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- May 31, 2015
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Self-explanatory. Either make your clear pick or a list and provide explanations.
#1 - Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist) - Equivalent exchange means no usage of it is too broken other than maybe Flame Alchemy and even then, such abilities require some major specifics to be used properly or some near-permanent repercussions with those who have seen The Truth.
#2 - Nen (Hunter X Hunter) - Perhaps the most complex power system in the medium with the separation of different classes that make it so that you can't just master everything (unless you're Kurapika) and makes sure strength isn't always the deciding factor with a non-linear take on powerscaling. It only falls below Alchemy due to the asspulls of Contracts and Alluka's wish granting making it far less balanced.
#3 - Stands (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) - For similar reasons as Nen (it's where Togashi got the idea, after all), as they provide interest in strength not being the deciding factor and the way each Stand works in terms of range and abilities make it so no match up is the same outcome. It doesn't quite measure up to it's successor, however, as it's rules can be inconsistent (eg. Notorious B.I.G. "breaking all the known rules of Stands") and Requiem Stands being above all others.
#4 - One Piece's various power systems - Devil Fruits provide a good level of ability counters in some battles such as Luffy VS Crocodile and the use of Haki and the weakness to the sea provide some level of balance with the more broken users. The main things that hold it back from being on par with Alchemy or Nen would be that Haki negating DF abilities for the most part if the Haki user is stronger makes things far too simplistic and the main cast having plot-induced nigh-infinite durability makes the rules worthless if used against Luffy and his friends.
#5 - Martial Arts styles (Hokuto no Ken) - All the various styles such as Hokuto Shinken, Nanto Seiken, Taizan Tenroken, Gento Koken, etc. all serve to make the battles more than just ones of raw strength and offer interesting, unique effects and provides interest for seeing how each fighter will counter each other, especially when it's established several times one wrong move can mean instant death. What doesn't place it higher is that Musou Tensei and Anryu Tenha make everything else irrelevant and the limitations to what Hokuto Shinken can do not having a clear definition.
Honourable Mentions
Cybernetic Bodies (Battle Angel Alita) - I didn't include this as it isn't necessarily a power system, though Alita's universe explaining a lot of abilities that could otherwise be seen as fantastical with it's universe's science with physics terminology and supplementary reading material is something I'd love to see more of in action series. It would easily get the #2 spot if I included it.
Newtypes (Mobile Suit Gundam) - Not included for similar reasons to Alita and has pretty similar reasons to mention it. Newtypes exist to represent ideas about human evolution and the effect such uncontrollable environments as space can have on one's psychology, thus excusing the common criticism of many of Tomino's characters having moodswings. The main reason I don't consider it a power system is outside of Scirocco, nobody has been shown to increase their usage of it beyond piloting capabilities. If I were to include it, then it would rank just above Nen due to not ruining the balance of the series.
Cosmo (Saint Seiya) - Despite the series having constant resolve asspulls, it's perhaps the only series where the power system excuses it due to it focusing on atomic manipulation and the analogy of it's characters creating miniature Big Bangs from the atoms within their body to amplify their power, adding slightly more meat than the typical Shonen fare. Despite this, it's still a way to excuse sudden power ups, despite resulting in a lot of cool, overpowered techniques, so it doesn't make the cut.
Chakra (Naruto) - In it's current state, Naruto's power system doesn't matter when only Bijuu modes and Sharingan can make someone relevant nowadays, though up until the Pain Arc, it had a pretty decent power system with it's use of deception with various jutsu as well as the Releases that got expanded upon during the Hidan/Kakuzu Arc, making it a system where various types of jutsu had an elemental advantage over the other. Still not good enough to make the list, but up until eye techniques became all that mattered, it could've been considered above average.
#1 - Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist) - Equivalent exchange means no usage of it is too broken other than maybe Flame Alchemy and even then, such abilities require some major specifics to be used properly or some near-permanent repercussions with those who have seen The Truth.
#2 - Nen (Hunter X Hunter) - Perhaps the most complex power system in the medium with the separation of different classes that make it so that you can't just master everything (unless you're Kurapika) and makes sure strength isn't always the deciding factor with a non-linear take on powerscaling. It only falls below Alchemy due to the asspulls of Contracts and Alluka's wish granting making it far less balanced.
#3 - Stands (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) - For similar reasons as Nen (it's where Togashi got the idea, after all), as they provide interest in strength not being the deciding factor and the way each Stand works in terms of range and abilities make it so no match up is the same outcome. It doesn't quite measure up to it's successor, however, as it's rules can be inconsistent (eg. Notorious B.I.G. "breaking all the known rules of Stands") and Requiem Stands being above all others.
#4 - One Piece's various power systems - Devil Fruits provide a good level of ability counters in some battles such as Luffy VS Crocodile and the use of Haki and the weakness to the sea provide some level of balance with the more broken users. The main things that hold it back from being on par with Alchemy or Nen would be that Haki negating DF abilities for the most part if the Haki user is stronger makes things far too simplistic and the main cast having plot-induced nigh-infinite durability makes the rules worthless if used against Luffy and his friends.
#5 - Martial Arts styles (Hokuto no Ken) - All the various styles such as Hokuto Shinken, Nanto Seiken, Taizan Tenroken, Gento Koken, etc. all serve to make the battles more than just ones of raw strength and offer interesting, unique effects and provides interest for seeing how each fighter will counter each other, especially when it's established several times one wrong move can mean instant death. What doesn't place it higher is that Musou Tensei and Anryu Tenha make everything else irrelevant and the limitations to what Hokuto Shinken can do not having a clear definition.
Honourable Mentions
Cybernetic Bodies (Battle Angel Alita) - I didn't include this as it isn't necessarily a power system, though Alita's universe explaining a lot of abilities that could otherwise be seen as fantastical with it's universe's science with physics terminology and supplementary reading material is something I'd love to see more of in action series. It would easily get the #2 spot if I included it.
Newtypes (Mobile Suit Gundam) - Not included for similar reasons to Alita and has pretty similar reasons to mention it. Newtypes exist to represent ideas about human evolution and the effect such uncontrollable environments as space can have on one's psychology, thus excusing the common criticism of many of Tomino's characters having moodswings. The main reason I don't consider it a power system is outside of Scirocco, nobody has been shown to increase their usage of it beyond piloting capabilities. If I were to include it, then it would rank just above Nen due to not ruining the balance of the series.
Cosmo (Saint Seiya) - Despite the series having constant resolve asspulls, it's perhaps the only series where the power system excuses it due to it focusing on atomic manipulation and the analogy of it's characters creating miniature Big Bangs from the atoms within their body to amplify their power, adding slightly more meat than the typical Shonen fare. Despite this, it's still a way to excuse sudden power ups, despite resulting in a lot of cool, overpowered techniques, so it doesn't make the cut.
Chakra (Naruto) - In it's current state, Naruto's power system doesn't matter when only Bijuu modes and Sharingan can make someone relevant nowadays, though up until the Pain Arc, it had a pretty decent power system with it's use of deception with various jutsu as well as the Releases that got expanded upon during the Hidan/Kakuzu Arc, making it a system where various types of jutsu had an elemental advantage over the other. Still not good enough to make the list, but up until eye techniques became all that mattered, it could've been considered above average.
