When it comes to anime, few things are as infamous as plot armor.This plot device ensures that certain characters survive impossible odds, win battles they logically should not, and continue to defy death time and time again. While plot armor is often necessary to keep protagonists alive, some characters wield it so blatantly that it could make evenSatoru Gojo, Jujutsu Kaisen’s untouchable powerhouse, green with envy. Whether through sheer luck, conveniently timed power-ups, or outright resurrections, many anime characters have plot armor so thick that they might as well be invincible.
Plot armor is an unspoken force in anime, making sure that some characters survive battles they have no business winning.While some protagonists struggle through realistic hardships, others are granted last-minute power-ups, miraculous recoveries, or sheer luck that keeps them alive no matter the odds. Whether it is a hero defying death for the hundredth time or a villain conveniently escaping their downfall, plot armor often plays a bigger role than actual skill.In the world of anime, few characters have plot armor strong enough to rival Satoru Gojo’s near-invincibility, yet some warriors just might make him jealous.
10Reiner Braun (Attack on Titan)
The Armored Titan Who Refuses to Die
Reiner Braun fromAttack on Titanis the epitome of someone who should have died multiple times but somehow keeps trudging along. As the Armored Titan, he has been at the center of many brutal fights, facing off against the Scouts, Levi, Eren, and countless other enemies.Yet, time and again, he manages to survive seemingly fatal injuries.Whether it is getting his head blown off or being impaled multiple times, Reiner just refuses to die.
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His ability to transfer his consciousness throughout his body helps explain some of his survival tactics, but there comes a point where it just feels absurd. Despite suffering wounds that would have easily killed anyone else, Reiner persists, often lamenting his own survival while fans shake their heads at his ridiculous durability. No matter how dire the situation, Reiner always manages to crawl out of the rubble, proving that his plot armor is as impenetrable as his Titan form.
9Joseph Joestar (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
The King of Last-Second Comebacks
In the world ofJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,Joseph Joestar stands out as one of the most absurdly lucky characters. Unlike many others on this list, Joseph does not necessarily rely on raw strength or godlike abilities to survive, he just has an uncanny ability to cheat death. Whether it is through his quick thinking, last-minute strategies, or sheer dumb luck, Joseph always seems to find a way out of trouble.
One of the most egregious examples of his plot armor comes inStardust Crusaderswhen he is fatally injured by DIO.Most characters would have accepted their fate, but not Joseph. He gets a literal blood transfusion from Jotaro and comes back to life as if nothing had happened.He might not have the most overpowered abilities in the JoJo universe, but his ability to escape death time and time again makes his plot armor almost comical.
8Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer)
The Protagonist Who Just Will Not Stay Down
Tanjiro Kamado follows a very specific pattern in his fights, one that makes his plot armor impossible to ignore. Every single battle unfolds in almost the same way, where Tanjiro faces an overwhelmingly strong demon, gets absolutely destroyed, hears Gurenge start playing in the background, remembers his family, taps into some hidden reserve of strength, and suddenly overpowers his opponent with Sun Breathing.
Tanjiro’s persistence is inspiring, but there is no denying that his plot armor is working overtime.
No matter how battered and broken he is,Tanjiro always finds just enough willpower to land the final blow. While it makes for exhilarating battles, it’s hard not to notice how conveniently his body defies its own limits. Even when he should be unconscious from blood loss or shattered bones, he somehow musters the strength to stand up one last time. Tanjiro’s persistence is inspiring, but there is no denying that his plot armor is working overtime.
7Inosuke Hashibira (Demon Slayer)
Surviving the Impossible with Inosuke’s Organ Magic
Inosuke Hashibira is a walking miracle inDemon Slayer.His plot armor is so ridiculous that it borders on parody.In the Entertainment District arc alone, he manages to survive lethal attacks that should have left him dead multiple times over.
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One of his most absurd feats is his ability to shift his internal organs to avoid fatal injuries. He gets stabbed through the chest, but instead of dying like a normal person, he casually explains that he just “moved his heart out of the way.” On top of that, his resistance to poison is on par with Zenitsu’s lightning-fast reflexes, another inexplicable ability that conveniently keeps him alive no matter what. It’s almost as if the universe refuses to let him die, making his plot armor nearly impenetrable.
6Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)
Ichigo’s Constant Cycle of Death and Resurrection
For Ichigo Kurosaki, coming back from the dead is just another normal day.Bleachis notorious for its over-the-top fights, but Ichigo takes things to a whole new level. No matter how many times he gets absolutely obliterated, he somehow finds a way to bounce back stronger than ever.
One of the biggest offenders of his plot armor is how he continuously unlocks new power-ups at the perfect moment.He constantly fights opponents who should be leagues ahead of him, only to miraculously discover a hidden ability or transformation that lets him win.His track record of conveniently gaining the exact power he needs at the exact time he needs it makes his victories feel less earned and more dictated by the whims of the plot.
The Ultimate Underdog with Unlimited Second Chances
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic
Naruto Uzumaki is a classic example of a character who wins fights he has no business surviving. Even in the originalNarutoseries, he defies all logic by enduring attacks that should have left him unconscious or dead. A perfect example is his fight against Kiba during the Chunin Exams. After getting hit by Fang Over Fang multiple times, he somehow pulls off a last-minute upset victory.
As the series progresses, Naruto’s plot armor only gets stronger.ByShippuden, the power scaling becomes so unbalanced that he goes from struggling against Akatsuki members to trading blows with literal gods.Despite being significantly weaker than characters like Might Guy, he manages to hold his own against Madara Uchiha, an opponent who should have wiped the floor with him. His ability to survive against impossible odds cements him as one of anime’s most durable protagonists.
4Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
The Rubber Man Who Bounced Back from Death
Luffy is no stranger to plot armor, but his most outrageous example came during the Wano arc when he literally died, only to be resurrected with an even more broken power-up. After Kaido decisively defeats him, it seems like all hope is lost. But then, surprise! Luffy’s Devil Fruit was not just any old ability, it was actually one of the most overpowered in existence,secretly unlocking Gear 5 and allowing him to dominate the fight.
This kind of conveniently timed power-up is the ultimate form of plot armor.
This kind of conveniently timed power-up is the ultimate form of plot armor. Luffy had already been established as an insanely strong character, but the fact that he “just so happened” to have the most broken ability of all time hidden inside him the whole time makes his victory feel inevitable rather than earned.
3Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)
A Villain Blessed by the Author
Sukuna is living proof that villains can have plot armor too. ThroughoutJujutsu Kaisen, he constantly finds ways to escape death and grow stronger, often through the most ridiculous means possible. One of the biggest examples is his ability to keep stacking Binding Vows, essentially granting him loophole after loophole to avoid consequences.
Despite being an ancient curse, he somehow always manages to have just the right trick up his sleeve. No matter how powerful his enemies are,Sukuna always has an excuse for why he cannot be beaten, making him one of the most frustratingly invincible antagonists in anime.
2Goku (Dragon Ball)
Death is Just a Training Arc for Goku
Goku’s ability to come back from the dead is practically a running gag at this point.InDragon Ball, dying is more of a minor inconvenience than an actual threat.He has been resurrected so many times that it barely has an emotional impact anymore.
On top of that, his Super Saiyan transformations always conveniently appear when he needs them the most. Whether it is Ultra Instinct or Super Saiyan God, Goku constantly unlocks new abilities right when the plot demands them. His plot armor is so overwhelming that it often removes tension from his battles, because everyone knows he will always find a way to win.
1Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling)
Jinwoo’s Power Knows No Limits
Sung Jinwoo’s entire existence revolves around plot armor. His near-losses are always followed by sudden power spikes that allow him to win with ease. The story itself bends to verify he never truly struggles, ensuring he remains unbeatable no matter what he faces.
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WhileSolo Levelingis an enjoyable power fantasy, Jinwoo’s constant last-second power-ups make his victories predictable.His strength is undeniable, but his journey is so smooth that it sometimes feels like he was never in real danger to begin with.
