That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime features one of anime's most powerful isekai heroes of all: Rimuru Tempest, a slime loaded with incredible powers and abilities. Rimuru was once an ordinary Japanese salaryman, but he has been reborn in a new world, and it's been an exhilarating adventure so far. But it's not easy living in a world like this.
In many ways, Rimuru's position in the world is unique, and he is in a class all on his own. There are perks and harsh realities to being a monster or human in this isekai realm, and being Rimuru Tempest, in particular, comes with its own pros and cons in everyday life. How does Rimuru's life measure up?
10 PERK OF BEING RIMURU: He Has Lots Of Good Friends
Any isekai hero will need a few friends on their side to help them fight or navigate the world, and over time, Rimuru Tempest has built up an impressive circle of friends and allies. They aren't just soldiers for his nation --they are personal friends, too.
It can be very comforting and pleasant to have so many dear friends, who can provide all kinds of emotional support and cheer Rimuru on as he takes on one fearsome challenge after another. Veldora the storm Dragon, Milim and Shion are among his best friends of all.
9 HARSH REALITY OF BEING RIMURU: He Doesn't Know Anything Of This World
Rimuru is doing his best to learn more about this fascinating isekai world in which he lives, but the simple truth is that he is years behind everyone else's knowledge of geography, politics, culture and history. He was reborn without getting a lesson on any of this.
This slows down Rimuru's efforts to form a new nation and build up political alliances, since he doesn't know who is who or what is what until the last second. He's fortunate to have so many allies who can fill him in.
8 PERK OF BEING RIMURU: He Can Overpower Most Enemies With Ease
Rimuru is famously overpowered as an isekai protagonist, and for the most part, that is a serious perk for him. Anyone would want a few spells to defend themselves in a new world, and Rimuru Tempest seems to have every ability, all at once.
Anyone would envy Rimuru's position, since he can fend off any monster or knight who challenges him. Only a few powerhouse characters can actually threaten him, such as Demon Lord Milim Nava or the imperial knight commander Hinata Sakaguchi. Otherwise, he's practically untouchable.
7 HARSH REALITY OF BEING RIMURU: He's Not Used To Politics
Rimuru Tempest commands the entire Jura Tempest Federation, meaning he must become active on the global political stage. To him, this is nerve-wracking and difficult work, and he has no prior experience with this, not even back in Japan.
So, Rimuru must slowly and awkwardly learn to become a proper politician, and he can't afford to make any major mistakes. He's doing his best, but it's clear that this is one of his least favorite aspects of being a powerful slime commander.
6 PERK OF BEING RIMURU: He Has Political Allies To Support Him
Fortunately, Rimuru is not completely alone on the world stage. No one like him has been seen in this world before, but he managed to win over a few political allies anyway, and King Gazel Dwargo was the first. Then, Elalude of the Sorcerous Nation of Thalion followed suit, along with some human leaders.
Rimuru can count on these leaders to back him up and give him advice and insights on statecraft international politics, which has been immensely helpful. Rimuru is still making mistakes, but he does have Gazel to act as a safety net from time to time.
5 HARSH REALITY OF BEING RIMURU: People Force Funny Outfits Onto Him
When it comes to trendy fashion in anime, different characters have their own ideas on the perfect outfit. Rimuru Tempest usually wears practical and ordinary clothing, but once in a while, his friends, mostly Shion and princess Shuna, try to force flamboyantly girly outfits on him.
Shion and Shuna think Rimuru looks adorable in those outfits, especially since he looks somewhat like Shizue, and it's meant to be harmless fun. But Rimuru, who is mentally male, doesn't find this very funny, and he will quickly flee if Shion and Shuna throw these outfits at him.
4 PERK OF BEING RIMURU: He Can Take Pride In All He's Built
Rimuru Tempest has built his very own nation from the ground up, and while he had a lot of help in building it, he can take great pride in what he has crafted. Rimuru is responsible for this new city's entire existence, and he can walk the streets while thinking "I made all this possible."
Most kings and queens in this world inherited their roles, but Rimuru made his own, and his nation is his life's work, the ultimate isekai project. Characters such as Shion, Geld and Rigurd can also claim some credit for all this, but not to the same extent as Rimuru. He has a right to feel proud of himself.
3 HARSH REALITY OF BEING RIMURU: He Keeps Making Powerful Enemies
Even if Rimuru is powerful enough to defeat almost any foe in single combat, he still cannot rest easy, and he should not underestimate his many enemies. One of his greatest enemies is Demon Lord Clayman, and Clayman has caused Rimuru all kinds of problems, even if he cannot easily defeat Rimuru in person.
Rimuru is highly conspicuous in the world as the slime king of a nation, and he is bound to make even more enemies beyond Clayman. And sure enough, the powerful knight Hinata Sakaguchi tried to take his life, and Rimuru only narrowly escaped.
2 PERK OF BEING RIMURU: He Can Have Fun Recreating Japanese Festivals & Traditions
Rimuru is clearly homesick, since he made a serious effort to recreate Japanese customs and architecture here in the isekai world. For the most part, he doesn't mind the European-inspired high fantasy theme of this world, but when it's summertime, he needs something a little more familiar.
Rimuru had the chance to host his own summer festival, and he gave detailed instructions to everyone to pull it off. He took great pride in launching and running this festival for one exciting night, and no one else could have done what he did. He can practically claim solo credit for that, which must be a great feeling, and no doubt he'll have another festival next year, too.
1 HARSH REALITY OF BEING RIMURU: He Faces Anti-Monster Discrimination
In this world, most human kingdoms are wary of monsters, and species such as orcs, goblins, dire wolves and lizardmen are seen as pests or threats to humanity, and are treated as such. The Western Holy Church makes it a rule to kill all monsters on sight in order to defend the human realm from them.
While this discrimination is unfair to the world's many benign monsters, Rimuru cannot change everyone's mind about monsters overnight. To most of humanity, Rimuru's all-monster nation is their worst nightmare, and this will make it far more difficult for Rimuru's nation to gain legitimacy. It's going to be a serious uphill climb for Rimuru.