Summary
- Various isekai manhwa feature unique power systems, enhancing protagonist growth and narrative appeal.
- The Novel’s Extra showcases unique superpowers that add depth to characters and storytelling.
- Pick Me Up diverges from traditional game systems in isekai by focusing on daily training for skills.
The isekai genre is notorious for many things, but the overpowered protagonist is its most prominent trope. In isekai manhwa, the main character is often able to gain strength that far surpasses others by taking advantage of the existing power system, whether through glitches, divine intervention, or superior information. These power systems vary from story to story, adding their own flavor to the narrative and tracking the protagonist’s growth.
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With the freedom that isekai provides, authors can create completely new and unique ways to display their characters’ powers. Unfortunately, only a few choose to do so. Many isekai power systems are largely the same, using an archetypal system that’s familiar to many readers. However, with some special rules or requirements, authors are able to turn a generic system into something much more provocative.
Unique Super Powers For Everyone
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.77
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation, School
- Author: Gapsong Ji
- Illustrator: Carrot Studio
In isekai manhwa, abilities are often generic powers characters gain after meeting certain requirements, but that’s not the case in The Novel’s Extra. Within the story, abilities are like unique superpowers that everyone is born with, and no two are exactly the same. Generally, everyone has one ability, but very rarely, special people get more, which greatly influences their power level. Their ability often determines the type of hero they will be.
Given his special position in the plot, the main character, Kim Hajin, is able to create his own abilities, which all happen to be extremely strong. For example, his “Marksman” ability gives him proficiency with all long-ranged weapons, a bullet time skill, and allows him to see extremely far distances. This overpowered ability helps Hajin compete with the other important characters.
5
Pick Me Up: Gacha Mechanics
Classic Gacha Balancing
- MyAnimeList Score: 8.22
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Video Game
- Author: Hermod
- Illustrator: Wasakbasak
Game systems are extremely common in isekai, and many authors use them because they’re familiar and easy to understand. Pick Me Up is an isekai set inside a gacha game, but it doesn’t use the traditional power system of game isekai. Rather than gaining experience to level up and earn skills, the characters must train daily to get the skills they desire. For example, a character will receive the skill Pain Tolerance after being hurt a number of times.
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Given that the manhwa is set in a gacha game, rarity is also an important factor. Characters are ranked from one to seven stars, and those with more stars often have higher base stats, learn skills more easily, and gain more upgrades when leveling up. The protagonist, Han, is a one-star character, so his growth rate is incredibly slow. This huge handicap makes his feats in the story that much more incredible.
4
Reincarnator: Runes
Magic Stones With Untapped Potential
- MyAnimeList Score: 6.94
- Published: 2023 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Time Travel
- Author: ALLA
- Illustrator: On the Rock
Normally, a leveling system is put in place, so characters can get stronger. In Reincarnator, monsters don’t give experience after being defeated; they drop rune stones instead. Rune stones come in a wide variety, with the most basic ones increasing stats and the rarest ones giving skills. In general, the number of runes a person has will determine their strength, and the most powerful characters will have hundreds.
In this story, the protagonist, Kang Hansoo, can only have seven different unique runes, so while he can increase his stats, he can only have a few special skills. In return, he’s able to continuously upgrade his seven skills. He needs to be incredibly selective, but eventually, all of his skills will be extremely powerful. While there are special items and weapons, runes make up the majority of a person’s strength.
3
Conquering The Academy With Just A Sashimi Knife: Blessings
Gifted With Divine Power
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.06
- Published: 2024 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, School
- Author: Tangahuru
- Illustrator: GMAN
Divine blessings and special powers are often associated with isekai because gods often reincarnate people with cheat skills and abilities. Conquering the Academy With Just a Sashimi Knife features something similar. The story takes place in the world of a mobile game where certain people are given divine protection or blessings. These are generally hereditary traits, so not everyone has one.
Blessings can be anything, ranging from simple defensive skills to overpowered, god-like abilities. The main character, Kang Geom-ma, has two bessings, one from the person he possessed and one he received when he was isekai’d. The first lets him nullify his sense of pain for thirty seconds, and the other lets him cut anything while holding a sashimi knife.
2
Latna Saga: Survival Of A Sword King: Four Energies
Four Ways To Use Life Energy
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.74
- Published: 2019 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai
- Author: Kyung-bae Yim
- Illustrator: Soonkyu Kwon
Aura and mana are staple concepts in fantasy manhwa that are used as benchmarks for a warrior’s and mage’s upper limit, respectively. Swordsmen who use aura are in a league of their own, and mages who have a great understanding of mana can do significantly more than a normal practitioner of magic. Latna Saga expands on these general ideas to create a unique system for its story.
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Rather than two paths, citizens of Latna have four ways to use their life energy, depending on their natural affinity. Prana is used by healers, priests, and spiritualists, focusing on supportive abilities and recovery. Mana is used by mages and wizards to cast spells and use magic. Aura is used by warriors to enhance their physical abilities, absorbing or releasing energy to increase attack or defense. Force is used by magic swordsmen and has similar attributes to electricity, requiring metal objects and a charging time. All of this expands on the traditional aura and mana systems found in most isekai, and makes for a unique approach to the story.
1
The World After The Fall: Adapting And Awakening
Either With The System Or Against The System
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.55
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai
- Author: sing N song
- Illustrator: Undead Gamja
Usually, a power system is nothing more than a way for characters to keep track of their stats and abilities, and in some cases, it may even be its own entity. In The World After the Fall, the system is the core foundation of the universe, the rules that keep everything in check. How an individual interacts with the system determines what kind of power system they will use. If they choose to use the system, they become Adapters, and if they reject the system, they become Awakeners.
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While the two are very similar, the core difference between Adapters and Awakeners is their path of progression. Adapters go through stages up to a maximum of fifteen, and they are trained in towers to adjust to adaptation. Awakeners break away from that system and go through only six stages. However, those stages are unique for each Awakener, ensuring that all awakenings are unique and result in a unique world.
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