrificial approach to battle

Ryomen Sukuna uses several Binding Vows during the Shinjuku Showdown arc (Image via MAPPA)

Sukuna's style in a battle is quite different from others. He makes big sacrifices to use his cursed skills at full power. Unlike other sorcerers, Sukuna does not care about keeping his tools safe. His main goal is to cause as much damage as he can with each attack. This mindset is clear when he uses Binding Vows. He uses them to make his skills stronger, even if it means putting limits on himself or giving things up.

Ryomen Sukuna and Gojo Satoru (Image via Shueisha)

The narrator's words about making an "open domain" being like "painting in the air with no canvas" show exactly how Sukuna fights. He aggressively takes every chance he gets, throwing his actions onto the battlefield like splashes of paint, creating a masterpiece of destruction.

This reckless, all-or-nothing approach is very different from the more careful and planned tactics of other sorcerers like Gojo Satoru, who often have to think about how long their tools and abilities will last.

Sukuna's Binding Vows: Unlocking his full potential in Jujutsu Kaisen

A representation of a Binding Vow (Image via MAPPA)

By altering his cursed techniques with Binding Vows, the King of Curses adapts and improvises during battles. He accepts limitations or trade-offs, like reduced cursed energy or increased vulnerability, to maximize attack effectiveness.

This sacrificial approach contrasts with Gojo's conservative strategies. He plans as if relying on his abilities throughout the fight. But Sukuna discards or transforms tools as needed, prioritizing maximum damage over long-term sustainability. His readiness to make concessions demonstrates his ability to adapt and win at all costs.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Exploiting Sukuna's weaknesses in using Binding Vows

Yuji Itadori as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

In the battle against Sukuna, Jujutsu sorcerers must either match his knack for quick thinking and sacrifice or find a way to use his Binding Vow to their advantage. Matching his level of adaptation and sacrifice would mean rapid and extraordinary growth, which seems unlikely given the current power balance. Therefore, the better path to beat Sukuna lies in turning his sacrificial approach against him.

By forcing Sukuna to make a sacrifice he cannot recover from, or ensuring one of his Binding Vows backfires, the Jujutsu sorcerers may shift the battle in their favor. This could take many forms, such as Sukuna being forced to give up a powerful cursed tool or technique, or having to drain a disproportionate amount of his cursed energy, leaving him vulnerable to attack.

Final thoughts

Sukuna used Binding Vows to strengthen his domain (Image via MAPPA)

Sukuna often employs Binding Vows as a key strategy. This approach involves making sacrifices to gain immense power. It reflects Sukuna's willingness to make tough choices for victory. He embraces this path, unlike his foes who tend to be more cautious.

This bold sacrificial method allowed Sukuna to defeat the seemingly unbeatable Satoru Gojo. As the Jujutsu Kaisen story progresses, the Jujutsu sorcerers must find a way to use Sukuna's sacrificial nature against him to overcome this mighty adversary.