The Best Anime Characters Who Hide Their Strength

Anime often features powerful and impressive characters who showcase their strength through incredible feats of skill and power. However, there are also many anime characters who hide their abilities, often to keep a low profile or to maintain a strategic advantage in battle. These characters may appear weak and unassuming at first glance, but they possess incredible strength and skills that they only reveal when absolutely necessary.

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This trope is often used in shonen anime, where characters face increasingly complex challenges and opponents. The concept of hiding one’s strength adds a layer of intrigue and excitement to many anime series, as viewers are constantly left wondering when and how these characters will unleash their true power.

Updated September 5, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Most characters in anime who hide their strength tend to be incredibly powerful, with broken abilities that trivialize any sort of opposition once the power is revealed. From a storytelling perspective, the purpose of this is to make interactions with prospective villains have a comedic effect rather than any sort of tension, enticing viewers to wait for the inevitable beatdown the villain is going to be on the wrong end of. That said, there are a few nuanced characters in anime who hide their strength strategically in order to survive, lying low and fooling those more powerful than them.

12 Biscuit Krueger

Hunter x Hunter

Hunter x Hunter's Biscuit Krueger is one of the most popular and dangerous characters in the series. She is a skilled martial artist and an experienced hunter who initially joins the main characters, Gon and Killua. Biscuit initially appears as a young and cute girl, but later reveals her true form as a muscular and middle-aged woman.

Biscuit cares deeply for her students and goes to great lengths to help them succeed. She also possesses a unique ability called Double Impact, which allows her to increase her strength and speed to incredible levels. Biscuit’s dynamic personality and powerful abilities make her a memorable character in the Hunter x Hunter series.

11 Kabuto

Naruto

The first time Kabuto appears in Naruto is during the Chuunin Exams, during which he assumes the role of an average ninja taking the exams for the seventh time in hopes of passing. Even when assaulted by another genin, he doesn't strike back but takes the blow. It isn't until much later that Naruto finds out that Kabuto is a spy for Orochimaru, infiltrating the exams on his master's orders.

Kabuto maintains his cover as an average Genin for the duration of the exams but reveals himself to Sasuke in the hospital after the events of the exam are over, killing eight ANBU in the process. Later on, Kabuto is shown to be a triple-crossing spy, working for Orochimaru, Danzo Shimura, as well as Sasori from the Akatsuki at the same time, none suspecting him of treachery. Kabuto is an expert at hiding how powerful he is, even from those who know he's a capable ninja of at least Jonin level.

10 Ken Kaneki

Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul is an anime and manga series with a complex main character named Ken Kaneki. At the beginning of the series, Kaneki is portrayed as a timid and weak individual who is unable to defend himself. But as the show goes on, it becomes obvious that Kaneki is concealing his true power.

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His transformation into a ghoul gives him immense power, but he is reluctant to use it for fear of losing his humanity. Kaneki’s internal struggle between his desire to protect his loved ones and his fear of becoming a monster is a central theme of the series, making him a compelling and relatable character.

9 Shigeo Kageyama

Mob Psycho 100

Shigeo Kageyama, also known as “Mob,” is the protagonist of the anime and manga series, Mob Psycho 100. Despite possessing incredible psychic powers, Mob chooses to hide his strength and live a normal life. He fears the consequences of using his abilities, as he has seen firsthand how they can harm others and himself.

Mob’s reserved and introverted personality also contributes to his reluctance to show off his powers. However, as the series progresses, Mob embraces his strength and uses it to protect those he cares about, hence becoming confident and self-assured.

8 Koro-sensei

Assassination Classroom

Koro-sensei, the main character of the anime and manga series Assassination Classroom, is a highly intelligent and powerful creature with the ability to move at supersonic speeds and regenerate from any injury. Koro-sensei initially hides his incredible abilities, portraying himself as a goofy and approachable teacher.

This is because he wants to teach his students valuable life lessons and help them grow as individuals, rather than just using his abilities to defeat them. As the series progresses, Koro-sensei’s true strength is gradually revealed, but he never loses sight of his goal to teach and inspire his students. His dedication and selflessness make him a beloved character and a true mentor to those he teaches.

7 Nikaido

Dorohedoro

Nikaido is a powerful magic user and one of the main characters in the manga and anime series Dorohedoro. Despite her exceptional abilities, she often hides her strength and presents herself as a tough but ordinary woman running a small restaurant in the Hole. This is partially due to her past, which involved working for a powerful sorcerer and being subjected to cruel experiments that left her with scars and a damaged memory.

Nikaido also prefers to keep a low profile to avoid drawing attention to herself and endangering her friends. However, when her loved ones are threatened, Nikaido reveals her full power and fearlessly confronts her enemies. Her strength and resilience make her a fan favorite and a compelling character in the series.

6 Killua Zoldyck

Hunter x Hunter

Killua Zoldyck, a main character in the anime and manga series Hunter x Hunter, is a highly skilled assassin from a family of notorious killers. Despite his incredible strength and expertise in combat, Killua initially hides his true abilities from others. This is because he was raised in a family where showing weakness or vulnerability could result in punishment or even death.

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Killua also doesn't want to intimidate or scare off potential allies, as he values friendship and camaraderie. However, as the series progresses, Killua begins to trust and open up to his friends, revealing his full strength and potential. His journey of self-discovery and overcoming his traumatic past make him a beloved and complex character in the series.

5 Muzan

Demon Slayer

Muzan Kibutsuji is the primary antagonist and strongest of the demons in the anime and manga series Demon Slayer. He is a powerful demon who possesses immense strength, speed, and regenerative abilities. Despite his fearsome reputation, Muzan often hides his true strength from his enemies and allies alike. He is a master of disguise and can change his appearance to avoid detection and blend in with human society.

Muzan is also cunning and manipulative, using his powers of mind control and suggestion to achieve his goals. However, as the series progresses, Muzan's true power and ruthlessness are gradually revealed, making him a formidable and terrifying adversary for the demon slayers. His complex and sinister personality makes him a memorable and chilling character in the series.

4 Tatsuya Shiba

The Irregular at Magic High School

Tatsuya Shiba, the main character of the anime and light novel series, The Irregular at Magic High School, is a skilled magician with amazing powers. Despite his formidable talents, Tatsuya often hides his strength and presents himself as a lowly "weed" student at his prestigious magic high school. This is partly due to his family's history and reputation as the creators of powerful magical technology, which has made them enemies among some of the other magic clans.

Tatsuya also avoids drawing attention to himself to protect his friends and loved ones from potential danger. However, as the series progresses, Tatsuya's true strength and genius-level intellect are gradually revealed, making him a respected and feared figure in the magical world. His journey of self-discovery and overcoming his past make him a complex and intriguing character.

3 Itachi Uchiha

Naruto

Itachi Uchiha is a character from the anime and manga series Naruto. He is a highly skilled and powerful ninja from the Uchiha clan, known for their exceptional abilities in combat and the use of their Sharingan eyes. However, Itachi often hides his strength and presents himself as a pacifist and diplomat, avoiding unnecessary conflict whenever possible.

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This is partly due to his traumatic past, which involved being forced to slaughter his own clan and live with the guilt and trauma that followed. Itachi also seeks to protect his younger brother, Sasuke, whom he loves deeply and wants to keep safe from harm. As the series progresses, Itachi's true strength and cunning are gradually revealed, making him a tragic and complex character in the series.