Category: Anime

Tailed Beasts played an incredibly important role in the overarching narrative of the series. Right from the very beginning of the story, Tailed Beasts were incredibly important, and as the plot progressed further, their importance continued to grow. Masashi Kishimoto incorporated various Tailed Beasts in the story, which eventually culminated in the appearance of the Ten-Tails.

Over the years, Kishimoto has revealed multiple Tailed Beast forms, both through the Tailed Beasts themselves as well as their Jinchuriki. While they’re all incredibly powerful, not all of them hold a similar level of strength, and some are certainly far stronger than others.

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Chakra Cloaks

The most basic tailed beast form that we have seen in the Naruto series is a chakra cloak. Anyone who is a Jinchuriki can wield a chakra cloak, and even some who have only a portion of a beast’s strength can gain access to this power. For instance, when Naruto Uzumaki finally started making use of the Nine-Tails’ chakra, he gained a powerful chakra cloak that he coated his body in. This chakra cloak’s strength depended on how many tails Naruto manifested, and this cloak form usually lasted up to three tails, following which Naruto would shift into a semi-beast form.

Others, such as Kinkaku and Ginkaku, gained access to cloaks by simply consuming a portion of the flesh of the Nine-Tails. Similarly, every Jinchuriki that exists can access this chakra cloak form, which stands as the most basic Tailed Beast form in the story.

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Lava Release Chakra Mode

Among the many Tailed Beast forms that Masashi Kishimoto has introduced in the story, one that remains incredibly underrated is the Lava Release Chakra Mode. This transformation belonged to none other than Roshi, the Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails, Son Goku. This form allowed Roshi to coat his entire body in lava and become practically an untouchable human who could deal devastating damage to enemies.

Roshi’s Lava Release Chakra Mode was absolutely terrifying to take on in combat. Yet against someone like Kisame, who stood as his natural weakness as the Tailless Tailed Beast, he was not able to do anything. Roshi was eventually defeated by Kisame and taken back to the Akatsuki hideout, where his Tailed Beast was extracted from him, and he died in the process.

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Full Beast Transformation

All the Jinchuriki that exist in the world of Naruto have access to a full beast transformation. This can happen in a multitude of ways. In some cases, the Tailed Beast and the Jinchuriki have full coordination, and the Jinchuriki can then access the full beast form. In other cases, the Tailed Beast completely overpowers the Jinchuriki and can fully manifest itself. In some cases, even partial control over the Tailed Beast has been shown to grant access to a full beast form. In either case, this transformation is incredibly powerful and very difficult to rival in combat.

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Kurama Chakra Mode

Kurama Chakra Mode is one of the most powerful tailed beast forms that we have seen in the entirety of the Naruto series, and it belongs to the protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki, himself. This powerful mode sees Naruto tap into the limitless chakra of Kurama and gain a bright yellow cloak all around himself. This cloak grants him immense chakra and boosts all his physical attributes, taking them to sky-high levels.

Naruto can also manifest a full-form Kurama around him, which allows him to fight against strong Tailed Beasts all by himself. This Kurama Chakra Mode stands as one of Naruto’s strongest transformations, when not taking into consideration the Six Paths powers that he receives later down the line.

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Six Paths Sage Mode

Another powerful Tailed Beast form that Naruto Uzumaki gained in the original series is the Six Paths Sage Mode. Technically, Six Paths Sage Mode sees Naruto combine Hagoromo’s Six Paths Yang Powers with his Sage Mode. However, to manifest Six Paths Senjutsu, one also needs the chakra of all the Nine Tailed Beasts. This was confirmed by both Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Madara Uchiha.

Naruto received a portion of the chakra of all the Tailed Beasts during the Fourth Great Ninja War. When that was combined with the Six Paths powers that Hagoromo granted him, he awakened the Six Paths Sage Mode. This transformation was incredibly powerful and allowed Naruto Uzumaki to fight on even footing against Madara Uchiha and, in certain instances, even overpower him in combat, making him one of the strongest characters in the entire world.

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Kurama Avatar Mode

In the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto Uzumaki also gained access to a unique transformation called Kurama Avatar Mode. This transformation saw Naruto create multiple shadow clones while using his full Kurama Six Paths form and then amass immense amounts of natural energy. This energy, when granted to Naruto’s main body, allowed him to fuse with other Kurama clones, creating a three-headed Kurama Avatar, which was incredibly difficult to take on in combat.

Its powers were strong enough to match Sasuke’s humanoid Perfect Susanoo and completely nullify Indra’s Arrow, the strongest jutsu that Sasuke had in his arsenal at the time. Unfortunately, this is a one-time form that Naruto has never utilized since, even though technically he should have been able to use it in combat effortlessly.

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Ten Tails Jinchuriki Form

The Ten-Tails Jinchuriki form is incredibly overpowered and one that only a select few have managed to achieve over the years. The first Ten-Tails Jinchuriki that we know of is Hagoromo Otsutsuki, who achieved this feat after the defeat of Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Then, in the Fourth Great Ninja War, Obito Uchiha ended up becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, and following him was Madara Uchiha, who attained the perfect form as well. Madara was incredibly strong as the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, and his power was great enough to just about overwhelm any enemy in his path. Madara’s transformation was taken to another level when he absorbed the God Tree on top and gained the ability of the Rinnegan as well. Unfortunately, Madara was used as a vessel to bring back Kaguya Otsutsuki, but he was truly a menace up until that point.

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Baryon Mode

The strongest Tailed Beast transformation seen in the Naruto franchise is Baryon Mode. Baryon Mode was unleashed in Boruto when Naruto fought against Isshiki Otsutsuki. It is a unique transformation that sees Naruto use his own and Kurama’s chakra as a source of energy to create a completely new energy form. Kurama compares this process to nuclear fusion itself. That is why the resulting energy is so great that it largely overwhelms even Isshiki Otsutsuki in combat.

Among the mortals of the Naruto world, Baryon Mode Naruto is simply the strongest to ever exist, surpassing even the likes of Hagoromo Otsutsuki himself. This makes this transformation the strongest of all time.

All chapters of Naruto are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.

Typically, manga series that experience long hiatuses see their popularity quietly dwindle with time. This has been the norm across many manga series, but if there’s one exception to the rule, it’s Yoshihiro Togashi’s legendary manga, Hunter x Hunter.

Despite Togashi’s long hiatuses starting all the way back in 2006, fans are still deeply invested in his story and are always eagerly awaiting new chapters and updates. Luckily for all of us, it seems that now, 20 years after the hiatuses began, things are finally getting better. Togashi is finally writing consistent Hunter x Hunter chapters and sending them to Shueisha regularly for publication in recurring batches of 10 chapters. With Togashi’s promise of delivering 50 new chapters and drawing the ending to his manga, it finally seems like the story will come to an end with regular releases after all.

Hunter x Hunter’s Togashi Has Promised 50 New Chapters Of The Manga Spanning Over Multiple Years

Hunter x Hunter is not a new shonen manga. The series initially began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in 1998 by legendary mangaka Yoshihiro Togashi, who, at this point, was already known for his other hit, Yu Yu Hakusho, which defined a whole generation by itself. At the beginning, Hunter x Hunter enjoyed a consistent serialization, featuring very few breaks or hiatuses. Sadly, things got worse for the series starting in 2006 during the serialization of the Chimera Ant arc. During this arc, Togashi’s health issues started worsening, which, as a result, meant he would need to start taking more frequent breaks. The breaks also kept getting longer, and it eventually reached a point where Togashi’s longest hiatus lasted up to 4 years.

It’s undeniable by now that Hunter x Hunter has become a series widely known for its long hiatuses, with many fans even losing hope of seeing the story ever end. With that being said, we’ve seen a great shift in Togashi’s work schedule starting in 2024. Two years ago, Togashi returned from one of his longest breaks ever, with 10 new chapters covering content from Chapter 401 to 410. This was an incredible moment for the Hunter x Hunter community as the journey towards the Dark Continent finally resumed. By the end of the batch of chapters, Togashi made quite an ambitious promise.

He stated on his X social media on December 24, 2024, that he aims to create 50 more chapters of the Hunter x Hunter series at a minimum. In other words, it definitely seems the Hunter x Hunter story is finally progressing after decades of slow serialization and long hiatuses. Based on Togashi’s goal, the story of Hunter x Hunter will be published more frequently in Weekly Shonen Jump until we reach, at the very least, Hunter x Hunter Chapter 460, which is still far ahead.

Furthermore, we know that, despite the troubles that Togashi faces along the way, he still has a strong desire to conclude Hunter x Hunter properly. While some content might have to ultimately be cut to get him to the end goal, an ending seems feasible based on his current work schedule.

Hunter x Hunter Experienced Regular Manga Publication Again In 2026 After Short Hiatus

As previously stated, since 2006, it could be said that Hunter x Hunter’s serialization has been quite irregular. Sometimes, Togashi makes a comeback with a couple of new chapters, while at other times he simply disappears for years on end. In 2024, however, when he released his first batch of 10 chapters, we finally got some consistency. Only a year and a half after the hiatus started on December 8, 2024, Togashi went on to return with new chapters. Specifically, between June 29, 2026, and September 6, 2026, Togashi returned yet again with 10 more manga chapters, making it one of the shortest hiatuses of recent years.

What’s more, Togashi has kept us updated consistently via his social media (@Un4v5s8bgsVk9Xp), keeping the excitement high for readers, as we get to track the progress of the manga in real time and estimate when the series will return. Currently, Togashi is still working in full force on the manga. Based on his latest social media update, he has concluded Chapter 430, which means another 10 chapters are ready for publication in 2027. He should have already started work on the next batch of chapters, which includes content from 431 to 440, likely to be published in 2028.

When Hunter x Hunter Could Return And What To Expect

Technically, Hunter x Hunter only departed from Weekly Shonen Jump very recently. The final chapter of the latest batch, which was chapter 420, was released in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #41 on September 6, 2026. In other words, Hunter x Hunter has been gone for only around two months, and yet we are already preparing for the potential return of Yoshihiro Togashi with 10 more chapters. That is because Togashi has already completed his next batch, which covers chapters 421 to 430, all confirmed via his X social media on October 26, 2026. While the next batch has wrapped up, we still have no idea when Shueisha plans to add the series back to Weekly Shonen Jump.

The Last time Togashi finished a batch, it took the magazine a few months to add it to its roster. All in all, it’s possible to see the return of Hunter x Hunter as early as December 2026, or slightly later, in early 2027. It’s all in the hands of Shueisha to decide when publication will resume. Unfortunately, after this upcoming batch is out, it will likely take Togashi a lot longer to finish the next batch of chapters and for Hunter x Hunter to return. This is because Togashi has yet to make any significant progress on chapters 431 to 440. For now, we’re simply enjoying the story as Togashi slowly progresses through the Succession Contest arc, which has been ongoing in the manga since 2011. Still, we can assume that Hunter x Hunter will once again return with the next batch in 2028, leaving us with chapters 441-460 to look forward to all the way until 2030.

In the last batch of chapters, we saw some exciting events unfold in Hunter x Hunter. The focus was put on Prince Benjamin, who went into full action with his plan to capture or kill his siblings to secure the throne for himself. Meanwhile, Prince Tserriednich used his broken ability, Parallel Future, to trick his brother and escape. Even Hisoka is back, which sets up the possibility of his conflict with the Phantom Troupe erupting very soon.

Of course, we can also not forget about Togashi bringing back the iconic duo of Hunter x Hunter, Gon and Killua, who are set to take on new protector roles of Prince Wobble, setting up the scene for the return of our original protagonists. This is an exciting possibility, especially as Togashi put the spotlight on Kurapika over a decade ago, when the current arc started.

Hunter x Hunter is currently on hiatus with no official return date. All 420 chapters are available to read on Manga Plus and Viz Media.

Jujutsu Kaisen creator Gege Akutami is known to be one of the most merciless mangaka when it comes to handling his own characters. Often in shonen manga stories, most main characters receive a happy-ever-after ending, but Gege Akutami is famed all over the world for killing off his characters, often indiscriminately.

In his new sequel manga for Jujutsu Kaisen, that is, Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo, set 68 years after the conclusion of the Sukuna Raid, Gege Akutami has essentially confirmed the death of two of his three main characters, which also includes the protagonist Yuji Itadori. These two characters are now set to perish with the clock ticking, but before that, they are going to usher in a new age of sorcery in Japan.

Jujutsu Kaisen Is Permanently Killing Off Nobara Kugisaki Soon

When Jujutsu Kaisen began, Gege Akutami made it abundantly clear that he was working with four main characters. These four main characters included:

• Yuji Itadori, the primary protagonist of the series
• Nobara Kugisaki, the main heroine of the series
• Megumi Fushiguro, the deuteragonist of the series
• Gojo Satoru, the leader of the team

The first of the four to fall was Gojo Satoru. Satoru, who officially met his end in Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 236, released officially on September 25, 2023, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 43. At the end of the original JJK manga, all three of the students of Gojo Satoru had survived.

“You were magnificent, Satoru Gojo! I shall never forget you for as long as I live!” — Sukuna kills Gojo, Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #236

Unfortunately, in the Modulo era, it was confirmed that Megumi Fushiguro had already passed away at an unknown time, under unknown circumstances. Now, the last two remaining main characters of Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji and Nobara, are both set to die. In the Modulo era, Nobara Kugisaki is quite old and, just like all the other humans, is going to perish very soon. Nobara is in her 80s right now, and her appearance in Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Chapter 25 on March 9, 2026, officially confirms that she doesn’t have long left.

Yuji: I should’ve done this with my own power. But I won’t disregard my purpose any longer. There’s something I need to do. And to do that, I need your help, Kugisaki!

Nobara: Heh, alright then!

— Yuji and Nobara link up, JJK Modulo Chapter #25

With Jujutsu Kaisen likely to get another timeskip following the release of Modulo Chapter 25, Nobara will most likely be dead next time we see the world of JJK once again. This is quite sad because, out of all the main characters, she had the least developed plotline. From here onwards, she will most certainly not get any further character development from the author unless a JJK prequel or a series that exists between the original and Modulo is announced by Gege Akutami. Regardless, with Nobara quite old, her death is just around the corner.

Gege Akutami Confirms Yuji’s Upcoming Death In 300 Years In The JJK World

Kugisaki Nobara isn’t the only character in Jujutsu Kaisen who’s set to die. The primary main character of the entire franchise, Yuji Itadori, is also confirmed to be dying. Unlike Nobara and Megumi, Yuji’s case is quite different. In the Modulo Volume 3 author notes, Gege Akutami officially confirmed that Yuji Itadori’s body ages very slowly due to him being half human and half cursed spirit.

“Upon absorbing the Cursed Wombs, he became a hybrid between a curse and a human, which caused his aging to slow down to an extreme degree” — Gege Akutami explains Yuji’s age, Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Volume #3 Notes

Yuji Itadori also confirmed directly in Modulo Chapter 22, released officially on February 16, 2026, that he is going to be alive for at least 300 more years. In Modulo Chapter 25, which was officially released on March 9, 2026, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 15, Yuji also confirmed that his death date in 3 centuries is already set. When he dies, he will be turned into a Cursed Object, just like Ryomen Sukuna.

“I’m going to live for another 300 or so years. I will handle whatever follows. And if necessary, I’ll bear the consequences of this great sin.” — Yuji confirms his age, Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Chapter #22

In other words, Yuji Itadori’s fate is sealed as well, just as Nobara Kugisaki’s, and with that, all four original main characters of Jujutsu Kaisen will have died. While it is undeniable at this point that both Nobara and Yuji are set to die, they still have important things to do before their eventual passing. In Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo Chapter 25, Yuji reached out to Nobara, apologized for his disappearance, and asked for her help once again after decades.

Yuji and Nobara aim to usher in a completely new age of sorcery, and for that, they need to work together one last time. It is unfortunate that Gojo Satoru and Megumi Fushiguro are not around to aid them, but the last mission of this team is essentially being carried out by just Yuji and Nobara together before both of them eventually end up perishing. Yuji Itadori wants to ensure the safety of Japan and the sorcery world in the future before he ends up dying himself, which makes his last act a very selfless one and in line with the teachings of Gojo Satoru.

Why A New Era Of Sorcery Is Coming In Jujutsu Kaisen

In Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo, Chapter 22, Yuji Itadori decided to permanently remove cursed energy from the future generation of sorcerers born in Japan. In other words, all those who currently have cursed energy and cursed techniques are going to keep it until they die, but once they die, no other sorcerers with cursed energy or cursed techniques are going to be born.

Consequently, there will be far fewer births of cursed spirits in Japan, which means that the conflict with the Rumelians will drop dramatically as well. That said, cursed energy cannot be fully erased. Trace amounts of this energy will still be leaked, which will lead to the creation of up to 10 cursed spirits in Tokyo every single year, which means that a new generation who wields powerful abilities needs to rise.

“As for the people with a Heavenly Restriction from here on out, we’ll have to track them down, and we’ll thoroughly keep tabs on their family line. We’ll also need to preserve the cursed tools we have and mass-produce them.” — Yuji explains the future with Heavenly Restriction users, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter #25

Yuji Itadori confirmed in Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo, Chapter 25, that the plan for him and Nobara is to seek out all Heavenly Restriction users and to mass-produce the Cursed Tools to equip them to these powerful users. In other words, the next generation of Jujutsu Kaisen will be taught to fight using these powerful mass-produced cursed tools and utilizing heavenly restriction to the absolute maximum.

When Yuji dies, he wants to leave Japan in the capable hands of someone strong who wields a powerful Heavenly Restriction, thus securing the future of not only Japan but the entire world. At this point, it is unclear if Gege Akutami will ever show us a glimpse of this new era, but all things considered, the future for Jujutsu Kaisen is wide open. The author can easily return to the story and set up a brand-new sequel to Modulo in an era where sorcery no longer exists. Fans all over the world would love to witness such a story, but for now, all they can do is simply sit back and wait patiently for Gege’s return.

Jujutsu Kaisen and Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo by Gege Akutami are available for fans to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.

Ultra Ego was introduced in the Dragon Ball Super manga’s Granolah the Survivor Saga as Vegeta’s ultimate transformation. At its core, Ultra Ego is the antithesis of Ultra Instinct – in the same way that Goku and Vegeta are foils. Where Ultra Instinct requires a clear mind, heart, and perfect understanding of martial arts philosophy, Ultra Ego is all about channeling violent, destructive power into a brand new, almost chaotic force of nature.

Despite already training his body to use Hakai, Vegeta’s doesn’t trigger Ultra Ego until Beerus formally accepts him as a God of Destruction disciple and gives him a Destroyer ring. Where Ultra Instinct is an Angelic form, Ultra Ego is a Destroyer form, and Dragon Ball Super: Beerus has just introduced the franchise’s second Ultra Ego user.

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Has Introduced the Series’ Second Ultra Ego User

In a surprising turn of events, Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Episode 5 featured Beerus using what appears to be Ultra Ego against Super Saiyan God Goku. In promo art for the Dragon Ball Super manga, Toyotarou colors Ultra Ego with the same purple hue that the remake uses for Beerus’ aura. Similarly, the full color digital release of the Dragon Ball Super manga in Japan keeps Ultra Ego’s main color scheme purple, with Vegeta’s hair tinted a darker share of purple and his Ki once again resembling Beerus’ aura.

Ultra Ego is a transformation all about raw power. It perfectly channels the user’s Destructive energy into more power, raising their Power Level gradually over the course of the fight. Vegeta also demonstrates against both Granolah and Gas that Ultra Ego gets stronger the more damage he takes. Neither of these elements are present in Episode 5, but this makes sense. Beerus’ fight against Goku doesn’t last long enough for Ultra Ego to grow more powerful and Goku never actually damages him.

Another clear indicator that Beerus is using Ultra Ego specifically and doesn’t just have purple aura is how his attacks have been reanimated. An animation effect has been added to Beerus’ Hakai-based techniques, really emphasizing his power as a Destroyer. Not only that, Goku briefly taps into what appears to be a false version of Ultra Instinct at one point. The animators clearly want to remind fans of Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego, sewing the seeds for Goku and Vegeta’s final forms at the start of the series.

Every God of Destruction Has the Potential For Ultra Ego

An important thing to note about Ultra Ego is that every God of Destruction retroactively has the potential to use the form. The Granolah the Survivor Saga makes it obvious that Ultra Ego is tied to Vegeta’s growth as a Destroyer, not a Saiyan. Dragon Ball Super even played around with Destroyer forms in the Tournament of Power literally giving Toppo a form called “Destroyer Form.” In hindsight, he was obviously using Ultra Ego.

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus has a rare chance to remake the story with future plot points in mind. Even if Episode 5 doesn’t directly acknowledge that Beerus is using Ultra Ego, visually seeing it in action is enough to make Vegeta unlocking the form in Dragon Ball Super 2 carry even more impact than it did in the manga. This could also be a sign that Beerus might end up using Ultra Ego in the Black Frieza Saga, and Toyotarou let the animators know early.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Part 2 is set to premiere in January 2026, and ahead of its highly anticipated release, several new character portraits have been released, along with information pertaining to the show’s new ending theme song. While recent episodes of One-Punch Man have struggled to live up to viewer expectations, fans are hoping that the next round will harken back to the series’ glory days, though only time will tell.

Starting as a web comic in 2009, One-Punch Man‘s manga remake launched online in 2012, and in North America, new chapters appear in the digital version of Weekly Shonen Jump. Written by One and illustrated by Yusuke Murata, the series follows Saitama, an independent superhero who has trained to the point that he can defeat nearly any opponent with a single blow. Bored and frustrated by a lack of challenge, he sets out to find stronger foes to face, meeting many other heroes along the way. As of July 2026, the manga series has sold over 38 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga of all time, on par with other hits like Chainsaw Man and Black Butler.

One-Punch Man Releases New Character Visuals Ahead of Season 3 Part 2

Six new character visuals have been released ahead of One-Punch Man Season 3 Part 2, highlighting the show’s heroes and villains. Additionally, it has been confirmed that Makoto Furukawa will perform the new ending theme, titled “The Corners of the World.” Furukawa, also the voice of Saitama, previously performed the ending themes for Season 2, as well as the first part of Season 3. It was previously announced that JAM Project would be returning to perform the opening theme, titled “Never Done -SUPREME POWER VS ULTIMATE FEAR-.”

Season 1 of the One-Punch Man anime adaptation has been widely applauded as one of the best series of the 2010s. Featuring animation by Madhouse, the studio behind Frieren and Overlord, the first season was directed by the prolific Shingo Natsume, known for his work on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Space Dandy. While Season 2 drew mixed reviews, One-Punch Man Season 3 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many calling it the worst anime of 2025. Its art, animation, and direction left much to be desired, leaving many of the series’ fans disappointed and frustrated. With its return in January, many dedicated viewers are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that it will see some major improvements.

From June 26 to July 20, 2026, a One-Punch Man 10th Anniversary Exhibition was held at Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou-Park in Tokyo, with fans able to purchase exclusive goods, see original sketches and autographs on display, and try out some special themed food items. These included the Saitama Burger and Genos’ Incineration Cannon Soda, both of which came paired with a random gift. Visitors were also able to insert themselves into popular scenes from the series for some memorable photo ops.

In 2020, Columbia Pictures confirmed that a live-action film adaptation of One-Punch Man was in development, with Scott Rosenberg (Venom) and Jeff Pinkner (Lost, FROM) writing the movie. In 2022, Justin Lin was confirmed to be directing the project, with production set to begin later that same year. Unfortunately, things behind the scenes seem to be somewhat troubled, as in April 2024, Heather Anne Campbell (The Eric Andre Show, Saturday Night Live) and Dan Harmon (Community, Rick and Morty) were reportedly hired to rewrite the script.

Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is currently awaiting the release of chapter 1198, which is set to be published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 49 on November 8, 2026. With the Elbaf arc hitting its climax and set to wrap up within the next few chapters, all eyes of the fans are on the next arc of the series. As things stand, Eiichiro Oda has already announced the next arc at Jump Festa 2026, and with the major players of the One Piece world, such as Nerona Imu, Sun God Nika, and many other powers, already at play, it goes without saying that One Piece’s next arc is going to be quite chaotic.

One important element that is going to make the next arc even more special is a unique timeskip that Oda has crafted after the Elbaf arc. One Piece entered its first timeskip around 16 years ago, on August 30, 2010, following the release of Chapter 597, titled “3D2Y.” This timeskip lasted for two long years and saw the Straw Hat Pirates reunite on Sabaody Archipelago following their individual training. Now, a slightly different form of timeskip is set to take place at the end of Elbaf, and the basis for it has been laid by Eiichiro Oda throughout the arc.

One Piece’s Elbaf Time Dilation Is Set To Force A New Timeskip After The Imu Battle

In One Piece Chapter 1179, released on April 5, 2026, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 19, Nerona Imu, the King of the World, descended upon Elbaf. Since then, Imu has fought against one powerful entity after another relentlessly, without even taking a break. With each passing chapter, Nerona Imu’s body gets closer to its limit, and this has been highlighted by Oda time and again. In other words, Imu has spent a considerable amount of time fighting in Elbaf, which explains why he is at his utmost limit. Regardless of Imu hitting his limit, Elbaf itself dilates time, and this is something that Eiichiro Oda has set up in this arc right from the very get-go.

“Plants, trees, vines, flowers, insects, fish, and birds…everything is breathtakingly huge. Adventurers, do not regret your lost time here. However, if there is one message you take away from my account of the gigantic and mystical land of Elbaf, let it be this word of warning. ‘Do not overstay your welcome here.’” — Explorer, Louis Arnote, One Piece Chapter #1132

This was first hinted at in One Piece Chapter 1132, which was officially released on December 2, 2024, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 1. In this chapter, Louis Arnote, the famous explorer who we were first introduced to in the Little Garden arc, warned all those who came to Elbaf that they should not overstay their welcome. The reason as to why was not made clear at the time, but later down the line, specifically in One Piece Chapter 1152, released on June 23, 2025, it was confirmed that within Elbaf, those who stay for a long time start to perceive time very differently.

This was first indicated through a conversation between Scopper Gaban and Shanks as they were bathing together. In Gaban’s mind, Roger had died 3 years ago. However, Shanks corrected him, saying that it had already been 10 years since the death of the captain of the Roger Pirates.

Gaban: It’s been quite a while since we shared a bath. How long has it been, 3 or 4 years?

Shanks: Get real, Gaban-san! It’s been 10 years since the Captain died

Gaban: That long? It must’ve felt like forever to you!

— Scopper Gaban fails to perceive time in Elbaf, One Piece Chapter #1152

On top of that, in One Piece chapter 1149, which was released on May 26, 2025, Nerona Imu stated to his Holy Knights that they were taking significantly longer in Elbaf than they were supposed to. According to him, the Holy Land was already under attack in the span of time, even though it had only been a matter of minutes for the Holy Knights in Elbaf.

Under normal circumstances, one wouldn’t bat an eye at this, but for Marijoa to be attacked and the attack to have already been stopped in the same time that the Holy Knights were fighting in the country, where it hadn’t even been a day, goes to show that time is perceived very differently in this country of the Giants.

On top of that, in One Piece chapter 1178, when Imu decided to leave the Holy Land, the attack that had taken place on the Holy Land had already been quelled by Shamrock Figarland. The battle in Elbaf continues to rage on, which doesn’t make much sense unless time flows differently in the Holy Land of Marijoa than in Elbaf. This also explains why Imu is already at his limit, because in Elbaf he has fought for significantly longer than he actually thinks.

“Elders, the Holy Land shall be without Mu for a while!” — Nerona Imu leaves Marijoa, One Piece Chapter #1178

Why Luffy Vs Imu Will End With A World In War

Currently, One Piece’s Elbaf arc is awaiting the climax, which sees Luffy trade blows with Nerona Imu, the King of the World. As Luffy Vs Imu continues, Elbaf will be thrown into a Ragnarok-like situation where the end of the entire country and potentially even the world will be brought forth. In one way or another, Luffy must be able to push Imu out of Elbaf to protect the country, and as that happens, the trigger for the final war will officially be set.

“A vast war will ensue and drag the entire world into it! And which side the Giants pledge their allegiance to will have a profound effect on the outcome of the war!” — Gunko explains the Great War after Elbaf, One Piece Chapter #1146

In One Piece chapter 1146, Gunko stated quite clearly that a war that will engulf the entire world is coming, and whoever the Giants side with will be crucial in deciding the fate of the war. Clearly, the Giants will side with Luffy, and from here on out, One Piece will enter a warlike situation. Unbeknownst to Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, the war will likely already have kickstarted outside Elbaf because time there feels about three times faster.

The Events Of The Elbaf Timeskip

During Jump Festa 2026, Eiichiro Oda stated that after Elbaf, Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates will be headed to the island where only the Pirate King and his crew have set foot. At the same time, he said he would introduce the man with the Burn Scar and that the next arc will be an arc of reunions, with both rivals and friends crossing paths once again. Naturally, this excites us to no end.

“We are heading to “that island,” which only the Pirate King was ever able to reach!!? The Man with the Burn Scar will also appear. Characters who never had the chance to meet will finally encounter each other. Those two will meet, and those two will meet as well.” — Oda’s message, Jump Festa 2026

At the same time, when taking into consideration the fact that time flows very differently in Elbaf, these events have likely been in motion for months while Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates were in the land of the Giants. The very first thing that we will likely see after the Elbaf arc concludes is that, outside the Warland, things have progressed at a drastic pace, and a lot of major battles have likely happened. When Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates set sail from Elbaf, they will do so in a world that has moved along a lot further than they expected. In many ways, Luffy and the Straw Hats will have lost months, if not more time, in this country, while the others will have gained the upper hand over them. This time period will have allowed the Blackbeard Pirates to strengthen even further and potentially even the World Government to acquire more power and work on technology like Mother Flame. This timeskip is significant for the story to move at the proper pace that Oda wants it to, and for the Great War to begin without aging the Straw Hat Pirates up.

All chapters of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.

Season 4 of Spy x Family is officially on the way in 2027, and that’s not all, as the franchise’s second theatrical film is also headed to theaters next year. The anime adaptation of Tatsuya Endo’s web manga series became an instant hit when its first season aired in 2022, and its most recent third season earned largely positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Those wanting to see more of Loid, Anya, and Yor’s hijinks on both small and big screens will soon be luck, as plenty of fresh content is on the way.

Endo’s acclaimed shonen manga series has been published on the Shonen Jump+ app and website since March 2019, and over the years, it has inspired everything from light novels and musicals to video games and amusement park attractions. The anime adaptation, produced by Wit Studio and CloverWorks, has received critical acclaim for its humor, action, character development, voice acting, and approach to humor, which makes it suitable for viewers of all ages. Season 3 concluded in December 2025, and fans eager for more won’t have to wait long.

Spy x Family Season 4 and Second Movie Coming in 2027

During a recent event in Japan, Season 4 of Spy x Family was confirmed, with the anime currently in production and on track for a 2027 release. Additionally, the franchise’s second theatrical film is also slated to hit theaters next year, with more details to be revealed at a later date. Yasuhiro Akamatsu, known for his work on Attack on Titan, Naruto: Shippuden, and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, will be directing the series’ fourth season.

In 2023, the series’ first official film, Spy x Family Code: White, was released, earning positive reviews from critics and pulling in over $246 million worldwide. Fans were also treated to some good humor in July 2023, as Spy x Family collaborated with the film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Fans were treated to a parody poster featuring the main characters of the anime replacing the Mission: Impossible cast, showing just how big the franchise has become since its humble beginnings in 2019.

Spy x Family follows a spy known as Twilight who is tasked with building a family to execute a difficult mission. What he doesn’t realize is that his adopted daughter has the ability to read minds, and his wife is an incredibly skilled assassin. This leads to plenty of ridiculous situations, and while its humor is a major selling point, its more dramatic moments have also been well received. To date, Spy x Family has sold over 42 million copies, putting it on par with other hit manga series like Shaman King, The Promised Neverland, and Yu-Gi-Oh!

Wit Studio has had a busy year, releasing Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring and Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke in 2026. Next year, it’s also slated to release LONA, an anime series featuring original character designs by Posuka Demizu of The Promised Neverland fame. The show will take place in a dystopian near-future, during which people are being attacked by individuals who are supposed to be dead.

The Rinnegan is a legendary Dojutsu introduced first by Masashi Kishimoto in the Naruto series. It is known to be an incredibly powerful eye with godly abilities that allow one to rule over life and death itself. In the Boruto series, the powers of the Rinnegan were wielded by the legendary Sasuke Uchiha, the protagonist of the series, and by some other legendary figures, such as those of the Otsutsuki, like Momoshiki. However, the Boruto series has taken a very radical approach with this and many other Kekkei Genkai.

It has now been confirmed that the Rinnegan is practically dead in Boruto, both in terms of existence and what this ability truly means for the shinobi of the world, and its return at this point seems increasingly unlikely.

Boruto Erases Sasuke’s Status As The Last Rinnegan User

At the end of the Naruto series, in Chapter 700, which was officially released on November 10, 2014, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 50, Sasuke Uchiha was the only known person alive with a Rinnegan at his disposal. Following the timeskip that led into the Boruto era, this remained true, and even when the threat of Momoshiki and Kinshiki arrived, they did not last long. Momoshiki was eventually killed by the combined effort of Naruto, Sasuke, and Boruto, which meant that this Rinnegan user perished, leaving behind Sasuke as the sole Rinnegan user in the canon of the series.

“There, I’ve blocked your pesky space-time ninjutsu [Rinnegan]. There’s no escape for you now. It’s the second time I’ve manifested. It sure is nice being free.” — Momoshiki Otsutsuki destroys Sasuke’s Rinnegan, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter #53

Unfortunately, all this changed when Sasuke’s Rinnegan was taken from him in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Chapter 53, released officially on December 20, 2020, in V-Jump Issue 2. Momoshiki Otsutsuki, after having taken over the body of Boruto Uzumaki, stabbed Sasuke’s Rinnegan and destroyed it. Not only did this shut down Sasuke’s space-time ninjutsu, but it also took away his Six Paths Powers permanently from him, nerfing him drastically in the process. As Sasuke stood as the last Rinnegan user among the Shinobi kind, this was quite an underwhelming way for his powers to be taken away from him and for him to be nerfed permanently.

“Sorry, you’ll have to wait a bit longer, Master Sasuke.” — Boruto Uzumaki fails to save Sasuke, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #4

Over three years have passed since then in the ninja world, and Sasuke Uchiha remains without the Rinnegan. What’s worse, and even more terrible, a fate has followed him in the Two Blue Vortex series. It was confirmed in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Chapter 4, titled “The Awakening,” released on November 20, 2023, that Sasuke Uchiha is sealed away and turned into a tree. He fell prey to one of the Claw Grimes, which led to the birth of the Shinju Hidari. Now, Boruto Uzumaki and all the others are working to bring Sasuke back, but even upon his return, his Rinnegan will not be returned to him.

With No Rinnegan User, The Kekkei Genkai Is Officially Dead

The Rinnegan was once the most exalted of all Kekkei Genkai that existed in the ninja world. Its importance and power were there for all to see in the original Naruto series, so for this eye to fall off as badly as it did in Boruto is truly unfortunate. Mikio Ikemoto has underexplored many elements of the original story that Kishimoto established in Naruto. This becomes especially apparent when many other Rinnegan users simply don’t make use of this power in the way that it is intended.

“Perhaps you are the incarnation of the Sage. I have a feeling that the Sage’s hopes were bestowed upon your eyes [Rinnegan].” — Jiraiya shows the importance of the Rinnegan

For instance, all the new Shinju who were officially revealed to us in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 4 on November 20, 2023, wielded the power of the Rinnegan. However, none of them use it in the way that it is supposed to be utilized. In essence, the Rinnegan grants one the Six Paths Powers and a Seventh Path that allows them to rule over life and death. In some cases, it also grants the user unique abilities, such as Limbo Hengoku in the case of Madara Uchiha, and Amenotejikara in the case of Sasuke.

However, none of the Shinju manifest even a single ability from these, which goes to show that this eye is more of a design choice for them than actually being the useful Kekkei Genkai that it is. In other words, both in terms of practicality and spirituality, the Rinnegan is practically dead in the Boruto series, and that is quite a disappointing reality for the Naruto and Boruto fans to face.

Why The Ten Tails Dojutsu Is Not Comparable To The Real Rinnegan

Alongside the Shinju, the Ten Tails has also been utilizing the power of the Rinnegan in the Boruto series. Unfortunately, as is the case with the Shinju, this Rinnegan is there for show as well. It does not grant any specific jutsu to the user of the Ten Tails’ powers or to the Ten Tails itself. Right now, the Ten Tails has incarnated itself in the form of Jura, which was confirmed to us in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter 14, released on September 20, 2024. Yet Jura does not wield even a single ability of the Rinnegan that Masashi Kishimoto set in the original Naruto series. Instead, Jura heavily relies on abilities like Tailed Beast Bombs or Wood Release in combat.

“Jura is a special case. Unlike the others, he has no prototype. He is a direct incarnation of the Ten-Tails, and the one steering this crisis we’re facing right now.” — Boruto Uzumaki confirms Jura’s power, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #14

Had the Rinnegan been utilized to its fullest potential, we would have loved to see godly abilities being shown by the likes of Jura and the other Shinju. Unfortunately, that is not the reality that we are faced with. In either case, Sasuke was the last true user of the Rinnegan, but even he was nerfed significantly in Boruto and was not allowed to use his Six Paths Powers or the Seventh Outer Path in any way or form. In his case, the Rinnegan was practically reduced to Amenotejikara and opening portals to travel between dimensions.

Right now, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is actively working towards the return of Sasuke Uchiha, with Chapter 39 expected on November 20, 2026. When Sasuke does make a comeback, he will do so without the power of the Rinnegan, but perhaps in some way or form, this eye may be restored in the future. If that is the case, we can only hope that Mikio Ikemoto learns from his mistakes and allows Sasuke and other Rinnegan users to use all the Six Paths powers alongside the Outer Path to truly show the godly status of this Kekkei Genkai that has long been undervalued in Boruto.

All chapters of Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto and Boruto by Mikio Ikemoto are available for fans to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.

The battle of Gods has officially begun in Dragon Ball Super: Beerus. Goku has unlocked Super Saiyan God, the fate of the Earth is at stake, and all Goku has to do is defeat the most powerful God of Destruction in existence. Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Episode 5 didn’t shake up the status quo too much from the previous episode, but it put into perspective what Goku and Beerus are capable of in the remake.

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus takes place in an alternate timeline from the original anime and Toyotarou’s manga, but as of yet, it’s hard to tell where the remake scales power-wise. Goku’s battle with Beerus feels a lot more intense this time around – especially with Beerus subtly using his own version of Ultra Ego – but there’s some evidence that the series’ power scaling won’t be as out of control as previous DBS continuities. Worth noting, since Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Episode 5 mostly focused on Goku VS Beerus, a good chunk of the cast did not appear in the episode and won’t be included in the power ranking.

7

King Kai Makes One of His Last Appearances Ever

Although he might make one more appearance in Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Episode 6 as the Battle of Gods Saga wraps up, this might very well be a series wrap for King Kai. Following the introduction of Beerus and Whis, they become the highest tiered Gods that Goku interacts with, meaning he doesn’t need to keep coming back to King Kai like he did in Dragon Ball Z.

From here on out, we won’t really be seeing King Kai anymore. He’d already faded in relevance by the end of the Buu Saga, but Battle of Gods tried to give him one last hurrah. In terms of Power Level, King Kai is weaker than even Nappa was in the Saiyan Saga, so it’s not like he can pull his way in Dragon Ball Super.

6

Old Kai is About to Lose All His Relevance

Speaking of irrelevancy, Old Kai is also on his way out. Battle of Gods is the last time both King Kai and Old Kai are important to Dragon Ball‘s storyline. Old Kai isn’t physically powerful himself, but the mystical abilities he unlocked by fusing with a witch allow him to create the strongest warriors in the universe.

In Dragon Ball Z, Old Kai uses his powers to unlock Gohan’s Ultimate form, making him the strongest unfused fighter at the end of the series. Of course, neither Goku nor Vegeta would ever want their potential unlocked that way and Dragon Ball Super‘s expanding pantheon means that Old Kai doesn’t really have a place in the plot anymore. Even in the original series, he was mainly a way of calling back to Master Roshi for the manga’s grand finale.

5

Kibito Kai is Going to Defuse in Two Arcs

Since Kibito Kai does not appear in Resurrection F, these next two episodes are the last time he’ll ever be seen in Dragon Ball Super. By Dragon Ball Super: Beerus‘ final saga, Kibito Kai will have defused off-screen into Supreme Kai and Kibito. While he often goes unnoticed since he never fights, Kibito Kai is actually quite powerful.

He’s not strong enough to defeat any version of Majin Buu, but he would easily be able to sweep every Dragon Ball villain up to the Cell Games. From there, he’d start having a lot of trouble. Interestingly, Kibito Kai is the rare fusion doesn’t like the fact that he exists, hence why he ends up defusing in-between arcs.

4

Gohan is Officially Washed

Although Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero did a lot of good in rehabilitating Gohan’s image, the fact of the matter is that Dragon Ball Super didn’t care about Gohan at all for most of its run. As a remake of the original series, there’s unfortunately not much Dragon Ball Super: Beerus can do to fix things. If anything, the remake seems to be making the problem worse.

Gohan is a lot weaker in this continuity, to the point where Majin Buu did more damage against Beerus than he did. All Gohan does in Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Episode 5 is doubt whether or not his father has become a God because he can no longer sense Goku’s ki. Not being able to sense God Ki is one thing, but doubting Goku? Gohan may not be physically weak, but he’s become weak of character.

3

Super Saiyan God Goku is Not the Challenger Beerus Wanted

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Episode 5 outright confirms that Super Saiyan God Goku’s Power Level is far beyond anything that was seen in Dragon Ball Z. Goku can barely comprehend the sheer volume of his growth in the remake. Unlocking Super Saiyan God gives Goku the power and speed he needs to actually use his martial arts skills against Beerus – a fact that impresses the Destroyer, albeit only briefly.

As their fight goes on, Beerus begins to grow disappointed in Super Saiyan God Goku. Even with God Ki, Goku can’t push Beerus to use his full Power Level. In the end, Beerus laments that Goku is not the Super Saiyan God he was waiting for, also confirming that the Saiyan in Beerus’ visions from previous episodes were in fact Yamoshi. That said, Episode 5 ends with Goku seemingly absorbing the power of Super Saiyan God into SSJ and showing signs of early Ultra Instinct mastery, so it would be wrong to call him weak.

2

Beerus Officially Uses Ultra Ego Against Goku

In what is perhaps the single biggest change in Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, the remake has introduced Ultra Ego early. While the anime never utters the words “Ultra Ego,” it’s obvious just based on how Beerus’ aura has been redesigned and the added visual effects to his Hakai attacks make it obvious that the animators are setting up Vegeta’s new form in Dragon Ball Super 2.

While Beerus does let Super Saiyan God Goku flex for a bit, it goes without saying that the God of Destroyer is still leagues stronger than him. Beerus is capable of countering every single blow Goku throws at him. His use of Hakai distorts the world around him due to its sheer power. Beerus even comes close to actually killing Goku, nearly piercing his heart in a flurry of blows.

1

Whis Finally Sees Goku’s Potential

Whis only appears for a very brief moment in Dragon Ball Super: Beerus Episode 5, but he’s watching Goku and Beerus’ battle the entire time off-screen. Whis hasn’t paid much attention to Goku these past few episodes, but all of that is going to change now that he’s unlocked Super Saiyan God. While Goku will fail to beat Beerus, he’ll succeed in impressing Whis.

Especially in this continuity where Goku has already shown he has what it takes to use Ultra Instinct. If anything, Whis showing an interest in Goku and mentoring him now makes infinitely more sense because of Dragon Ball Super: Beerus‘ visual changes. Whis is going to begin training Goku in the next arc and is easily the strongest of his masters.

Shoto Todoroki is one of the Big Three of U.A. High School’s Class 1-A in My Hero Academia. His mastery of the Half-Cold, Half-Hot Quirk allows him to take on some of the most powerful villains head-on, outclassing even Pro Heroes with years of combat experience.

Of course, Shoto’s formidable combat prowess wouldn’t be possible without the power-ups he unlocks throughout the series. As he learns to embrace both sides of his Quirk, Shoto eventually develops new abilities that significantly enhance his strength, making him an even more formidable force in My Hero Academia.

7

Shoto Uses Heaven-Piercing Ice Wall in More Ways Than One

Shoto’s signature move from the Sports Festival is none other than Heaven-Piercing Ice Wall, which he famously unleashes against Hanta Sero and Katsuki Bakugo during their one-on-one battles. Throughout the series, Shoto continues to rely on this versatile technique for offense, defense, and team battles, making it one of his most useful power-ups.

On the battlefield, Shoto uses Heaven-Piercing Ice Wall to block incoming attacks, restrain criminals, and even propel himself forward using the massive ice ridge it creates. He can also use the technique to charge directly at his opponents, turning a defensive ability into an effective offensive weapon. Additionally, Shoto can freely adjust the size of his ice walls depending on the situation and his needs.

6

Shoto Takes Endeavor’s Flashfire Fist to an Entirely New Level

Although Flashfire Fist isn’t Shoto’s signature technique, as it was originally developed by Endeavor, he uses this powerful ability multiple times throughout the series, including during his battle against the Humarise’s Leviathan in the movies. By raising his flames to their maximum temperature, Shoto significantly increases his destructive power, allowing him to unleash devastating one-hit finisher attacks.

Eventually, Shoto develops his own variation of Endeavor’s Flashfire Fist, taking the technique to a whole new level with the creation of Phosphor. Rather than relying on just one half of his Quirk, Shoto combines both his ice and fire abilities, producing cold fire that can simultaneously burn and freeze his targets upon contact.

5

Jet Kindling Allows Shoto to Unleash Explosive Firepower With His Fists

Among Shoto’s fire-based techniques in My Hero Academia, Jet Kindling is undoubtedly one of his most powerful attacks. It allows him to unleash a violent burst of flames that burns his opponents upon impact. More impressively, Shoto can trigger its devastating effects without directly hitting his target, provided he executes the attack with a punching motion.

During some of the most challenging battles in My Hero Academia, Jet Kindling proves to be a reliable technique, allowing Shoto to concentrate intense flames around his fists and overpower formidable opponents. He can even combine this attack with other heroes’ abilities, as shown during the Final War when he teams up with Nejire Hado to unleash an even more powerful Ultimate Move.

4

Flashfreeze Heatwave Gives Shoto an Attack That Can Match Izuku’s One For All at Full Power

Shoto is an incredibly intelligent fighter on the battlefield, capable of unleashing devastating combination attacks that make his Half-Cold Half-Hot Quirk even more formidable. In particular, the Flashfreeze Heatwave attack shows Shoto’s exceptional ability to take advantage of his surroundings, particularly the air around him. Shoto first cools the surrounding air with his ice before rapidly heating and expanding it with his flames, creating a devastating explosion.

Alternatively, Shoto can perform Flashfreeze Heatwave by sending massive chunks of ice at his opponents before following up with a barrage of fireballs. This combination produces a powerful long-range explosion capable of overwhelming his targets. In the series, this power-up is even strong enough to match Izuku’s One For All Quirk at full power.

3

Shoto’s Phosphor Counters Dabi’s Blue Flames

Developing Shoto’s Phosphor is no easy task, as finding the perfect balance between his ice and fire abilities requires considerable time, effort, concentration, and talent. However, all this hard work eventually pays off, allowing Shoto to reap the benefits of his powerful new ability. Not only does Phosphor grant him remarkable resistance to heat-based attacks, including Dabi’s superior Blue Flames, but it also gives him a significant advantage against opponents with pyrokinetic Quirks.

When activated, Phosphor creates a massive X-shaped pattern extending from Shoto’s chest, channeling both halves of his Quirk and merging them into a single, devastating ability. Its flames take the form of cold fire, which is incredibly hot and cold to the touch, allowing Shoto to unleash powerful Ultimate Moves such as Great Glacial Aegir and Coldflame’s Pale Blade.

2

Coldflame’s Pale Blade Turns Shoto’s Ice and Fire Into a Powerful Piercing Weapon

Coldflame’s Pale Blade is one of Shoto Todoroki’s Ultimate Moves that he can only perform through Phosphor. Without this power-up, Shoto couldn’t generate enough ice and fire energy to unleash this devastating close-range piercing attack.

True to its name, Coldflame’s Pale Blade allows Shoto to conjure a massive blade combining ice and fire, which he can use to pierce his opponents with a powerful, concentrated strike. More impressively, Shoto can extend the attack’s reach by dispersing the blade into a barrage of combined ice and fire projectiles. During his Final War showdown with Dabi, Shoto unleashes this move at point-blank range, sending the villain flying a considerable distance.

1

Shoto’s Great Glacial Aegir Can Extinguish Dabi’s Inferno

One of the Ultimate Moves Shoto develops through Flashfire Fist: Phosphor is Great Glacial Aegir. This versatile close and long-range ultimate attack sees Shoto charge toward his opponent while building Phosphor in his right hand before unleashing a devastating punch infused with cold fire.

During his battle against Dabi in the Final War, Great Glacial Aegir is powerful enough to extinguish Dabi’s Blue Flames, prevent his Inferno from spreading, and temporarily incapacitate the villain. When Shoto unleashes an even more powerful version of the attack a second time, he successfully stops Dabi’s impending explosion, showing the incredibly destructive and freezing potential of his cold fire.