The gruesome dark fantasy world crafted by Gege Akutami in Jujutsu Kaisen is one where cursed spirits and sorcerers are engaged in a perpetual war, and the violent clashes between them are responsible for some of the series’ most exciting moments. Inventive and thorough in the establishment of its magic system, JJK has its characters manipulate cursed energy — a naturally occurring power source manifested from negative emotions — to awaken their cursed techniques. Cursed energy in JJK has countless implementations.

Yet, innate techniques (in all of their variety and creativity) are, by far, the most prominent and captivating battle skill curses and sorcerers use. Vastly different in strength and application, some cursed techniques, like Satoru Gojo’s Limitless or Megumi Fushiguro’s Ten Shadows, always shine in the spotlight. However, in the impressive lineup of powers introduced in the series, some incredible abilities were bound to be overlooked. Underutilized in the plot and, at times, even forgotten by fans, these cursed techniques are JJK’s most underrated.

This article contains minor spoilers for the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, available to read in English via Viz Media and Shonen Jump.

10 Construction Would've Been Unstoppable in the Hands of a Stronger User

User: Mai Zenin

A sorcerer’s ability to use cursed techniques greatly relies on their levels of cursed energy, which then determine how well they can control and apply it. Unfortunately for Mai Zenin, she was born with an abnormally low level of cursed energy, making her otherwise brilliant innate technique, Construction, ineffective.

A power to create something from nothing, Construction could’ve been a near-unbeatable power in the hands of a talented sorcerer with a wild imagination. Yet, all Mai could craft before becoming exhausted is a single bullet a day. Unlike her sister, Maki, who has no cursed energy, Mai’s cursed energy levels are still higher than an average human. Nevertheless, such a powerful skill was still wasted on Mai, while someone more resourceful could’ve utilized it to create whatever they pleased, from crucial support items to weapons of mass destruction.

9 Projection Sorcery's Complexity Makes It More Effective Against Unassuming Opponents

Users: Naobito Zenin, Naoya Zenin

One of JJK’s most convoluted techniques, Projection Sorcery is a flashy power used by the members of the Zenin clan. Despite its confusing rules, Projection Sorcery is a formidable power that allows the user to split an imaginary trajectory into 24 movements, or frames. On that predicted path, the sorcerer can “erase” frames to move faster or, alternatively, use their opponents' inability to follow the trajectory to stun them for 1 second.

At first glance, Projection Sorcery seems like a mediocre technique, considering that the skill didn’t help either Naobito or his successor, Naoya, to escape death. However, the effectiveness of the Zenin clan’s inherited technique lies in its unpredictability, as, once mastered, it can be used as both a near-unrivaled speed enhancer and a practical offensive skill most opponents wouldn’t be able to crack before perishing.

8 Comedian Could Alter Reality Acording to the User's Sense of Humor

User: Fumihiko Takaba

Initially considered a joke character, Fumihiko Takaba possessed one of the most overpowered yet underused techniques in the entire series - Comedian. Takaba’s innate technique is a reality-bending skill that makes anything the failed entertainer finds funny a reality. A skill with a near-limitless potential, Comedian was used in earnest only once during Takaba’s confrontation with Kenjaku and was enough to take down the ancient sorcerer.

However, a technique of such magnitude that can potentially defeat even Gojo and Sukuna would’ve upset the series’ power balance too greatly. To limit Takaba’s ability to tamper with the story, Takaba was made to never understand how his technique works. And, with the sorcerer seemingly out of commission after his fight with Kenjaku, Comedian’s true potential is unlikely to ever be uncovered.

7 Sound Amplification Has an Unexplored Potential to be Incredibly Destructive

User: Yoshinobu Gakuganji

A higher-up of the jujutsu society and the principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High, Yoshinobu Gakuganji is an experienced, powerful sorcerer who’s been scheming in the shadows of the jujutsu world for decades. However, Gakuganji’s innate technique remains one of the series’ most underrated. By playing his electric guitar, Gakuganji can use his body as a sound amplifier, launching waves of cursed energy at his opponents.

The offensive power of Gakuganji’s technique is rarely shown in the show, which makes judging its true capabilities difficult. However, considering the inherent qualities of sound, his power has unmatched speed and action range, potentially capable of immense destruction depending on the soundwave amplitude and intensity.

6 Puppet Jujutsu Was Rightfully Feared by Jujutsu Higher-Ups

Users: Masamichi Yaga, Kokichi Muta

Puppet jujutsu, or the ability to create and control cursed corpses, is not a technique unique to a single sorcerer — yet its most prominent user, Masamichi Yaga, proves just how powerful this underrated technique truly is. Cursed corpses are artificial beings sorcerers can command like puppets, give them commands, and even use them as proxy bodies (like Mechamaru). Yet, Yaga’s form of puppet jujutsu is special, as he was able to create fully autonomous cursed dolls with independent personalities.

Within the jujutsu society, Yaga’s technique is recognized as immensely powerful, as it allows him to create an unlimited number of subordinates, as well as even bring the dead back to life. However, puppet jujutsu is rarely mentioned as one of the series’ most powerful techniques, outshined by flashier skills even if they have less potential.

5 Paralyzing Gaze Could Immobilize Even Incredibly Formidable Sorcerers

User: Ranta Zenin

When Maki massacres the Zenin clan during the Perfect Preparation arc, readers get to learn some of the powerful family’s strongest techniques, Ranta Zenin’s Paralyzing Gaze being one of them. Unfortunately, even the most impressive powers introduced during the incident barely received any time in the spotlight.

A technique that allows the user to completely paralyze the target by just looking at them, Ranta’s power was ineffective against a Heavenly Restricted being as formidable as Maki. Moreover, the effects of Paralyzing Gaze strain the user’s eyes significantly. However, if the same technique fell into the hands of someone with a greater cursed energy output or a sorcerer who knows reverse cursed technique, it wouldn’t be as affected by physical limitations. This would allow Paralyzing Gaze to immobilize even special grade sorcerers like Gojo or Sukuna.

User: Unnamed Bag-Mask Sorcerer

Cloning powers in anime and manga are commonly regarded as some of the most exciting and versatile, resulting in many popular characters possessing the ability to multiply themselves. However, JJK’s Cloning Technique was given to an unnamed sorcerer who barely got to showcase its tremendous potential. The bag-mask sorcerer Gojo fights during the Hidden Inventory arc can split his body up to five times, with each clone capable of hosting the original’s consciousness.

As far as cloning powers go, this technique is tremendously effective due to the ability to change the identity of the original, making the user incredibly hard to kill. Even Gojo, the strongest modern jujutsu sorcerer, was impressed by the bag-mask curse user’s technique, claiming that in the right hands and environment it could’ve blossomed into an unbeatable power.

User: Haruta Shigemo

In battle, luck plays almost as crucial a role as skill and strength. So, Haruta Shigemo’s technique, Miracles, which takes the concept of fortune and turns it into a tangible technique, has foreboding potential. By experiencing everyday “miracles,” Haruta gains markings under his eyes that can then be used in life-or-death situations to save the sorcerer from certain doom. Similarly to other overpowered techniques in the series, Miracles is not a power Haruta consciously uses, simply deeming himself extremely lucky.

However, in the hands of a more aware user, Miracles could’ve been an incredible power. Avoiding death in critical moments would be a game-changer on risky missions, and Miracles’ replenishing effect could allow the user to perform otherwise lethal feats continuously for as long as they are mindful of the number of remaining miracles.

2 Black Bird Manipulation Is Unfairly Called Weak by Its User

User: Mei Mei

According to Mei Mei, her innate technique, Black Bird Manipulation, is a feeble power, which is why she mostly relies on physical strength and rarely uses her sorcery for anything other than surveillance. Yet, Black Bird Manipulation is an incredibly versatile offensive technique that, if used more creatively, could provide tremendous aid in battle. Mei Mei can control cursed energy-powered crows over vast ranges, sharing the birds’ vision and commanding them however she wants.

The possibilities of implementation for such a resourceful technique are endless, from distracting opponents to using them as self-destructing missiles via Bird Strike to launching an ambush attack akin to Megumi’s Rabbit Escape. Regrettably, the series rarely showcases Mei Mei exploring the hidden offensive capabilities of Black Bird Manipulation, as she mostly sticks to using it as a support skill.

1 Cursed Speech Makes It Impossible for Opponents to Disobey the User

Users: Toge Inumaki, Yuta Okkotsu (via Copy)

Toge Inumaki’s Cursed Speech is, by far, JJK’s most underused overpowered technique, the sheer aptitude of which seems to never cross the characters’ minds. An inherited technique of the Inumaki family, Cursed Speech infuses the sorcerer’s words with cursed energy, making the target obey the user’s commands. The orders don’t have to follow rules of physical plausibility, so commands like crushing someone’s body or launching them into the air are also possible.

While Cursed Speech does strain the user’s body greatly, especially if powerful commands are uttered, even less formidable orders could be creatively used in battle to change its course. However, the series continuously excludes Inumaki from major fights and limits the opportunities he has to master his tremendous power, resulting in Cursed Speech never getting enough attention.