Jujutsu Kaisen Arcs With The Best Stories, Ranked

There are many reasons Jujutsu Kaisen quickly became one of the most popular action shōnen series of its generation, like its brilliant power system, its memorable characters, and its incredible fights. But, at the end of the day, this is a long story that spans 271 chapters, so its actual storytelling is important as well.

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Jujutsu Kaisen is made up of 11 different story arcs that actually feature some really well-written stories, brimming with impeccable world building and character development. There is a lot to choose from, but the following six arcs have the best storytelling in the entire series.

Spoiler Warning: The following entries will delve into narrative spoilers regarding the plot of Jujutsu Kaisen’s various story arcs.

6

Fearsome Womb Arc

The Perfect Introduction To This Fascinating World

• Duration: Chapters 1 to 18 (Manga); Episodes 1 to 8 (Anime)

Jujutsu Kaisen is obviously set in a unique and interesting world about curses and sorcerers, and it perfectly introduced audiences to it via its first arc, the Fearsome Womb Arc (even though it was technically the second arc that Gege Akutami had written). It works really well because protagonist Yuji Itadori is an outsider to this world, so everything that is explained to him is also explained to the audience.

In the span of a few chapters and episodes, Itadori’s entire life changes after he eats one of Ryomen Sukuna’s fingers — he discovers the truth about sorcery and curses, he meets a bunch of new friends, and he even gets to learn how to use cursed energy by himself. It’s all fascinating and engaging, not to mention that it concludes with the main character’s abrupt death and a chaotic final battle against the villainous Sukuna. This leaves the viewer wanting more while simultaneously establishing how dangerous this world is.

5

Perfect Preparation Arc

The Moment That Changed Maki Zenin Forever

• Duration: Chapters 144 to 158 (Manga)

At first glance, the Perfect Preparation Arc seems like a brief filler that’s meant to build up the world before the eventual Culling Game Arc. But, much to the surprise of fans, it actually contains some of the best written character moments and the development of the entire series. One such example is the tragic and abrupt death of Principal Masamichi Yaga, which concludes in one of the most heartbreaking moments in the entire manga.

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And, if that wasn’t enough, the Perfect Preparation Arc also features a defining moment for the character of Maki Zenin, who witnesses her twin sister die in front of her, gains a major power-up because of it and finally gets revenge on her entire clan, which had mistreated her throughout her entire life because of her low levels of cursed energy. This part of the arc is both exciting and satisfying, but it also features some well-written heavy character development for Maki that greatly improved her character.

4

Shibuya Incident Arc

A Dark Story Arc, Full Of Epic Fights And Shocking Revelations

• Duration: Chapters 79 to 136 (Manga); Episodes 30 to 47 (Anime)

There’s no denying that the Shibuya Incident Arc is one of the most important arcs in Jujutsu Kaisen, as it forever changed the fates of both the world and all of its key players. This wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for Gege Akutami’s impeccable writing, which perfectly used each and every prominent character in order to create an ambitious narrative that constantly keeps the audience engaged.

Needless to say, the Shibuya Incident Arc does feature some of the best and most exciting fights in the series, but it mainly stands out due to its shocking plot twists and heartbreaking character moments. From the reveal that Geto was Kenjaku all along, to the sudden sealing of Satoru Gojo and even Sukuna’s massacre while he’s possessing Itadori’s body, this is an arc that never lets the characters and the audience breathe, hitting them with one incredible scene after another.

3

Vs. Mahito Arc

The Arc That Showed Yuji Itadori How Cruel This New World Can Be

• Duration: Chapters 19 to 31 (Manga); Episodes 9 to 13 (Anime)

The storytelling of the Vs. Mahito Arc stands out at first because it introduces two of the best and most compelling characters in the series: Kento Nanami, a former salaryman-turned-sorcerer who becomes Itadori’s new mentor, and the titular Mahito, the special grade cursed spirit who represents the worst of humanity (and who’s arguably the best villain in the entire story).

But, the heart and soul of the Vs. Mahito Arc is the friendship between Itadori and Junpei Yoshino, an innocent boy who was tortured and manipulated by Mahito before the villain suddenly kills him in front of his new friend. This is the moment that showed Itadori (and, by extension, the viewer) how relentless the world of Jujutsu Kaisen is, so it obviously played a big part in his eventual character development and growth.

2

Cursed Child Arc

A Story So Interesting And Concise That It Became Its Own Feature Film

• Duration: Chapters 0-1 to 0-4 (Manga); Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie (Anime)

Before Jujutsu Kaisen got fully serialized by Weekly Shōnen Jump, Gege Akutami wrote a short manga that was eventually turned into a prequel to the main story. It follows the character of Yuta Okkotsu who, just like Itadori a few years later, suddenly finds himself in the dark world of sorcery while he has to deal with the terrifying spirit that is cursing him.

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The main strength of the Cursed Child Arc is its impeccable pacing, as in just a few chapters, it introduces the world, the characters, and features an over-the-top final battle against the antagonist, Suguru Geto, and his evil henchmen. Not to mention that the story of Yuta and his childhood friend Rika is emotional, dark, and concludes with some incredible character development for both of them. The pacing and storytelling of this arc are so excellent that MAPPA adapted it into a feature film titled Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which can be watched by anybody, without really needing to have any prior knowledge of the main Jujutsu Kaisen anime.

1

Gojo’s Past Arc

The Tragic Falling Out Of Two Close Friends Explains The Main Conflict Of The Series

• Duration: Chapters 65 to 79 (Manga); Episodes 25 to 29 (Anime)

The Gojo’s Past Arc is possibly the single most important story arc in all of Jujutsu Kaisen, as this brief but incredible flashback explains how Satoru Gojo became the most powerful and feared sorcerer in the world and how Suguru Geto became the biggest threat to Jujutsu society. Of course, this is a tragic story, as they were both close friends before they had a major falling out.

The brilliant pacing and storytelling of the Gojo’s Past Arc works extremely well because it establishes how endearing the friendship between Gojo and Geto was — before it was completely shattered by the events of their mission to escort the Star Plasma Vessel and their eventual encounter with Toji Fushiguro. This arc truly has everything that makes for a high-quality shōnen anime story: incredible character development, masterful world building, and emotional moments that leave a huge mark on the audience. It is no surprise that it’s often considered one of the best and most beloved arcs by passionate Jujutsu Kaisen fans.