A remarkable variety of ninjutsu and unique abilities are shown all throughout the Naruto anime, with the Sharingan being one of the most famous and iconic of them. The Sharingan is a special eye jutsu, or dojutsu, that is unique to the Uchiha clan, and the Sharingan has a strong reputation all over the ninja world. In fact, some ninjas think it's hopeless to fight a Sharingan user one on one.

Over time, the Naruto anime revealed more and more traits and abilities of the Sharingan on offense and defense, and that includes the Mangekyo Sharingan, too. By default, the Sharingan allows the user to track a ninja's movements and "see" how a jutsu works, but the anime soon expanded the Sharingan's abilities to truly breathtaking levels. It's mainly Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha who demonstrated the Sharingan's many abilities, though Kakashi, Obito, and Madara also showed off its incredible power.

Updated on April 1st, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This list of noteworthy Sharingan abilitie has been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards.

10 The Chidori Was Easier to Learn Via the Sharingan

The Chidori and Lightning Blade jutsu may not directly come from the Sharingan eye, but having the Sharingan is still a key part of using these techniques correctly. When Kakashi Hatake first created the Lightning Blade, he discovered it was too dangerous to use, but not all was lost.

After Kakashi received the Sharingan from his childhood friend Obito Uchiha, he realized that was what he needed to complete the jutsu. Without the Sharingan, he couldn't process the world quickly enough to safely use Chidori. While the lightning style attack could technically be used by anyone, the Sharingan is needed to safely use this jutsu for characters like Kakashi and Sasuke. Eventually, the Chidori and Lightning Blade were eclipsed by stronger moves, making them rank last among Sharingan abilities.

9 Amaterasu Creates Unstoppable Black Flames

Amaterasu is a Mangekyo Sharingan ability, a fearsome technique that produces dangerous black flames out of thin air. Anyone using this deadly Sharingan technique will focus on where they need the flames to appear, and those flames can only be extinguished by the person who created the flames. This Naruto ability doesn't need hand signs, making it a quick technique to use.

The brothers Itachi and Sasuke are the only ones ever shown using Amaterasu in the Naruto anime series. The ability seems to put a lot of stress on the body of the jutsu's user, so it is something to use sparingly when other jutsu won't suffice. If Amaterasu's flames hit the opponent directly, the results can be lethal, but there are ways to deal with it. The Raikage, for example, severed his own arm to stop the spread of those black flames on his body.

8 Kagutsuchi Is the Key to Controlling the Amaterasu

Kagutsuchi is an ability that is used in tandem with Amaterasu. Kagutsuchi can be used to help control and contain the Amaterasu. This ability has only been shown to be used by Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke uses his left eye to use Amaterasu and his right eye to use Kagutsuchi. Sasuke has used this jutsu to create a sort of armor made of the Amaterasu flames. This jutsu also allows the user to shape the Amaterasu flames into a weapon. After all, cunning ninjas don't just rely on sheer destructive force to win fights -- they also need precision so they can pull off elegant techniques and avoid collateral damage, hence the need for Kagutsuchi as an underreated but vital Sharingan technique.

7 Dimension Creation Is Ideal For Trapping a Sharingan User's Enemies

Obito Uchiha is shown to have the ability to create a dimension using his Mangekyo Sharingan. While only Obito has been shown using the ability, it is likely that anyone in possession of the Mangekyo Sharingan could create one of these dimensions.

Obito uses this dimension to easily travel from one location to another. He can also use the dimension to keep someone or something trapped. The only way in and out of the dimension was the use of one of Obito's eyes, which also meant that Kakashi could travel to and from the dimension. It's one of the most unusual Sharingan abilities, and it's a fine way to divide and conquer the enemy force when the Sharingan user is outnumbered.

6 Tsukuyomi Overwhelms the Enemy With Nightmarish Genjutsu

Tsukuyomi is a Mangekyo Sharingan ability that is often used by Itachi Uchiha, such as the time he used it to torture Kakashi Hatake in the original Naruto anime. The Tsukuyomi slows down the perception of time and completely distorts the way a person perceives reality, adding to the psychological torment.

Itachi typically uses the jutsu to torture his opponents. He uses the jutsu against his brother, forcing him to relive the deaths of their parents repeatedly. He also uses the ability against his friend, Izumi Uchiha. Through the use of Tsukuyomi, Izumi is allowed to live out an entire life with Itachi before dying. It should also be noted that as an anti-villain, Itachi disliked violence and bloodshed, so the Tsukuyumi was the ideal way for him to defeat an enemy without killing or even wounding them.

5 Izanagi Blurs the Line Between Genjutsu and Reality

Izanagi is one of several genjutus-based Sharingan abilities that appeared a few times in the Naruto Shippuden anime. The Izanagi, named after a famed figure in Japanese mythology, creates an illusion that is so powerful that it actually becomes reality. This jutsu gives the caster complete control over reality for as long as the jutsu remains in effect.

The Izanagi can only be used for a brief amount of time. It also requires a lot of chakra, and will render the jutsu's user blind in one eye, so it's one of those Sharingan abilties that should only be used sparingly. Still, not even Sharingan powers like Izanagi are foolproof, as Danzo Shimura the villain showed when he used his stolen Sharingan eyes to nullify its effects while fighting Sasuke Uchiha. Thus, Izanagi ranks in the middle among the best Sharingan abilities of all.

4 Izanami Can Lock the Enemy Into an Inescapable Loop

The Izanami is closely related to the Izanagi, probably to reflect the Izanagi/Izanami pair in Japanese mythology. The Izanami is a Sharingan technique that traps a person in an endless loop that is repeated as long as the Izanami remains in effect. The person trapped in the Izanami can't escape, even as they become aware they are trapped.

The jutsu is typically used to force a person to accept that they've made a mistake. Historically, the jutsu has been used by the Uchiha Clan to counteract the Izanagi. The use of the Izanami will render a person blind, however, making it a high-cost technique that should not be used too casually on one's enemies.

3 Kotoamatsukami Can Take Control of People's Minds

Kotoamatsukami is a powerful mind-controlling genjutsu. This jutsu is so incredibly subtle that the person doesn't even realize they are being controlled. Such a technique is also ideal for shinobi who favor stealth and trickery over brute force. Shisui Uchiha had planned on using the jutsu to stop war from breaking out between the Uchiha clan and the Hidden Leaf Village.

Shisui's plans were thrown off course when Danzo stole his eye. Then, Shisui willingly gave his other eye to his best friend, Itachi. The latter planned to use the eye to ensure Sasuke returned to the Leaf Village, but instead used the eye to counteract Kabuto's control over him.

2 Susanoo Conjures an Armored Shell Loaded With Weapons

Susanoo is a giant armored entity made out of chakra and ranks among the best defensive moves in all of Naruto. The jutsu requires the Mangekyo Sharingan to use, so only a few characters like Sasuke, Itachi, and Madara Uchiha have been seen using its fearsome power.

The Susanoo isn't completely invulnerable, howevr, and the Susanoo can't repair itself from damage. The ability can only completely protect a person when fully manifested. The Susanoo can be used in part to partially protect someone. Also, a Susanoo's form will vary depending on the user.

1 Indra's Arrow is Sasuke's Best Offensive Move

Indra's Arrow is a jutsu created by Sasuke Uchiha and ranks highly among all Sharingan-related techniques seen in the Naruto anime. The jutsu can only be used in combination with Susanoo, so its usage is quite limited among Naruto's main cast. Sasuke Uchiha described the jutsu as his strongest offensive technique, and is named after Sasuke's ancestor, Indra. Indra was the first person to use Susanoo.

Indra's Arrow requires an incredible amount of chakra to fuel its formidable offensive power. Sasuke could only use the jutsu after he absorbed chakra from all nine tailed beasts. The massive chakra this requires may mean that the jutsu can't be used a second time, so whenever Sasuke uses Indra's Arrow, he must make it count -- or else.