Summary
- Open Barrier Domain Expansions are stronger and more refined than regular domains, offering a larger radius and sure-hit guarantee.
- Only two instances of Open Barrier Domains have been seen in Jujutsu Kaisen: Sukuna's Malevolent Shrine and Kenjaku's Womb Profusion.
- Open Barrier Domains, like Sukuna's, are considered the strongest type of domain expansion in Jujutsu Kaisen, surpassing regular domains in power.
The world of Jujutsu Kaisen is laced with divine powers and godly techniques, some that far exceed human comprehension. High-level curse techniques are already a potent threat for Jujutsu sorcerers and cursed spirits alike, yet the true epitome of Jujutsu Sorcery is Domain Expansion. However, these domains come in a few different forms, some that greatly differ from the standard Domain Expansions. One all-powerful variation of these domains is an Open Barrier Domain Expansion, one that is touted to be even stronger than the regular domain expansions witnessed in the series.
The notion of a barrierless domain expansion might seem paradoxical, since a domain expansion needs to have a certain limit or a barrier. However, these domains work similar to their counterparts, albeit with the difference of being open and offering an exit to those inside them. While there are only minimal instances of this type of domain expansion being used in Jujutsu Kaisen, the few examples in the series showcase the godly nature of these open barrier domains.
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What Are Open Barrier Domains?
A Barrierless Domain With Its Own Set Of Rules
Open Barrier Domain expansion was initially a concept that was unheard of in Jujutsu Kaisen. While simple domains were still a common notion in the anime, casting an entire domain was still a foreign concept. However, this notion became reality in the Jujutsu Kaisen after Sukuna unleashed his Malevolent Shrine domain expansion, a barrierless domain that is not encapsulated in a separate plane.
The ability to realize one's innate domain without using a barrier is akin to an artist painting a masterpiece not on a canvas, but on air. A truly divine technique.
These types of domains offer the same sure-hit function of regular domain expansions, albeit with the added benefit of ensuring that the domain cannot be broken into, since it is already barrierless. The series has described these types of domains as painting a picture without a canvas, which symbolizes the domain expansion being cast without any sort of physical boundary. While this type of domain expansion might seem weaker in theory, it is actually much stronger, since they ensure the same sure-hit guarantee and a much larger radius. Moreover, a barrierless domain also ensures that it cannot be overturned by another Jujutsu Sorcerer's domain.
How Do Open Barrier Domains Differ From Normal Domain Expansion?
A Few Key Differences Separate the Two Types
Open Barrier Domains differ from their regular counterparts in a number of ways, though the primary difference lies in the name itself, as barrierless domains do not have an external wall that contains the Jujutsu Sorcerer's cursed energy. Still, even without a definite boundary to the domain, Open Border Domains still do have an endpoint, such as Sukuna's domain that extended to a 200-meter radius around him.
Another difference lies in the sure-hit effect of the domain. For a normal domain expansion, the domain's sure-hit effect only applies to those with cursed energy. This means that anomalies such as Toji Fushiguro or Maki Zenin, who have zero cursed energy, would likely remain unharmed in a normal domain. However, Open Barrier Domains attack anything and everything indiscriminately within the radius of the domain's reach.
Another key difference lies in how to dismantle the domain. For a regular domain expansion, merely destroying the outer shell results in the domain being dismantled, and the caster being left helpless. However, open barrier domains cannot be canceled the same way, since there is no outer shell that can be destroyed. The domain can only be canceled if the caster is injured to the point where they are unable to maintain the domain anymore.
Instances Of Open Barrier Domains in Jujutsu Kaisen
There Are Only Two Instances Of Open Barrier Domains In the Series
In the Jujutsu Kaisen series, there have only been two actual instances of a barrierless domain. Some might consider Fushiguro's Chimera Shadow Garden domain to be an open barrier domain, since his domain expansion was only contained by the physical borders of the surrounding area. However, Fushiguro's domain expansion was a pseudo-barrierless domain, since he couldn't manifest a barrier due to the incomplete nature of his domain expansion.
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This indicates that his Chimera Shadow garden domain expansion wasn't refined enough to form a barrier, making it an incomplete domain of sorts, meaning his domain expansion cannot be considered a true borderless domain, Apart from Fushiguro, the actual true instances of this type of domain being used in Jujutsu Kaisen was first witnessed in Sakuna's case, whose malevolent shrine technique is actually a barrierless domain. Another instance was Kenjaku’s Womb Profusion, a barrierless domain that worked on a similar principle to Sukuna’s domain.
Sukuna’s Malevolent Shrine
|
First Appearance |
Episode 4 "Fearsome Womb" |
|
Air Date |
October 24, 2020 |
While Sukuna’s domain expansion does not have a border, it is still contained within a 200-meter radius around him, though he can choose to reduce the radius. Sakuna can also attach a binding vow to his domain, which was witnessed in the form of his two techniques: dismantle and cleave, targeting enemies indiscriminately. For objects that exhibited curse energy, they would be targeted by cleave, while inanimate objects were attacked by Dismantle, ensuring that those without curse energy would also be killed in the process.
Sukuna’s open barrier domain is extremely refined, meaning it triumphs over all other domains. Moreover, the domain will remain perpetually active until Sukuna himself dismantles it, or if he is rendered incapacitated by his opponents. The domain also transcends the sure-hit effect, since his attacks will target opponents relentlessly within the domain, irrespective of his own will.
Kenjaku’s Womb Profusion
|
First Appearance |
Chapter 205 "Stars and Oil" |
|
Release Date |
November 28, 2022 |
The other instance of a barrierless domain is Kenjaku's Womb Profusion's domain expansion, an ability which can be considered an open barrier domain. The domain expansion was strong enough for Yuki's abilities to be rendered useless. Moreover, Tengen, who is known as the strongest user of barriers in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, struggled to dismantle Kenjaku's Womb Profusion domain.
Akin to Sukuna’s Open Barrier Domain, Womb Profusion also targets anyone in a certain radius. The nature of the attack still remains unknown, though it's clear that it landed a devastating blow to those caught within the radius of the domain. The domain is resistant to anti-domain techniques, though this trait is universal to all open barrier domains.
A Clash Between the Two Types
Open Barrier Domains Would Triumph Due to Their Refined Nature
While achieving a domain expansion is already thought to be the pinnacle of Jujutsu sorcery, creating an Open Barrier Domain is an even more difficult task, making it the strongest type of domain expansion in the Jujutsu Kaisen series. This is further backed by the fact that only two characters have been able to manifest inside the domain, Sukuna and Kenjaku, arguably the two strongest beings in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe.
This means that Open Barrier Domains are clearly stronger than their counterparts. However, a clash between these two types would result in a barrierless domain. While a clash between the two domains would result in a very large domain winning, it's worth noting that these domains can be contained within another domain expansion if the bearer is large enough to enclose it. However, Sukuna’s Malevolent Shrine was strong enough to break through Gojo’s Unlimited Void, even slashing him in the process. This clearly indicates that Open Barrier Domains are superior, considering Sukuna and Gojo’s domains are said to be equal in refinement.
Jujutsu Kaisen is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 3, 2020
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Gege Akutami
