Stands are a manifestation of spiritual energy in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure universe. Although they are not exclusively used for the fighting, the series' most prominent heroes and villains deploy them to battle on their behalves.
It may come as a surprise that having a Stand has almost as many detriments as it does perks. By analyzing the pros and cons of having a Stand, we can gain a newfound respect for the Joestars who have had to endure many perils for the sake of their friends.
10 Harsh Reality: Stands Can Kill A User With Low Willpower
Perhaps the greatest and most immediate drawback of a Stand is that it can overpower and kill its user if they have low willpower. This was proven through the peril Holy Kujo was placed in when her Stand manifested upon DIO's reawakening.
Fortunately, it takes roughly fifty days for a Stand to kill its host, providing one's friends plenty of time to figure out a solution. Moreover, being overwhelmed by a Stand is an extremely rare phenomenon, as even a turtle had enough willpower to harness its abilities safely.
9 Perk: Stands Have Almost Endless Possibilities & Are Customized Based On What The User Is Good At
Stands are specifically customized to be as useful as possible to its host's daily life. Even if they aren't fighters, a Stand's special abilities afford virtually endless opportunities.
For instance, Tonio was a chef whose Stand enriched his food, Aya Tsuji was a beautician with an ability to enhance the aesthetics of her clients, and Rohan Kishibe's Heaven's Door could rewrite reality around him to however he saw fit.
8 Harsh Reality: Losing Control Of A Stand Invites Disaster
Not all Stand users can control their special abilities. For instance, Scolippi's Rolling Stones bounded toward Team Bucciarati and nearly got its leader killed, turning dangerous criminals against him in the process.
In more extreme cases, a Stand may actively attempt to harm or even murder its master. Examples include Anubis, a sentient Stand who possessed its wielder (rather than the other way around), and Cheap Trick, a demon-like creature whose sole purpose was to kill its host by having others look at their back.
7 Perk: Stand Users Are Attracted To Each Other, Creating The Potential For Lasting Friendships
Stand users are naturally drawn to each other, allowing for unique and unpredictable engagements. In some instances, this phenomenon was a detriment to the heroes since it meant that the main villain's underlings could locate them more easily.
Simultaneously, it was one of the Joestar family's greatest assets. Through the nature of Stands themselves, Koichi began his relationship with Yukako, Jotaro made friends with both Polnareff and Kakyoin, and Giorno was introduced to the team of gangsters that would topple Italy's greatest criminal kingpin.
6 Harsh Reality: The Stand Arrow Kills More Subjects Than It Helps
Should one struggle to develop their abilities naturally, the Stand arrow is a surefire alternative. It has the potential to manifest the powers of anyone it touches and can even transform pre-existing Stands into Requiems.
However, it's more than likely to kill its subject rather than grant them special abilities due to the painful process of evolution. This was why Keicho Nijimura was becoming frustrated with finding anyone who might be able to either cure his father or simply end his agonized existence completely.
5 Perk: Many People Develop Stands Naturally
As dangerous as the process of manifesting a Stand from the arrow might be, it's not necessary in many cases. Frequently, characters are born with their special powers or unlock them at an exceptionally young age. Polnareff is the clearest example of this, as revealed in his fight against Alessi.
It's also not uncommon to discover one's Stand abilities at varying stages of their life. For example, Jotaro and Joseph Joestar both discovered their powers at the end of adolescence and as a senior citizen respectively. Therefore, a patient person may be able to avoid the arrow's risk of death altogether.
4 Harsh Reality: Stands Reflect Damage Back To Their Users
Many attempt to use their Stands as substitutes for physical battles. A wise idea, as their spiritual manifestations are much stronger than they are and, in many instances, also significantly faster.
However, fighting via a proxy isn't without its risks. Most Stands reflect whatever damage they take back onto their user. For instance, when Star Platinum kicked The World's leg, DIO howled and recoiled from pain.
3 Perk: Long Ranged Stands Do Not Reflect Damage To Their Users
While most Stands reflect damage back to their user, long-ranged ones do not. For example, Akira was able to maintain his composure when infiltrating the Speedwagon boat after Chili Pepper's destruction, and Shigechi's Harvest remained active even shortly after his death.
However, this does not mean that the Stands themselves are indestructible. They can be ripped to shreds just as much as their close-ranged counterparts, as proven by Giorno's victory over Black Sabbath. The only difference is that the users are not harmed in the process and can manifest their abilities again several hours later.
2 Harsh Reality: Stands Are Invisible To The Naked Eye
Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to convey the nature of Stands to people who don't have them. They are invisible to those without Stands of their own, and only users can perceive the spiritual manifestations of their friends or enemies. As a consequence, the strange world of Stands is hidden from most of the population despite the amazing possibilities it affords.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, however. For example, Forever's "Strength" was so massive that its presence could be detected by the untrained eye. Its nature played to the orangutan's advantage since it made it easier to lure unsuspecting passengers inside.
1 Perk: It's Possible For Stands To Evolve
A pleasant truth about Stands is that it's possible to make them stronger. The most dramatic method is by turning them into Requiem Stands via the arrow, as demonstrated by Giorno Giovanna and Yoshikage Kira. It made the former invincible and the latter a significantly more elusive murderer.
However, it's also possible to empower one's spiritual manifestation naturally through perseverance. Koichi and Jotaro both evolved their Stands after familiarity, time, and experience, granting them the skills they needed to overcome adversity and save their friends.