In anime, there is a trope that no matter how powerful one's opposition is, they can be defeated through intelligence, meticulous planning, and sometimes teamwork. This is especially prominent with characters like Shikamaru of the Naruto universe or Uryu from Bleach.
However, raw power has sometimes proven to be an obstacle too insurmountable to overcome. Through identifying instances where a character's wits didn't matter in the end, we can better appreciate the value of brute force and how there is ultimately no substitute for physical strength in some circumstances.
10 Kakyoin's Hierophant Green Trap Didn't Matter Against DIO (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
When Kakyoin fought DIO, he sought to repay him for placing a parasite in his skull and trapped him within the distilled strands of Hierophant Green. Summoning a barrage of emerald splashes, he hoped to overwhelm the vampire before he could escape his sticky grasp.
Unfortunately, he didn't anticipate that DIO could freeze time for five seconds. This overpowered ability allowed him to calmly walk out of the trap, plunge his fist through Noriaki's chest, and kill him almost instantly - much to his comrades' horror.
9 The Five Kages' Teamwork Didn't Matter Against Madara
The Five Kage banded together to fight on Naruto's behalf and defeat the diabolical Madara Uchiha. Putting their differences aside, they used their powers to complement one another's and maximize their chances of success (for instance, Onoki rode the Fourth Raikage to lend speed to his deadly particle style Jutsu).
Despite their synergy, none of the leaders were powerful enough to stop the army of Susanoos that Madara had summoned. Consequently, they were struck down one by one, with nothing to show for the sacrifice they made for their peoples' sake.
8 After Elizabeth Took Ruin's Bell, Meliodas Easily Overwhelmed Him (Seven Deadly Sins)
Ruin was a member of the Weird Fangs whose staff allowed him to cause his victims to experience hallucinations. Using this ability, he turned Diane and Meliodas against each other - with destructive consequences.
After Liz stole the bell from his staff, the spell was broken and Meliodas had an opportunity to fight the behemoth more fairly. Now fully capable of identifying his target, the Dragon Sin punched him in the stomach so hard that it distorted the metal of his armor. Though he miraculously survived this attack, Ruin was nonetheless instantly defeated.
7 Reiner & Bertholdt Overwhelmed Eren Despite His New Fighting Style (Attack On Titan)
When Eren fought Reiner, he used the techniques adopted by Annie Leonhart in order to find success. Meticulously hardening his knuckles and capturing Braun in an armbar, it seemed as if he was able to use his intelligence in combination with his new fighting style in order to defeat his armored adversary.
He was so busy with the battle that he didn't anticipate the carcass of Bertholdt's colossal titan plummeting from above. Unable to dodge in time, he was immediately crushed, forced to revert to his human form, and successfully captured by the Warriors.
6 Crocodile Still Defeated Luffy In Their Second Round Even Though His Weakness Was Exposed (One Piece)
During Luffy's return to Alabasta Kingdom, he understood Crocodile's weakness to water and came prepared. With a massive tank on his back, he ensured that the warlord remained drenched and therefore attackable.
However, the Straw Hat captain's preparations ultimately proved insufficient. By combining devastating melee attacks with a desiccating dehydration grip, Crocodile was able to reduce his adversary to a withered husk and left him to rot in the doomed palace.
5 Yammy Obliterated Ichigo Despite His Recent Victory Over Ulquiorra (Bleach)
In Yammy's Resurrecion form, he proved why he earned his station as the strongest Espada quickly. Rukia and Chad were defeated in a matter of seconds by his overwhelming force, leaving Ichigo to fend for his friends.
Despite his recent victory over Ulquiorra (or perhaps because of it, given his battle fatigue), Yammy overwhelmed him with punches that shook the dunes themselves. Were it not for the convenient intervention of Kenpachi Zaraki and Byakuya, the substitute soul reaper would have invariably died regardless of the intelligent way he confronted the giant.
4 All Might Overpowered All For One Despite The Villain's Trickery (My Hero Academia)
Although All Might displayed a decent amount of strategic planning during his battle against All For One by distributing what remained of his Quirk into his fist, the villain fought much more prudently than he did.
Not only did All For One use Gran Torino as a human shield, he also targeted a nearby bystander with the knowledge that Toshinori couldn't abide their death. Regardless of his wicked strategies, however, All Might was ultimately able to overpower him, fully harnessing the vestiges of his Quirk and capitalizing on All For One's already broken body.
3 Arthur Defeated Haumea Despite Her Clever, Mind-Altering Ignition Ability (Fire Force)
Haumea is one of the White-Clad's strongest members and a woman notorious for her intelligent applications of her ignition ability. By creating targeted shocks in her opponents' brains, she can effectively rewrite them, forcing them to abide by her will as she did against Sho.
However, Arthur's plasma sword negates this effect and provides a natural counter against the cultist. When he confronted her outside of Haijima headquarters, she was immediately put on the defensive before being forced to retreat entirely.
2 Bradley Cut Through Fu's Last Ditch Effort To Assassinate Him (Fullmetal Alchemist)
During the attack on the capital of Amestris, Fu understood the necessity of defeating Wrath and was aware that Greed was unable to do so alone. Igniting a sash of explosives he wore around his waist, he lunged for the despot and attempted to take him to the afterlife with him.
Despite this strategy, he failed to account for the homunculus' dizzying speed. Before Fu even realized what had happened, his explosives were snuffed out by Bradley's blade, and a massive wound was ripped across his chest.
1 Uvogin Stomped Out The Shadow Beasts Regardless Of Their Teamwork (Hunter X Hunter)
The Shadow Beasts were the Yorknew crime family's finest enforcers. Having worked with each other for several years, their synergy seemed to be a perfect counter for Uvogin. Worm dragged his fist below the earth while his allies assaulted him from above.
However, they failed to account for the Troupe member's unprecedented physical strength. By channeling Nen into his fist and driving it into the ground, he was able to create a massive crater that killed his submerged adversary instantly and daunted those that remained. With both arms freed, he picked off his remaining targets one by one.
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