The Power Creep That No One Talks About

Shonen anime thrives on epic battles, emotional rivalries, and moments where a protagonist digs deep to overcome impossible odds. But over time, one issue has quietly been eating away at the genre—power scaling.

It’s exciting to watch heroes unlock new transformations and abilities, but when every major fight boils down to “who has the next big power-up,” something gets lost. Tension, strategy, and stakes start to fade, leaving us with visually stunning but ultimately predictable battles.

From Strategic Battles to Power Creep

Shonen anime fights used to feel dynamic. They weren’t just about raw power but about intelligence, adaptability, and skill. Take Dragon Ball Z’s early arcs—Goku vs. Vegeta wasn’t just about who was stronger, but about how Goku used Kaioken to push past his limits while Vegeta countered with his Great Ape form. Fast forward to Dragon Ball Super, and fights have turned into planet-shattering exchanges with little tactical depth. Ultra Instinct Goku vs. Jiren was visually stunning, but did it have the same grit as earlier fights?

Demon Slayer falls into a similar trap. The early battles—like Tanjiro’s fight against Rui—relied on clever use of breathing techniques and precise swordplay. But as the series progressed, it leaned more into spontaneous power-ups. In the Swordsmith Village Arc, despite facing an Upper Moon demon, Tanjiro and Nezuko conveniently develop new abilities mid-fight. The tension that came from watching them struggle against stronger opponents fades because the solution always seems to be “just get stronger.”

The Solo Leveling Problem: No Real Challenge

Some Shonen anime take power scaling to an extreme—none more than Solo Leveling. The entire series is built around Sung Jin-Woo growing exponentially stronger with little effort. While that’s part of its appeal as a power fantasy, it also eliminates any real sense of challenge. When the protagonist can nearly one-shot every enemy by the time he reaches them, what’s the point of the fight? There’s no tension, just spectacle.

Compare that to Jujutsu Kaisen, which started with technique-based battles that required intelligence. Gojo’s Limitless ability was overpowered, but fights like Itadori & Todo vs. Hanami still involved teamwork and clever use of abilities. However, by the time we got to Sukuna vs. Gojo, it became a fireworks show—an exchange of increasingly absurd attacks without the same tactical depth seen earlier in the series.

Why Power Scaling Kills Older Characters

Another consequence of shonen anime power creep? It sidelines older characters.

Dragon Ball is notorious for this. Once upon a time, characters like Krillin, Piccolo, and even Gohan played major roles in battles. Now, they exist mainly to react in awe as Goku and Vegeta get their next transformation. Demon Slayer does the same—Zenitsu and Inosuke, who were once on Tanjiro’s level, become irrelevant as he skyrockets in power. In Solo Leveling, veteran hunters like Baek Yoonho and Choi Jong-In are hyped up as strong at first, but once Jin-Woo surpasses them, they might as well not exist.

Contrast this with Hunter x Hunter, where power isn’t just about who’s stronger. Abilities are built with trade-offs, and even experienced fighters like Hisoka and Chrollo remain relevant no matter how much new talent emerges. Instead of making older characters obsolete, the series evolves them in meaningful ways.

The Stakes Keep Getting Lower

At its worst, power scaling makes fights feel meaningless. When a character always unlocks a new transformation or ability at the perfect moment, does it ever feel like they’re truly in danger?

In Dragon Ball Super, Goku’s new forms keep resetting the power scale, making previous fights feel unimportant. In Demon Slayer, the Hashira, who were once untouchable, quickly become stepping stones. Solo Leveling never even tries to maintain stakes—Jin-Woo always wins, so there’s never a moment where we doubt the outcome.

Meanwhile, in older shonen or those that handle power better, fights feel like they matter. One Piece lets characters grow stronger, but battles still rely on creativity—Luffy doesn’t just overpower Katakuri, he adapts. Chainsaw Man keeps fights messy, with victory often coming from sheer desperation rather than brute force.

Can Shonen Escape the Power Scaling Trap?

Power progression isn’t inherently bad—it’s a core part of shonen anime. But when it’s the only thing driving a series forward, it turns fights into hollow spectacles instead of meaningful struggles. Not every anime falls into this trap, but more and more, the genre seems to prioritize explosive, over-the-top battles instead of making us care how those battles are won.

Shonen doesn’t need to stop power-ups—it just needs to make them matter again.

Check out our other anime articles?

Read More:

The Best Anime This Season That’s Not Solo Leveling – VRSUS

Cyberpunk Edgerunners – The Anime That Saved A $436 Million Game Back In 2022 – VRSUS

The WORST Anime Adaptations We All Voted For – VRSUS

Here’s What You Need To Know About Dandadan, This Season’s Best Anime (Probably) – VRSUS