The trying journeys anime heroes embark on in the pursuit of their goals require them to unlock new powers constantly. Meeting more formidable opponents and vigorously training their bodies, the protagonists tap into their unexplored potential, developing new abilities.

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The power progression of most anime heroes seems limitless, restrained only by how much they need to increase their skills for ultimate victory. Yet, some heroes have a power ceiling they can't break, no matter how hard they try. Held back by outside forces, personal unwillingness to explore dangerous abilities or lack of time, these anime heroes never reach the full potential of their powers.

10 Chopper Isn't Given Enough Opportunities To Prove Himself In A Fight

One Piece

Chopper during the Wano Arc in One Piece.

One Piece is filled with overpowered characters who continuously improve their abilities. And while the crew's fearful doctor, Tony Tony Chopper, never strived to become a top fighter, focusing on perfecting his medical skills, his battle abilities showed great promise in the early parts of One Piece.

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After the time skip, Chopper's screen time reduced drastically, and the fans rarely got to see the doctor use his Devil Fruit and formidable Rumble Ball forms in battle. Chopper couldn't reach his full potential as a fighter or tactician.

9 Gon Lost His Powers & Potential After Using All Of His Strength

Hunter x Hunter

Gon enraged in Hunter x Hunter.

Reckless use of power can have dramatic consequences, and that's the lesson the hero of Hunter x Hunter, the carefree adventurer Gon Freecss, learns after his disastrous fight with Neferpitou. The emotional stress of losing Kite sent Gon over the edge.

His powerful transformation could've killed the boy. And while Gon survived, his ability to use Nen was permanently destroyed. Unlocking his full potential prematurely in a moment of despair left Gon unable to reach that power ever again, deleting most of his previous progress.

8 Ika Musume Lacked Skills & Preparation To Hone Her Abilities

The Squid Girl

The protagonist of Squid Girl, pointing forward while the rest of the cast watches on in the background.

The titular heroine of The Squid Girl, Ika Musume, possesses a range of formidable squid-like abilities, which she plans to use to punish humans for polluting her ocean. However, Ika never perfects her water-based powers on land, as she finds herself forced to work as a waitress at her first conquest destination, Lemon Beach House.

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The girl had real potential to become strong enough to take over the world. Yet, Ika's stubbornness, lack of intelligence, and nonexistent experience with humans stopped her from progressing further.

7 Saiki Isn't Interested In Finding Out The Limit Of His Powers

The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.

Saiki frowning in The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

No one, including Saiki Kusuo himself, knows if the overpowered protagonist of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. even has a limit of potential he can reach. Saiki might be one of the most talented psychics in anime, possessing every known ability from mind control to super strength.

Yet, even if there is a foreseeable potential for Saiki to reach, he wouldn't be interested in aiming for the top. Saiki actively tries to hide his powers from everyone around him, dreaming of a quiet life devoid of supernatural interference.

6 Eucliwood Hellscythe Has To Give Up Exploring Her Powers For The Sake Of Others

Is This A Zombie?

Eucliwood in Is this a Zombie?.

Eucliwood Hellscythe, the mute and apathetic necromancer from Is This A Zombie?, has secret abilities that scare even their wielder. She communicates through writing in a notepad, as her reality-altering magic activates every time she speaks.

Eucliwood's resistance is the only limit holding her from reaching the full potential of her power. The use of her magic can be very painful to Eucliwood and might harm people around her beyond repair. Yet, if Eucliwood didn't withhold from using it, she could alter reality however she pleases.

5 Wei Wuxian Sacrificed His Spiritual Energy Before He Could Reach His Full Potential

Mo Dao Zu Shi

Wei Wuxian from Mo Dao Zu Shi.

Wei Wuxian, the cunning hero of Mo Dao Zu Shi, used to be feared as a master of forbidden demonic cultivation. Yet, before his evil transformation, Wei Wuxian was notorious for his talent in conventional cultivation arts.

Unfortunately, the hero never got a chance to reach his full potential and perfect his natural skills. After his sworn brother, Jiang Cheng, lost his Golden Core, the source of magic for all cultivators, Wei Wuxian sacrificed his spiritual energy to restore those of his friend, losing all of his cultivation abilities.

4 Mob Can't Control The True Form Of His Psychic Powers

Mob Psycho 100

Mob from Mob Psycho 100.

Shigeo Kageyama, the titular hero of Mob Psycho 100, has unprecedented natural psychic talent he wields without any training. No one knows how much Mob could achieve if he took his powers more seriously.

Yet, the boy doesn't see his psychic strength as necessary to live a happy life. Another thing stopping Mob from reaching his full potential is his lack of control over his powers. Once the boy reaches the special "???%" state, exploding from emotional stress, he loses any sense of himself, giving into his raw instincts.

3 Itadori Yuji Will Probably Die Before He Gets To Tap Into His Full Potential

Jujutsu Kaisen

Yuji Itadori in Jujutsu Kaisen.

The first arc of Jujutsu Kaisen revolves around the show's hero, Itadori Yuji, making a deal to collect all of Sukuna's fingers and then die as the curse's vessel. A talented Sorcerer capable of withstanding Sukuna's influence, Yuji is unlikely to get a chance to unleash his full potential.

As it currently stands, he will be eliminated the moment all fingers are in his possession, deemed too dangerous to stay alive. Fans speculate how Yuji might get out of this predicament, yet, he seems to accept his fate wholeheartedly.

2 Kamina Dies Before He Gets To The Top

Gurren Lagann

Kamina passes away in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

One of the most notoriously shocking moments in anime comes when Gurren Lagann's charming deuteragonist Kamina sacrifices his life at the end of the show's first act. Up to this point, Kamina showcased incredible skills as a fighter and a leader.

Yet, his death stopped him from ever reaching his full potential. Kamina's sacrifice continued to inspire Simon and other Team Dai-Gurren members long after he was gone. Unfortunately, the man's personal journey came to an unexpectedly early stop before he got to achieve true greatness.

1 Saitama Doesn't Have Anyone To Challenge Him To Get Stronger

One-Punch Man

Saitama delivering a serious punch in One-Punch Man.

So far, no being in the series could come even close to harming One-Punch Man's titular hero. Saitama can take down most opponents with a single punch. It's easy to assume that the hero reached the peak of his abilities.

Yet, even if Saitama has more undiscovered potential, no one can challenge him to improve. Growing apathetic to the repetitiveness of battle, the hero has no reason to continue training. Hopefully, the future holds a worthy opponent for Saitama to tap into his unexplored potential.

NEXT: 10 Anime Heroes Who Never Use Their Full Strength